1970–71 Aberdeen F.C. season


The 1970-71 season was Aberdeen's 58th season in the top flight of Scottish football and their 60th season overall. Aberdeen competed in the Scottish League Division One, Scottish League Cup, Scottish Cup, and European Cup Winners' Cup.
Aberdeen finished second in the league behind Celtic and became the first club to be knocked out of European competition in a penalty shoot-out when they lost to Hungarian club Honvéd. Goalkeeper Bobby Clark achieved a record by going 1,155 minutes without conceding a goal in the league, which was surpassed in 2009 by Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar. On 6 February a fire destroyed part of the Main Stand at Pittodrie. The Scottish Cup trophy was saved by firemen, but many historical club artifacts and items of memorabilia were destroyed.

Squad

Appearances & Goals

Results

Own goals in italics

Scottish League First Division

Match DayDateOpponentH/AScoreAberdeen ScorerAttendance
129 AugustAirdrieoniansH1–1Harper9,000
25 SeptemberDundeeA2–1Harper, Hamilton8,000
312 SeptemberSt JohnstoneH0–010,000
419 SeptemberKilmarnockA4–0Arthur, Boel, Hamilton, Harper6,000
526 SeptemberHibernianH3–0Robb, Forrest, Harper13,000
63 OctoberGreenock MortonA0–27,000
710 OctoberDunfermline AthleticH3–2M. Buchan, Graham 10,000
817 OctoberRangersA2–0Jackson, Harper39,763
924 OctoberSt MirrenA3–1S. Murray, Forrest, Robb3,000
1031 OctoberDundee UnitedH4–0S. Murray, Robb, Harper 10,000
117 NovemberClydeH3–0Harper, Hermiston13,000
1214 NovemberAyr UnitedA1–0Harper11,000
1321 NovemberHeart of MidlothianH1–0Harper13,500
1428 NovemberMotherwellA2–0Boel, Taylor10,000
155 DecemberCowdenbeathH7–0Harper, Kinnel , S. Murray, Graham14,000
1612 DecemberCelticA1–0Harper63,000
1719 DecemberFalkirkH1–0Harper19,000
1826 DecemberAirdrieoniansA4–0Harper, S. Murray, Taylor8,000
191 JanuaryDundeeH3–0S. Murray, McMillan, Graham24,000
202 JanuarySt JohnstoneA1–0Forrest21,500
219 JanuaryKilmarnockH3–0Willoughby, Robb, Forrest18,000
2216 JanuaryHibernianA1–2Robb23,400
2330 JanuaryGreenock MortonH3–1Taylor, Harper18,000
246 FebruaryDunfermline AthleticA0–19,000
2520 FebruaryRangersH0–036,000
2627 FebruarySt MirrenH1–1Forrest15,000
2710 MarchDundee UnitedA2–0M. Buchan, Forrest7,000
2813 MarchClydeA2–1S. Murray, Forrest4,500
2924 MarchAyr UnitedH4–1S. Murray, Forrest, Robb, Graham18,000
3027 MarchHeart of MidlothianA3–1Robb 13,500
313 AprilMotherwellH0–013,000
3210 AprilCowdenbeathA2–1Bostock, G. Buchan4,000
3317 AprilCelticH1–1Willoughby36,000
3424 AprilFalkirkA0–18,000

Final standings

Scottish League Cup

Aberdeen failed to qualify from section 4 of the League Cup.

Group 4

RoundDateOpponentH/AScoreAberdeen ScorerAttendance
18 AugustAirdrieoniansA1–1S. Murray3,500
212 AugustSt JohnstoneH2–1Robb, Harper13,500
315 AugustHibernianH1–1Robb16,000
419 AugustSt JohnstoneA1–0Forrest3,300
522 AugustAirdrieoniansH7–3Boel, Robb, Harper, Jonquin12,000
626 AugustHibernianA0–424,900

Group 4 final table

Scottish Cup

Aberdeen, the defending champions of the Scottish Cup, were knocked out by Rangers in the quarter final.
RoundDateOpponentH/AScoreAberdeen ScorerAttendance
R325 JanuaryElgin CityH5–0Taylor, Forrest, Harper 24,136
R413 FebruaryDundee UnitedA1–1Forrest24,000
R4 R17 FebruaryDundee UnitedH2–0Boel, Robb29,000
QF6 MarchRangersA0–165,000

Europe

Aberdeen made history by becoming the first club to be knocked out of European competition on penalty kicks.
RoundDateOpponentH/AScoreAberdeen ScorerAttendance
R1 L116 SeptemberHonvédH3–1S. Murray, Harper, Graham21,500
R1 L230 SeptemberHonvédA1–3S. Murray18,500