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1978 | Ferguson's First Season

01 June 2020

Author Red Matchday Team (Kevin Stirling) (Andrew Morrison) (Malcolm Panton)

Estimated Reading Time: 16 minutes

On the 1st June 1978, Sir Alex Ferguson took over as Aberdeen manager, replacing Billy McNeill who had left at the end of the season to be the Celtic boss.

He would go on and become the greatest football manager that the United Kingdom has ever produced. Sir Alex a few years back recalled his early days at the club:

“The first time I came here, I had lost my job at St Mirren the previous day. I drove up and met Mr Donald in his office opposite the theatre, we then had a spot of lunch and met Chris Anderson and we had a look around Pittodrie.

“Chris was going to America the next day. I ended up going down to London to get a visa and then I flew out on the Saturday morning and met him in Washington. Aberdeen had a big American connection at the time because of the oil industry and we used that to go over to look at the off-field activities that we might be able to incorporate from the way they promoted “soccer”.

“Before I came to Pittodrie, Ally MacLeod had won the League Cup in 1976. I had a lot of time for Ally. People sometimes misunderstand someone who is so enthusiastic but believe me, that is a talent, it energises people. Then Billy McNeill came in and he was very unlucky not to win anything. But when I came in, I had my own ideas of what I wanted to do with the team.

“When I was 32, I wanted to rule the world. When I came to Aberdeen, I soon realised I had a lot to learn! It was a settled club. Dick Donald understood me and did more than anyone to help me.

“My dad had just died at the time so Dick was responsible for making me the manager I was.

“Dick was not the type to tell you want to do. What he was good at telling you was that nothing outside the club mattered. He did not worry about the press. He just told me to concentrate on the team. I remember shortly after I arrived I asked him to give the first team players a rise. He told me not to worry about them. I should look after the young kids. I should give them the rise.

“From early on, I think the younger players did see me as a father figure.

“One thing you have to do when you are managing any group of people is to create a trust, a loyalty and a unity.

“One of the great things you have to do is to create a good human being.

“They can be resilient, responsible and when they grow older, that character comes out more than ever.

“And I think when you look at the Aberdeen players from that time, they were like that – good human beings. Good character. They have all done well as human beings. I don’t hear silly stories about them, they have lived their lives well. That was a responsibility I always took as a manager.

“Aberdeen was a club that had no expectation when I went there. I had to create the expectation for them.

And you need that for the club to be successful. Eventually Aberdeen players created an expectation and they were responsible for that. They had to fulfil that every week.”

Season 1978.79

By his own admission Alex Ferguson declared his first season at Pittodrie was anything but easy. It was a new era at an all-seated Pittodrie as the new Dons boss took over from Billy McNeill. While it was accepted that the Dons side left by Billy McNeill was a strong one, could Ferguson take Aberdeen to the next level?

JIM LEIGHTON DEBUT

Aberdeen kicked off the new season with a new keeper in the first team. It was one Alex Fergusons first tasks following injury to the experienced Scotland international Bobby Clark who was side-lined for several weeks with a broken finger. Ferguson had to pick from his two reserves; Jim Leighton and John Gardiner.

The new Aberdeen boss opted for Leighton whose first competitive appearance came against Hearts at Tynecastle on the opening day of the season. Leighton impressed as did Aberdeen as they hammered the Edinburgh side 4-1 on their own patch. With one defeat at Hibernian in their first eight matches, the signs were good for Aberdeen.

CUP PROGRESS

Aberdeen made progress in the League Cup after seeing of the challenges from Meadowbank, Hamilton and Ayr Utd to reach the semi final. In the ECWC the Dons lost centre half Willie Garner after a leg break in their tie against Marek Dimitrov in Bulgaria.

