There was little doubt that the Dons most successful era in the Scottish Cup came with four cup wins in five years between 1982-1986. It was an almost relentless pursuit by Alex Ferguson’s great side that brought great success to the club. That Aberdeen side achieved with a regularity that was unprecedented in Scottish football.

While that period was memorable in its’ own right, back in 1970 it was the Dons Scottish Cup success that year which remains the most remarkable, especially when you look back at the run to the final
that season.

The prospect of a famous cup win had looked remote.

Scottish Cup First Round

24/01/1970
Aberdeen 4 – 0 Clyde
Kick Off: 3:00 PM
Goals: Harper, Robb, Harper, Robb
Attendance: 2,000
Venue: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen

There was little indication leading up the Dons opening tie against Clyde that Hampden was on the horizon. Aberdeen had lost 3-2 to Morton at Greenock the week before and there was little doubt that Turnbull had decided on his best eleven; the defence was still unsettled with Ernie McGarr keeping Bobby Clark out of the side.

Jim Kirkland and Jens Petersen were still in his plans although Martin Buchan had emerged as a real find alongside centre half Tom McMillan. The only constant in the team was up front where Harper, Forrest and Davie Robb were forming a lethal combination up front. It was that strength up front that carried Aberdeen through in the tie at home to Clyde in a convincing 4-0 win.

Aberdeen Teamsheet: McGarr, Boel, Kirkland, Petersen, McMillan, Buchan, Hamilton, Robb, Forrest, Murray, Harper.

Scottish Cup Second Round

11/02/1970
Aberdeen 2 – 1 Clydebank
Kick Off: 7:30 PM
Forrest, Robb
McGhee
Attendance 13,100
Venue: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen

Where Aberdeen had been slick against Clyde, they looked sluggish in the next round against Clydebank.
On the 11th February the Aberdeen players trooped off the Pittodrie pitch with the sounds of boos ringing in their ears having struggled to beat second division Clydebank in the fourth round of the competition. The match had been postponed from the Saturday, but went ahead on a hard pitch on the Wednesday evening. It was one of the poorest performances of the season as the Dons scraped home with the Aberdeen crowd cheering the visitors’ attempts to equalise.

It was an almost surreal atmosphere as the Dons endured incurring the wrath of the home support and also strange because Aberdeen turned out in a blue and white striped kit, after a last minute demand from the referee so that the Dons red shirts would clash with that of their visitors.

It was also the first occasion that young Martin Buchan captained the side as he took over from Jens Petersen—a clear indication that Turnbull had not settled on his best starting eleven.

The Dons struggled to overcome part time Clydebank in a narrow 2-1 win. There was little room for error and the supporters vented their fury at full time.

Aberdeen Teamsheet: Clark, Boel, Kirkland, Murray, McMillan, Buchan, Willoughby, Robb, Forrest, Hamilton, Harper

Scottish Cup Quarter Final
21/02/1970
Falkirk 0 – 1 Aberdeen
Kick Off: 3:00 PM
McKay
Attendance: 13,500
Venue: Brockville Park, Falkirk

By the time the next round came up it was a different set of circumstances for Aberdeen.

While they received very few plaudits for their performance against Clydebank, it was the exact opposite when they travelled to Falkirk for the quarter final. The build up to the tie was thrown into chaos as a flu virus swept through the club decimating players and staff. As the tie rapidly approached the situation did not improve hastening boss Turnbull to request a postponement from the SFA.

Joe Harper recalled the build up to the game.

“Most of the squad was hit by flu and I remember Eddie trying to get the game against Falkirk postponed. But to be honest Eddie was also chancing his luck as we had a few injuries as well. We just had to get on with it.”

Several players had to drag themselves out of their sick bed to play.

While the SFA did the dons few favours by insisting that the game proceed, it opened the door for others.

Waiting on the sidelines were two players who were to play a big part in this cup adventure. Derek “Cup tie” McKay, who was plain old Derek McKay at this stage, had made only two substitute appearances for the club back in October and a young 17-year-old Bobby Calder discovery, Arthur Graham had yet to make his senior debut.

McKay had been picked up on a free transfer from Dundee. The Macduff loon had previously played for his home side Deveronvale and this was to be his first start for the Dons.

McKay began his fairytale at the quarter final stage when Aberdeen were drawn away to another second division side. While Clydebank had been struggling near the foot of the division Falkirk were chasing promotion and would eventually win the title.

The Bairns had eliminated first division St. Mirren in the previous round at Brockville and were keen to take another scalp to show their top flight credentials.

A tight encounter was decided midway through the second half when following a game of head tennis in the Falkirk penalty area, McKay pounced to turn the ball into the net and claim his first goal for the club.

Aberdeen Teamsheet: Clark, Boel, Murray, Petersen, McMillan, Buchan, McKay, Hermiston, Forrest, Hamilton, Harper

Scottish Cup Semi-final

14/03/1970
Aberdeen 1 – 0 Kilmarnock
Kick Off: 3:00 PM
McKay 22.
Attendance: 25,812
Venue: Muirton Park, Perth

McKay retained his place in the first team and although he hadn’t scored again he was selected for the semi final against Kilmarnock. This was Aberdeen’s fourth semi-final in five years.

Muirton Park was the home of St Johnstone and the choice of venue delighted Aberdeen.

For once the Dons were not forced to travel to Glasgow for a ‘neutral’ venue and the majority of the 25,000 fans packed into the ground hailed from the north east. There were almost 18,000 Aberdeen supporters at the old ground and it was Derek McKay who once again popped up with the only goal of the game to send Aberdeen through to the final.

This was no stylish performance from the Dons—far from it, as Aberdeen had to withstand a second half barrage from Kilmarnock as they peppered the Aberdeen defence at every opportunity. That experience would surely have benefited the Dons as they would expect more of the same in the final. As expected Celtic eased past Dundee in the other semi final to set up a meeting with Aberdeen.

READ | full match report please click here

GALLERY | photos from the semi-final click here

Aberdeen Teamsheet: Clark, Boel, Murray, Hermiston (George Buchan) McMillan, Martin Buchan, McKay, Robb, Forrest, Hamilton, Harper.

Aberdeen were once again in the final and cup fever was sweeping the city.

A week after eliminating Kilmarnock Aberdeen faced Dunfermline at Pittodrie and Arthur Graham made his debut as a second half substitute. Four days later the Dons travelled to Glasgow for a dress rehearsal of the final at Celtic Park and Graham was selected for his first start. The events of this Wednesday evening should have sent alarm bells ringing in the east end of Glasgow as Graham, like McKay before him, scored a winner on his first start.

Make no mistake this was an important match as Celtic needed two points to clinch the title although the sight of crates of champagne being delivered to the home dressing room before a ball had been kicked certainly gave Eddie Turnbull a theme for his team talk. When the action did start Graham set up George Murray for the Dons opener and headed the winner himself for a well deserved 2-1 win. It was a great start for the young lad and food for thought for Turnbull ahead of the final as he witnessed the Dons first win over Celtic since 1966 and their first win at Parkhead since recording a 2-1 win in September 1962.