Latest news with #EddieTurnbull
Press and Journal
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
EXCLUSIVE: Aberdeen legend Jim Hermiston on wrecking Celtic's treble dream in 1970... and confiscating beer from Hoops fans
Having destroyed Celtic's domestic treble dream in the 1970 Scottish Cup final, Jim Hermiston had to inflict further misery on Hoops fans… by confiscating their beer as a police constable at Pittodrie. Former defender Hermiston was a Hampden hero when Eddie Turnbull's Aberdeen side shocked Celtic 3-1 in the final. Fast forward to 1975 and Hermiston was pitched in at the deep end when instructed by the officer in charge to police the Celtic away fans at Pittodrie. Hermiston had shocked Scottish football when retiring from the game while Aberdeen captain to take up a career in the police force. Instead of harassing the ex-Don, who wrecked their domestic treble bid in 1970, the Celtic fans bought him Bovril. Now based in Brisbane, Australia, Hermiston explained: 'For my first game in the police I was in the Celtic end at Pittodrie. 'The officer in charge said 'you go in amongst the Celtic supporters'. 'I had to take the beer off them when they were going into the ground. 'As the game progressed fans came down to say there's a Bovril at the top of the stairs for you. 'I had about 30 odd cups of Bovril waiting for me during the game. 'I said to them 'remember you used to call me names, now you're getting me Bovril'.' When the Dons won the League Cup in 1976, Hermiston was on duty as a police constable. He proudly walked in front of the open-top bus, clearing a path down Union Street. In 1970 Jock Stein's Celtic were red hot favourites for the final, having already secured the league title and League Cup. The Parkhead club also had a European Cup final looming after the showdown with Aberdeen. Celtic would lose the Euro final 2-1 to Dutch club Feyenoord. The first of a double cup final heartache was delivered by the Dons. Hermiston admits his involvement hung in the balance due to injury. Hermiston, affectionately nicknamed 'The Hermit', said: 'There was a real fear I wouldn't make the final. 'I got a bad injury against Morton about six weeks prior to the final. 'Eddie Turnbull said there was a reserve match at Pittodrie on Tuesday night before the final. 'He told me to run my legs off in that match and if I came through unscathed I would be in the team for the final. 'No-one else knew about that. 'My old determination kicked in for that reserve match. 'I ran and ran and fired into tackles. 'When he said I was playing in the final the manager said my job was to mark Bobby Murdoch, who was a great player. 'Thankfully it worked out alright.' Hermiston signed for Aberdeen from Bonnyrigg Rose in 1965. He made 270 appearances from the Dons before joining the police force. Aberdeen triumphed in the final courtesy of a Joe Harper penalty and a Derek McKay double. Hermiston, 77, said: 'Celtic were the odds-on favourites but we didn't have any fear as we were such a young team. 'Before the final Eddie Turnbull told us to enjoy the game, play for each other and do our jobs. 'We had a good defence. 'And we knew if we defended well and got the ball up to Joey (Harper) we would have a chance of winning. 'We got stuck in and didn't have any fear. 'I came from a country village so to play in front of more than 100,000 in a final was unbelievable. 'At the end of the game I could hardly talk. 'I didn't realise I had been shouting so loud and was hoarse. 'The homecoming was brilliant. 'When we got to Aberdeen it was unbelievable, just wonderful on that double decker bus.' Hermiston will stay up late to watch the final, which kicks off at midnight Australian time. Son James will wear his shirt from the 1970 final when cheering on Jimmy Thelin's side at Hampden. His grandson Ben, who plays for Highland League club Deveronvale, will also be at the final. Hermiston said: 'I hope my 55-year-old Scottish Cup jersey my son will wear will send good vibes on to the pitch. 'It is only 11 v 11 on the pitch. 'I'm sure Aberdeen will be really pumped up for the final and ready to give it their absolute all.'
