The 1970–71 season was Aberdeen's 59th season in the top flight of Scottish football and their 60th season of Club. 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 Day Date Opponent H/A Score Aberdeen Scorer(s) Attendance129 AugustAirdrieoniansH1–1Harper9,00025 SeptemberDundeeA2–1Harper, Hamilton8,000312 SeptemberSt JohnstoneH0–010,000419 SeptemberKilmarnockA4–0Arthur, Boel, Hamilton, Harper6,000526 SeptemberHibernianH3–0Robb, Forrest, Harper13,00063 OctoberGreenock MortonA0–27,000710 OctoberDunfermline AthleticH3–2M. Buchan, Graham (2)10,000817 OctoberRangersA2–0Jackson, Harper39,763924 OctoberSt MirrenA3–1S. Murray, Forrest, Robb3,0001031 OctoberDundee UnitedH4–0S. Murray, Robb, Harper (2)10,000117 NovemberClydeH3–0Harper (2), Hermiston13,0001214 NovemberAyr UnitedA1–0Harper11,0001321 NovemberHeart of MidlothianH1–0Harper13,5001428 NovemberMotherwellA2–0Boel, Taylor10,000155 DecemberCowdenbeathH7–0Harper (3), Kinnel (2), S. Murray, Graham14,0001612 DecemberCelticA1–0Harper63,0001719 DecemberFalkirkH1–0Harper19,0001826 DecemberAirdrieoniansA4–0Harper (2), S. Murray, Taylor8,000191 JanuaryDundeeH3–0S. Murray, McMillan, Graham24,000202 JanuarySt JohnstoneA1–0Forrest21,500219 JanuaryKilmarnockH3–0Willoughby, Robb, Forrest18,0002216 JanuaryHibernianA1–2Robb23,4002330 JanuaryGreenock MortonH3–1Taylor (2), Harper18,000246 FebruaryDunfermline AthleticA0–19,0002520 FebruaryRangersH0–036,0002627 FebruarySt MirrenH1–1Forrest15,0002710 MarchDundee UnitedA2–0M. Buchan, Forrest7,0002813 MarchClydeA2–1S. Murray, Forrest4,5002924 MarchAyr UnitedH4–1S. Murray, Forrest, Robb, Graham18,0003027 MarchHeart of MidlothianA3–1Robb (3)13,500313 AprilMotherwellH0–013,0003210 AprilCowdenbeathA2–1Bostock, G. Buchan4,0003317 AprilCelticH1–1Willoughby36,0003424 AprilFalkirkA0–18,000
Final standings
Scottish League Cup
Aberdeen failed to qualify from section 4 of the League Cup.
Group 4
Round Date Opponent H/A Score Aberdeen Scorer(s) Attendance18 AugustAirdrieoniansA1–1S. Murray3,500212 AugustSt JohnstoneH2–1Robb, Harper13,500315 AugustHibernianH1–1Robb16,000419 AugustSt JohnstoneA1–0Forrest3,300522 AugustAirdrieoniansH7–3Boel, Robb, Harper (4), Jonquin12,000626 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.
Round Date Opponent H/A Score Aberdeen Scorer(s) AttendanceR325 JanuaryElgin CityH5–0Taylor, Forrest (2), Harper (2)24,136R413 FebruaryDundee UnitedA1–1Forrest24,000R4 R17 FebruaryDundee UnitedH2–0Boel, Robb29,000QF6 MarchRangersA0–165,000
Europe
Aberdeen made history by becoming the first club to be knocked out of European competition on penalty kicks.
Round Date Opponent H/A Score Aberdeen Scorer(s) AttendanceR1 L116 SeptemberHonvédH3–1S. Murray, Harper, Graham21,500R1 L230 SeptemberHonvédA1–3S. Murray18,500
References