The trip was a classic journey to Eastern Europe back in the day when visits to the likes of Bulgaria were difficult to say the least. Aberdeen lost 3-2 but were convincing winners in the Pittodrie return leg …

FERGUSON LEADS DONS TO VICTORY IN HIS FIRST EUROPEAN TIE

History was made at Pittodrie this evening as the Dons reached the last 16 of a European competition for the first time in their history. Trailing 3-2 from the first leg, the 21,000-crowd had to be patient as the home side failed to make the breakthrough in a frustrating opening 45 minutes.

It took substitute Gordon Strachan to break the deadlock. He replaced Dom Sullivan just before the hour mark and within five minutes he had grabbed the all-important opener. He eluded his marker and buried a McMaster chip across goal despite the Bulgarian keeper getting a hand on the ball.

The resolute defence had been breached and in the 75th minute Aberdeen doubled their lead when McMaster released Harper on the left. The striker swung in a cross and his partner, Jarvie, controlled the ball, swivelled and drilled it into the corner of the net. Harper sealed the win six minutes later when he netted an Archibald rebound to keep the Dons euro journey on track. German cracks, Fortuna Dusseldorf await in the next round.

DONS BID FOR STARK REJECTED BY SAINTS

Aberdeen have had a bid for young St. Mirren midfielder Billy Stark rejected by the Paisley side. The £100,000 bid would have been a record pay out by Aberdeen. Stark was signed by Ferguson as a 17-year old when he was manager at St. Mirren and sees the youngster as a possible solution for the shortage of goals coming from his midfield. Gordon Strachan is hoping he may offer that midfield goal threat after he opened his European account last night. The substitute claimed only his second goal for the club, but is now hoping to claim a regular starting place.

GERMAN EFFICIENCY

Aberdeen found it more difficult in the next round as they went down by three goals to Fortuna Dusseldorf in Germany.

Ferguson had always admired the German game and their approach. The damage for Aberdeen was done in the first leg. Aberdeen went chasing an away goal after going behind.

In hindsight Ferguson admitted that he should have had faith in is side’s ability to recover the tie in the Pittodrie return. A spirited display in the return just fell short as the Dons won 2-0 and missed several chances to take the tie into extra time.

AUTUMN BLUES

Their defeat in Europe did not help confidence and October proved to be a disastrous month for the club with three defeats to St Mirren, Hearts and Morton compounding their European misery. Any talk of a title challenge was vanquished after that dreadful spell. The challenge under McNeill the previous season was never going to be repeated this time around. Aberdeen recovered before the winter break to claw back a respectable league place but a challenge for the title looked well beyond them.

Aberdeen did reach the League Cup Final after a thrilling extra time win over Hibernian in the semi-final at Dens Park. The huge Aberdeen support were put through all emotions in a game they dominated but could not find a breakthrough until Stewart Kennedy’s cross come shot sailed into the top corner of the net in extra time.

LEAGUE CUP FINAL MISERY

In what was one of the most controversial finals for many years the Dons went down 2-1 to arch rivals Rangers at Hampden. The game turned on a second half clash between Doug Rougvie and Rangers Derek Johnstone. The Rangers striker went down and feigned injury as Rougvie was sent off by referee Ian Foote. The result left a bitter taste at Pittodrie but only hardened attitudes to succeed. That final defeat was one of the last disappointments for Ferguson during his Pittodrie tenure.

SCOTTISH CUP DISAPPOINTMENT

Despite beating Celtic in a Parkhead replay with an impressive 2-1 quarter final replay win, the Dons went down to Hibernian in a disappointing semi final at Hampden. Earlier Aberdeen had beaten Hamilton, Ayr and Celtic to reach the last four.

LEAGUE CAMPAIGN

Aberdeen went on to finish in fourth place in the league, only eight points behind champions Celtic.

Joe Harper was the leading scorer with 33 goals while manager Ferguson promised of better days ahead for his new team.

Changes would have to be made as the Aberdeen team under Ferguson was to be changed as he looked to bring in his own players. With the promised backing of the Aberdeen board, there were good days ahead for the Dons. The additions began when Mark McGhee was signed in a £70,000 deal from Newcastle in April in the days before any transfer windows.

