| Match Pictures | Matches: 1969 – 1970 | 1969-70 Pictures |
Trivia
- One of the most controversial Scottish cup finals of all time.
- Aberdeen benefit from three major refereeing decisions.
- Jock Stein incensed by performance of referee Davidson.
- Final was sandwiched between the two legs of the epic ECSF against Leeds United.
- Crowd of 108,434 far exceeds the glamour Wembley 100,000 who watch Chelsea and Leeds.
- On the previous night at Celtic Park Celtic defeated Raith Rovers 4-1 in the Reserve League. The Celtic team was Fallon, McGrain, Gorman, Dalglish, Craig, Cattanach, Chalmers, Davidson, White, Hood and Macari. The Celtic scorers were Davidson 2, Dalglish and Hood.
- Jock Stein gave referee Davidson a mouthful at full time and was fined £10 by the SFA. In later years Aberdeen boss Eddie Turnbull was asked if Davidson’s performnce was that bad. He replied: ‘Put it this way, if I had been in big Jock’s shoes, I’d have had 20 quids’ worth!”
Review
In 28 minutes a McKay cross struck Murdoch on the upper arm at close range. Although Murdoch had his arm at his side referee Davidson gave a penalty much to Celtic’s protest. Gemmell was booked for throwing the ball at the referee and Harper scored.
Four minutes later Aberdeen keeper Clark went to clear the ball from hand and only succeeded in dropping the ball at the feet of Bobby Lennox who accepted the chance and scored. The referee disallowed the goal for a foul and Johnstone was booked for protesting.
Things got worse in 38 minutes when Buchan fouled Lennox, who was in full flight, in the area. It was a sure penalty and no one knows why it was not given and the Celtic players were left enraged.
Despite a barrage of Celtic pressure Aberdeen scored on the break with 10 minutes to go. Lennox scored late on but Aberdeen clinched it with a third right after.
Celtic fans stayed at the end to berate referee Davidson but sportingly applauded Martin Buchan when he received the trophy on a cold April day.
Stein was fulsome in his praise of the Dons’ performance but was scathing in his criticism of Davidson and was later to be rebuked by the SFA for his post match comments.
This game was the start of an ongoing feud between Stein and Davidson which was to go on for several years.
Teams
Aberdeen:
Clark Boel Murray Hermiston McMillan M Buchan McKay Robb Forrest Harper Graham Sub: G Buchan
Goals: Harper (27 pen), McKay 2 (82, 90)
Celtic:
Williams, Hay, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Brogan, Johnstone, Connelly, Wallace, Lennox, Hughes (Auld).
Goal: Lennox (89)
Referee: R. Davidson.
Attendance: 108,434
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
