Saints Heap More Misery on Aberdeen (1963)

(first published in the match programme for St. Mirren v Hearts, 21^st September 2024)

St. Mirren travelled to Pittodrie on 21^st September 1963 to face Aberdeen for the fourth League fixture of the 1963/64 campaign. Even this early in the season, it was their third encounter as the sides had already met home and away in the August League Cup Sectional ties.

Saints gained only two draws from their six League Cup ties, but their League form was more encouraging. An opening home win against Dundee United was followed by a late away defeat to a top-form Kilmarnock side. In the third match against Motherwell at Love Street and with the visitors leading 1-0, goalkeeper Dick Beattie sustained a double fracture to his left ankle. Spurred on by an enthusiastic 8,000 crowd, the ten men put on a gallant display and Bobby Carroll scored twice to take the points with a 2-1 victory.

In contrast, Aberdeen's League form was causing concern to all connected with the Club. An away draw at Partick Thistle, followed by two successive defeats to Dundee and St. Johnstone meant that they were currently languishing in fourth bottom spot.

The 1963/64 Aberdeen programme was a twelve-page issue measuring roughly 9 inches by 6 inches and printed black on white glossy paper that was thicker than similar programmes of the period. Red spot colour was used sparingly on the outer pages.

The front cover for the visit of St. Mirren featured an action photo from the recent Aberdeen v Hibs League Cup match above the full match details. The programme carried the standard threepenny price tag.

"Club Notes" occupied pages two and three and discussed various topics including criticism of players, the recent controversial transfer of wing-half Douglas Fraser to West Brom and the previous week's injury to Saints' Dick Beattie and the very creditable performance given by the Paisley side to gain the victory against Motherwell. One final piece reminded programme readers that four copies of each home issue would contain a form entitling the holder to a free stand ticket for a forthcoming match. However, as yet, no-one had stepped up to claim one. (Perhaps the team's current form had something to do with the poor uptake!)

Page five displayed the first of three large action photos used throughout the issue featuring Aberdeen's last League match against Dundee. On the opposite page, the home side's fixtures for the season were listed alongside the current League table.

The centre pages displayed the team line-ups surrounded by Aberdeen-based advertising. Perhaps reflecting the contrasting fortunes of the two sides, Aberdeen's actual starting XI was much changed from the printed side, but St. Mirren were accurately noted. Bobby Dempster, a recent acquisition from Airdrie, made his goalkeeping debut in place of the injured Beattie.

Photographs and adverts alternated the remaining pages of the issue and the back cover carried the obligatory Half Time Scoreboard, which featured fifteen matches from the Scottish and English First Divisions.

Aberdeen programmes have always been quite difficult to obtain and issues from the 1960s or earlier can usually expect to command high prices.

Dick Beattie, his injured ankle in plaster, sat on the touchline as his team mates heaped even more misery onto an already suffering Aberdeen side. After 14 minutes, left winger Jimmy Robertson collected the ball on the halfway line, beat two Aberdeen defenders in a sprint for the goal line and crossed for Bobby Carroll to fire home from twelve yards.

From then on, the visitors were content to tie up the Pittodrie forwards and rely on sharp counter-attacks to relieve the constant, but harmless Aberdeen pressure.

Tommy White rose to another Robertson cross, only to see his header cleared off the line and into the arms of the grateful John Ogston. Further efforts from White, Carroll and Robertson were likewise blocked by a desperate sea of red shirted defenders.

The second half brought more of the same with the home side maintaining an outfield dominance but lacking any punch where it mattered. Meanwhile, Saints were finding gaps at the back and only Dons' 'keeper Ogston was there to deny them.

The inevitable second goal came just before the hour mark. John McTavish slipped the ball out to Tottie Beck on the left wing and the Icelander quickly touched it inside for Don Kerrigan to pick his spot.

That ended the match as a contest and, for the remaining half hour, the home fans in the 8,119 crowd contented themselves with hurling abuse at their players and management. At the other end, the 200 or so travelling Buddies out-noised them with cheers for their heroes in black and white.

St. Mirren's victory moved them to just one point off the top of the League, while Aberdeen's fourth successive defeat in League and Cup matches - three of them at home - sparked demonstrations outside the ground which lasted for 30 minutes after the match.