The Dons also piled the misery on former boss Ally MacLeod who was in charge of Motherwell after resigning from the national team. In March 1979 Aberdeen hammered Motherwell 8-0 and created a Premier record score.

Manager Ferguson was philosophical after his first season at Pittodrie;

“We need to instil some belief into the players. There were times in the season when we did not show enough courage. It can be the difference between winning and losing. We can never be afraid. It is a learning process and we will get it right.”

1978/79 STATS

Double wins: Home: (1) Motherwell. Away: (1) Partick Thistle.
Double losses: Home: (0). Away: (0).

High spots: Alex Ferguson era begins after Billy McNeill returns to Celtic.
Jim Leighton makes competitive debut in League opener at Tynecastle v Hearts.
Dons reach League Cup final and semi-final of the Scottish Cup.
Memorable Cup replay win at Celtic Park in the Scottish Cup.
Record Premier 8-0 win over Motherwell.
Mark McGhee joins Dons from Newcastle in £70,000 transfer.
Pittodrie becomes the first all-seated stadium in Britain.
103 goals scored in 53 games.
Aberdeen ’A’ win the Reserve League Cup.
Stuart Kennedy capped v Austria and Portugal.

Low points: Willie Garner breaks his leg in ECWC-tie in Bulgaria against Marek.
0-3 defeat in Dusseldorf as Dons receive a European lesson against the Germans.
Bitter League Cup defeat in controversial final against Rangers at Hampden.

Ever-presents: (0).
Hat-tricks: (3) Joe Harper.
Leading scorer: (33) Joe Harper.

READ | Aberdeen FC Heritage Trust | for a look at all the stats from that season please click here

OTHER FOOTBALL NEWS

MIXED FORTUNES FOR SCOTTISH CLUBS

While Aberdeen were slowly learning in the Cup Winners Cup, Rangers overcame a 1- 0 deficit at Ibrox to send Juventus packing from the European Cup with a 2-0 win. Rangers were knocked out by FC Cologne who in turn were beaten by eventual winners Nottingham Forrest. In the UEFA Cup, Hibs progressed against IFK Norrkoeping, but Dundee United lost out to Standard Liege. Hibs in the next round were beaten by Strasbourg. Borussia Mönchengladbach beat Red Star Belgrade. Barcelona beat Fortuna Düsseldorf 4-3 after extra time in one of the best ever CWC finals. Meanwhile Celtic, who failed to qualify for Europe, crashed out of the Anglo Scottish Cup losing 2-1 to Burnley at Parkhead.

MACLEOD QUITS SCOTLAND JOB

Three months on from the World Cup debacle, Scotland boss Ally MacLeod quit his post and returned to Ayr United where his managerial career started. The ex- Dons boss has not lost his exuberance and confidence despite his Argentine experience. He said, “It’s just like coming back home. I am delighted to be back here. I have fond memories of Ayr and I am sure I can restore the club’s fortunes. I still believe I am the best. Now I have the chance to prove it.” Later that season he would join Motherwell and was on the end of a 8-0 drubbing by the Dons.

STEIN OF SCOTLAND

With Aberdeen losing manager Billy McNeill to Celtic, it marked a disappointing end to Jock Stein’s reign at Parkhead. His 13-year reign ended after Celtic finished fifth in the league and with no cup success, there would be on European football. The Celtic board quickly appointed McNeill who had done so well with Aberdeen in his debut season as a manager in the top division. Stein had agreed at the end of the season to step aside for a younger man in the belief that he would be offered a role as a director. What was offered was more a commercial manager’s post. Stein refused and walked away from the club after their best period in their history. In August he was appointed manager at Leeds Utd, taking over from the disastrous spell under Brian Clough which lasted only 44 days. Ironically Stein lasted a similar length of time but it was the call to take over as Scotland manager that drew Stein back to Scotland. Leeds tried to offer additional financial inducements but the lure of taking over his country proved crucial.

