1984-85.
The year of Penalty Shootouts...
The 1984-5 season was one of contrasts. On the face of it, it was one where Aberdeen not only retained their League Championship, but also won the double having also secured the Scottish Cup. This despite what was a significant decline in their performances over the last six league games, where they failed to secure one win.
Rangers had, by their standards a very poor season indeed. They were quite clearly hindered by a massive injury list but for the supporters, this was not taken as an excuse with the club finishing fifth in the Premier Division league table come May 1985. In addition to this, going out of the Bells League Cup at the Second round, losing 2-1 to Dumbarton at Ibrox was not to be accepted, defeat in the third round of the Scottish Cup, to Aberdeen by four goals to nil at Pittodrie. In terms of attendances, it was noted that the last home game of the season for Rangers against Greenock Morton was attended by just 12,201. The club was clearly in decline.
In Europe, the clubs fared no better, in the European Cup Aberdeen went out in the Second Round to Hamburg, whilst Dundee United(there by dint of being the holders), went down to the English Champions Liverpool over two legs. In the Cup Winners Cup, Hearts suffered the embarrassment of going out 3-0 on aggregate to part-time Íþróttabandalag Akraness of Iceland. In the UEFA Cup, the teams did just as badly, with Rangers and Celtic losing in the opening round, Rangers going down 1-0 over the two legs to Auxerre and Celtic on penalties after two 1-0 wins for either side to Rapid Vienna. In the European Super Cup Dundee United also went down on penalties to Juventus.
Dundee United, by their standards had a poor season. In the league, they finished fourth, having lost four out of their opening six games. Not helping was the fact that their team was slowly but surely getting taken apart. Mo Johnston, the signing from the previous season was sold to Barcelona for a very high £850,000 whilst Iain Ferguson went to Chelsea for the more modest £520,000. They struggled to find consistency, only managing to ensure fourth place over both Rangers and city rivals Dundee with a last day victory over already relegated Dumbarton.
It was, purely in terms of league football a good season for Celtic, narrowly finishing second behind Aberdeen who, almost inexplicably nearly surrendered a lead they had at one point of ten points. This was aided by a style of football which was praised as attacking and exciting to watch. Unfortunately, this style of football was not to be rewarded further however as the club went out of the League Cup in a shock result 1-0 to First Division St.Johnstone and to another Tayside team Dundee in the Quarter-Final of the Scottish Cup.
For once, the relegation positions were not seriously in doubt, with both Greenock Morton and Dumbarton having a torrid season, finishing many points behind eighth place Hibernian. Despite their poor league position though, Hibs season will be remembered by their fans for many years to come, with a 1-0 victory over Hearts in the League Cup final at a packed Hampden, John Collins scoring the only goal of an entertaining final. It was also an excellent season for St.Mirren, who somehow upset the odds and finished third in the league.
In the Scottish Cup, Aberdeen defeated relegated Dumbarton by the first ever penalty shoot-out in a Scottish Cup final, following a dour, goalless draw.
The first announcement of the investments of the Scottish Football Fund were announced in April of 1985, with a 6% profit, half of which was to be shared amongst the clubs, the other half to be reinvested. This meant that £95,000 would be shared amongst the Scottish Football League clubs. It was hoped that as the fund continued to grow, so would the money coming back into the game. The future looked bright.
The year of Penalty Shootouts...
The 1984-5 season was one of contrasts. On the face of it, it was one where Aberdeen not only retained their League Championship, but also won the double having also secured the Scottish Cup. This despite what was a significant decline in their performances over the last six league games, where they failed to secure one win.
Rangers had, by their standards a very poor season indeed. They were quite clearly hindered by a massive injury list but for the supporters, this was not taken as an excuse with the club finishing fifth in the Premier Division league table come May 1985. In addition to this, going out of the Bells League Cup at the Second round, losing 2-1 to Dumbarton at Ibrox was not to be accepted, defeat in the third round of the Scottish Cup, to Aberdeen by four goals to nil at Pittodrie. In terms of attendances, it was noted that the last home game of the season for Rangers against Greenock Morton was attended by just 12,201. The club was clearly in decline.
In Europe, the clubs fared no better, in the European Cup Aberdeen went out in the Second Round to Hamburg, whilst Dundee United(there by dint of being the holders), went down to the English Champions Liverpool over two legs. In the Cup Winners Cup, Hearts suffered the embarrassment of going out 3-0 on aggregate to part-time Íþróttabandalag Akraness of Iceland. In the UEFA Cup, the teams did just as badly, with Rangers and Celtic losing in the opening round, Rangers going down 1-0 over the two legs to Auxerre and Celtic on penalties after two 1-0 wins for either side to Rapid Vienna. In the European Super Cup Dundee United also went down on penalties to Juventus.
Dundee United, by their standards had a poor season. In the league, they finished fourth, having lost four out of their opening six games. Not helping was the fact that their team was slowly but surely getting taken apart. Mo Johnston, the signing from the previous season was sold to Barcelona for a very high £850,000 whilst Iain Ferguson went to Chelsea for the more modest £520,000. They struggled to find consistency, only managing to ensure fourth place over both Rangers and city rivals Dundee with a last day victory over already relegated Dumbarton.
It was, purely in terms of league football a good season for Celtic, narrowly finishing second behind Aberdeen who, almost inexplicably nearly surrendered a lead they had at one point of ten points. This was aided by a style of football which was praised as attacking and exciting to watch. Unfortunately, this style of football was not to be rewarded further however as the club went out of the League Cup in a shock result 1-0 to First Division St.Johnstone and to another Tayside team Dundee in the Quarter-Final of the Scottish Cup.
For once, the relegation positions were not seriously in doubt, with both Greenock Morton and Dumbarton having a torrid season, finishing many points behind eighth place Hibernian. Despite their poor league position though, Hibs season will be remembered by their fans for many years to come, with a 1-0 victory over Hearts in the League Cup final at a packed Hampden, John Collins scoring the only goal of an entertaining final. It was also an excellent season for St.Mirren, who somehow upset the odds and finished third in the league.
In the Scottish Cup, Aberdeen defeated relegated Dumbarton by the first ever penalty shoot-out in a Scottish Cup final, following a dour, goalless draw.
The first announcement of the investments of the Scottish Football Fund were announced in April of 1985, with a 6% profit, half of which was to be shared amongst the clubs, the other half to be reinvested. This meant that £95,000 would be shared amongst the Scottish Football League clubs. It was hoped that as the fund continued to grow, so would the money coming back into the game. The future looked bright.
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