You may have read the stat recently that only three managers in the history of Scottish football had a better start to their career at a league club than Livingston’s David Martindale. They were Martin O’Neill at Celtic in 2000, Bill Struth at Rangers in in 1920 and Dave Shaw at Aberdeen in 1955. So we thought we would have a look back at that season in more detail…

Silverware for Shaw

Finishing as runners up in the league and winning the League Cup would normally be seen as a very successful season. However back in 1956 it was a disappointed Aberdeen who could not retain their league title that was won for the first time in 1955. Nevertheless the Dons returned some impressive statistics as they just missed out on the championship to arch rivals Rangers.

No New Faces For Champions

Manager Dave Shaw was installed after the surprise decision of Dave Halliday to leave Aberdeen to take over as manager at Leicester City. Halliday had taken the Dons to their first championship in May 1955 and the general belief was that he was looking forward to leading the champions once again in defence of their title. However a row over bonus money, with the players unhappy at the lack of financial reward from the club, and the fact that Aberdeen were scandalously overlooked by the SFA for a first tilt at the new European Cup in favour of Hibernian, had a bearing on Halliday moving south.

By rights Aberdeen should have been Scotland’s representatives in the first European Cup competition in 1955/56. But in its inaugural participation was by invitation rather than possession of the domestic championship and at the SFA’s request Hibs filled Scotland’s berth. It is a subject we have mentioned a few times in this publication, not that we are still bitter or anything!

Trainer Dave Shaw was promoted from trainer to the hot seat and he went into the season with the same squad that took the title, although George Hamilton had played his last game. Shaw had high standards to maintain, yet was keen for the Dons to play a more attractive style of football. It certainly worked to start with.

League Cup Success

The first three months of the season were highly successful. Aberdeen continued their imperious form at the beginning of the season and excelled in the League Cup to give Shaw and the defending champions more silverware. On their way to Hampden the Dons accounted for the likes of Hibernian, Hearts and Rangers before defeating St Mirren 2-1 in the Final. It took a sensational winner from Graham Leggat to give Aberdeen the victory on a day when St Mirren gave a great account of themselves and pushed the Dons all the way. Many said Leggat’s lob from the touchline was a fluke, including all the media, but it was something he had practiced in training and his team mates had seen before.

As the Dons remained the only unbeaten team in Britain after the final, it was clear that Aberdeen were on the crest of a wave and they appeared to be marching irresistibly towards retaining their league crown.

Championship Defence Falters

After winning their opening four league matches, it was clear that Aberdeen were determined to hold on to their league title. But after the Hampden success they went eight matches without a win. Defeats against Clyde, Hearts and Kilmarnock had damaged the Dons chances and as so often happens after winning a trophy mid-season the Dons league hopes faded. The eight-game winless streak in November and December was a fatal blow and the general belief was that Aberdeen were out of the title race. Had the more attractive style of play under Shaw come unstuck when winter arrived?

Renaissance Too Little, Too Late…

It was not until Christmas of 1955 that Aberdeen got back on the rails and they embarked on an impressive run of 14 unbeaten league matches which hauled them back in contention although they were still not expected to overhaul leaders Rangers. It was not until a shock home defeat to Raith Rovers on 31st march that finally ended Aberdeen hopes. Although they went on to secure second place in the table they finished six points behind Rangers and one ahead of third place Hearts. It was a disappointing end to a campaign that promised so much. The team had been burdened throughout the season with a chaotic injury problem.

The poor sequence of results in the aftermath of their League Cup success proved too much. It was Rangers who also ended Aberdeen’s Scottish Cup hopes with a 2-1 win at Ibrox in the opening round of the competition.

On a brighter note the Dons still had the nucleus of their championship squad as well as the emergence of George Mulhall and the developing talents of winger Graham Leggat. The future looked very bright but that was not to be the case as the decade wore on …

1956-1960

After winning the League title in 1954-55 and the League Cup the following season against St Mirren, it was a shock how quickly arguably the best side in the UK went into a deep malaise during the second half of the decade as the championship side was broken up. During 1957-58 the Dons were anonymously placed in mid-table through the first half of the season. But come New Year they turned over a new leaf, taking nine points from five January fixtures,

But after January, Aberdeen won only three of the last thirteen and slumped down to twelfth, one place ahead of St Mirren on goal difference. Over the season 76 league goals were lost, far and away the worst since the War. What was even more disappointing for the paying Pittodrie customers was that of 17 home league matches, nine were lost – the first season since 1945 that Aberdeen had lost more games than they had won.

The following season Aberdeen had to beat Rangers at Ibrox in April to ensure they were not dragged into the relegation battle as things continued to spiral in a downward direction. They won the game, but the following week were well beaten by St Mirren in the Scottish Cup final. The third Scottish Cup final they had lost in seven years. Then 1959-60 was the Dons most miserable since the War. They looked certain for relegation until miraculously they won their last four games.

Aberdeen’s league position had deteriorated year by year since becoming champions in 1955. They were second in 1956, 6th in 1957, 12th in 1958, 13th in 1959 and 15th in 1960.

Aberdeen’s league position had deteriorated year by year since becoming champions in 1955. They were second in 1956, 6th in 1957, 12th in 1958, 13th in 1959 and 15th in 1960.