THE £1m BARRIER BROKEN

In 1905 when Middlesbrough paid Sunderland £1,000 for Alf Common there was a huge amount of criticism for paying so much for one player. Some 74 years later it was former Middlesbrough player Brian Clough who as Nottingham Forest manager paid £1m for Trevor Francis from Birmingham. The transfer on the 9th February 1979 doubled the previous record between British clubs when WBA paid £500,000 for David Mills from Middlesbrough. Forest had to fend off Jimmy Hill’s Coventry to get their man. It was Birmingham who set the price as they were rooted at the bottom of the table and destined to lose their prized asset. The gamble for Clough was that he was signed so late in the season that he could only be eligible for one European tie; the Final. The outrageous gamble paid off; Francis scored the winning goal against Malmo as Forest were crowned European champions.

REVIE BANNED

Controversial England manager Don Revie, whose Leeds Utd side was as much disliked as they were admired, was banned by the English FA for 10 years after he signed a secret deal with the United Arab Emirates while he was still the England manager. Revie was also trying to get the FA to pay him £50,000compensation if he resigned. Revie decided to sue the FA because he declared the decision as “savage and out of all proportion.”

“Crisis? What Crisis?”

Also in the news during the 1978/79 season:

17 June – Media reports suggest that a general election will be held this autumn as the minority government led by James Callaghan and Labour appears to be nearing the end of its duration. But the polls suggest Labour could still win.
19 June – Cricketer Ian Botham becomes the first man in the history of the game to score a century and take eight wickets in one innings of a Test match.
7 September – Prime Minister James Callaghan announces that he will not call a general election for this autumn, and faces accusations of “running scared”.
7 September – Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov is stabbed with a poison-tipped umbrella as he walks across Waterloo Bridge, London, probably on orders of Bulgarian intelligence; he dies 4 days later.
19 September – British Police launch a massive murder hunt, following the discovery of the dead body of newspaper boy Carl Bridgewater (13) at a farmhouse near Kingswinford in the West Midlands. Carl is believed to have been shot dead after disturbing a burglary at the property.
29 November – Viv Anderson, the 22-year-old Nottingham Forest defender, becomes England’s first black international footballer when he appears in 1–0 friendly win over Czechoslovakia at Wembley Stadium. Also an industrial dispute closes down The Times newspaper (until 12 November 1979).
14 December – The Labour minority government survives a vote of confidence.
21–22 December – The BBC was hit by a series of strikes as BBC One and BBC Two were taken off air.
5 January – Lorry drivers go on strike, causing new shortages of heating oil and fresh food.
10 January – Prime Minister James Callaghan returns from an international summit to a Britain in a state of industrial unrest. The Sun newspaper reports his comments with a famous headline: “Crisis? What Crisis?”
22 January – Tens of thousands of public-workers strike in the beginning of what becomes known as the “Winter of Discontent”.
2 February – Sid Vicious, the former Sex Pistols guitarist, is found dead in New York after a heroin overdose.
1 March – Scottish devolution referendum: Scotland votes by a majority of 77,437 for a Scottish Assembly, which is not implemented due to a condition that at least 40% of the electorate must support the idea.
28 March – James Callaghan’s government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, after the SNP join the Conservatives in vote against labour, forcing a General Election on 3 May.
4 April – Josephine Whitaker, a 19-year-old bank worker, is murdered in Halifax; police believe that she is the 11th woman to be murdered by the Yorkshire Ripper.
4 May – The Conservatives win the General Election by a 43-seat majority and Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female Prime Minister of the UK.
8 May – Former Liberal Party leader and MP Jeremy Thorpe goes on trial at the Old Bailey charged with attempted murder.
12 May – The greatest FA Cup final of all time? Arsenal defeat Manchester United 3–2 in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, with Alan Sunderland scoring a last gasp winner in response to two United goals inside the last five minutes.