The Dons had heartbreak in both Cup competitions, losing to Dundee United in the League Cup final replay 3-0 and 1-0 to Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi–final the same season but soon the Pittodrie fans would have very good reason to celebrate.
Aberdeen had a poor start to the season but this was not a sprint, it was a marathon, and the Dons would go on a late 15-match undefeated run from March to May with two wins in Glasgow against Celtic on their relentless march towards the title. Easter Road and a match against Hibernian would be the place every Dons fan would want to be. Their sparkling football swept Hibs aside and they won the match in a canter 5-0!
The manager, players, and fans had waited so long for this moment; the heartbreaks of previous defeats in Cup Finals of the past would all came out in an over spill of sheer emotion and the Dons fans would paint Edinburgh red and white instead of green and white. The Dons had won the League for the first time since 1955 that strangely enough finished one point ahead of nearest challengers Celtic. This Dons team would do the very same. Maybe it was written in the stars that this would be the year that the Dons would be crowned champions.
Winning the Championship would bring the Dons a chance to play in the European Cup and after seeing off Austria Memphis with a Mark McGhee goal giving the Dons a 1-0 win on aggregate the Dons would now face the pride of England and former winners of the European Cup, Liverpool! The whole country could hardly contain their excitement! Liverpool were to teach their Scottish counterparts a hard lesson, winning 1-0 at Pittodrie and thrashing them 4-0 at Anfield. Their European adventure was over.
This was to be a disappointing season for the Pittodrie club finishing second in the League and going out of both cup competitions - to Dundee 1-0 in the League Cup and Morton in the Scottish Cup 1-0. Indeed the only time the Pittodrie trophy cabinet was opened was when the Drybrough Cup was won at Hampden with a 2-1 victory over St Mirren.
Steve Archibald was sold to Spurs and Joe Harper, the King of the beach end, had come to the end of his time at Pittodrie.The Dons would have to rebuild and Fergie wasted no time in doing so. In season 81-82, the Dons brought in Peter Weir from St Mirren and youngsters like Cooper, Simpson, Black and Hewitt would now become favourites with the Pittodrie faithful.
Yet again the Dons would start slowly, losing their first two matches 4-1 to Dundee United and 3-1 to Celtic, but they soon gathered momentum, not losing to Rangers all season but only beating Celtic once in the League. This was not enough and the Parkhead club took the title.
The League Cup interest was again ended by Dundee United despite winning the away leg 1-0 they crashed out losing 3-0 at Pittodrie.