Press and Journal
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
EXCLUSIVE: Legendary Aberdeen captain Martin Buchan reveals expletive-ridden 1970 Scottish Cup final message
Legendary Aberdeen captain Martin Buchan has revealed for the first time the expletive-ridden inspirational message delivered by boss Eddie Turnbull ahead of the 1970 Scottish Cup win. Aberdonian Buchan was only 21-years-old when he led the Dons to silverware glory with a 3-1 triumph against Celtic. In a rare interview Buchan, now 76, lifts the lid on the immediate build-up to that historic trophy win. And he revealed a short, defiant message relaxed the Reds seconds before they took to the pitch at the national stadium. Managerial great Turnbull's words relaxed the Reds to the point they were laughing in the tunnel – much to the bemusement of Celtic. Buchan revealed their boss had delivered the message ahead of a win at Parkhead two weeks earlier, after witnessing the Hoops take crates of champagne into their dressing room. And he was urged by the Dons to repeat his message. Buchan explained: 'We played Celtic at Parkhead not long before the final and Eddie Turnbull gave his team talk then went to go to his seat in the stand. 'He closed the door behind him and we were waiting for the referee to knock on the door to take us out. 'The manager wasn't out the room more than 10 seconds before he came back in. 'He said: 'I've just seen a couple of crates of champagne going into the Celtic dressing room.' 'He added: 'Are they going to celebrate winning the league tonight at our expense? My f*****g a*** they're not.' 'We walked out of the dressing room laughing away at his comment. 'Fast forward to the final and we're getting ready to leave the Hampden dressing room for the game. 'Eddie told us all the best and then George Murray said 'boss, give us that one you did at Parkhead. 'He said: 'Are they going to be celebrating tonight at our expense? My f*****g a*** they're not.' 'And there was no tension when we walked out onto the pitch, we were laughing. 'It was so funny the way he said it, word for word from Parkhead. 'We had no nerves whatsoever although we weren't overconfident. 'But we knew we were a good side.' The Reds faced a Celtic team gunning for not only a domestic treble, but an unprecedented quadruple. Jock Stein's Celtic had already won the league title and League Cup prior to facing Aberdeen at Hampden. They were also set to play in the European Cup final after playing the Dons, and would lose 2-1 to Dutch club Feyenoord. In front of a crowd of 108,434 Aberdeen stunned Celtic courtesy of a double from Derek 'Cup Tie' McKay and a converted Joe Harper penalty. Now based in Warrington, Buchan said: 'Celtic weren't favourites in our minds as we had beaten them (2-1) not long before at Parkhead. 'We respected Celtic but didn't fear them. 'We were the second-best team in Scotland and had replaced Rangers as Celtic's main rivals. 'When that final kicked off, we were relaxed in our minds. 'We knew what we had to do as we had worked hard on the training pitch on what Eddie thought we needed. 'We went out there without a care in the world. 'All the preparation had been done and that light moment in the dressing room set us up for the game. 'There was one incident when Bobby Clark was in his penalty box and had the ball in his arms. 'Bobby Lennox poked the ball out with his hand (and scored when Aberdeen were leading 1-0). 'Fortunately, the referee was close and knew what happened, that Bobby hadn't dropped it. 'Celtic weren't very happy as we got a free kick (and the goal was disallowed). 'We stayed in Gleneagles before the final. 'We went back there to stay the night after the final as well. 'There was a celebration and a lovely guy called Norman Cunningham, who was the chief executive of Otis Elevators, he treated us to champagne. 'I think to myself how do I remember something like that which happened 55 years ago? 'I remember that clear as a bell. My memory of that night is vivid.' A product of the Pittodrie youth system having joined the club as a 12-year-old, Buchan became the youngest captain to lift the Scottish Cup for Aberdeen. Initially brought up Glenbervie Road in Torry, Buchan moved at five-years-old to a Scotland Special house in Stewart Terrace, Northfield. He attended Westerton and Cummings Park Primary Schools before Robert Gordon's College. The former defender had only been captain for less than three months before lifting silverware with his home city club. He is the last Granite City born and raised player to lift the Scottish Cup as captain of the Dons. Buchan hopes Aberdonian skipper Graeme Shinnie can emulate that feat on Saturday. He explained: 'It was disbelief as I was only appointed captain in February when we played Clydebank in a Scottish Cup tie at Pittodrie. 'Being made captain of Aberdeen was a great honour. 'I hadn't been captain for long when we won the Scottish Cup. 'It was like a fairytale. 'I had just turned 21 when I was made captain but when Eddie Turnbull tells you that you are doing something, you don't question it. 'To end up lifting the trophy less than three months later was very special. 'Hopefully Graeme Shinnie can lift the trophy as captain of his home city club. 'I'll be watching the final on television and keeping everything crossed that day.' The triumph in 1970 was only the second time Aberdeen had won the Scottish Cup, the other success in 1947. Buchan had the joy of winning the cup alongside his brother George, who was an unused substitute in the final. In celebration of the historic event the newly crowned Scottish Cup heroes were welcomed by around 100,000 in an open-top bus parade. Buchan said: 'We changed into the open-top bus at the other side of Brig o' Dee. 'We crossed that then came up Holburn Street before Union Street. 'It was wall to wall people right up to the Castlegate and the Townhouse. 'I have black and white photographs of that parade which was wonderful. 'It breaks my heart now when I go back to Aberdeen as Union Street is an absolute disgrace. 'Union Street used to be the loveliest main street in the United Kingdom with a spotless pavement.' One of the most gifted players to ever emerge from the Pittodrie youth ranks Buchan was named Scotland's player of the year in 1971. He became Aberdeen's record transfer when he moved to Manchester United for £125,000 in 1972. He would go on to captain the Old Trafford club to FA Cup glory in 1977 with a 2-1 win against Liverpool in the final. In doing so the Aberdonian became the first player to captain FA Cup and Scottish Cup winning sides. Scotland great Buchan earned 34 caps and played at the 1974 and 1978 World Cup finals. He said: 'Winning the FA Cup was special because we had lost the final the year before to Southampton (1-0). 'Southampton had a lot of experienced old hands and we were Tommy Docherty's young team. 'We should have done better in the league that season but in think we were distracted by that cup run. 'Everyone expected us to beat Southampton easily but I had my reservations about that. 'I thought we underestimated them at our peril. 'After the Southampton game we went into Manchester town centre and the town hall square was packed. 'We got a civic reception and Tommy Doc stood in front of all the supporters and said 'never mind we'll go back and win it next year'. 'It was words of consolation to the crowd – and it turned out to be true. 'I have been blessed, really I have.'
