There have been a few reminders recently of just how good life was in 1983.
Of course, I am not talking about record unemployment, Cabbage Patch dolls or Kajagoogoo. Rather, it was the boom time for Scottish football that I am rescuing from the memory banks.
The departure of Sir Alex Ferguson from the Manchester United dugout has seen many a column inch written about the great man, a Scots working-class hero who took on the world and won.
With perfect timing, Fergie’s retiral announcement came just days before the 30th anniversary of Aberdeen’s remarkable European Cup Winners’ Cup final victory over Spanish superstars Real Madrid.
He proved to be a managerial magician that rainy May 11 night in Gothenburg as the Dons recorded one of the greatest-ever results by a Scottish club side.
While all that was going on in Sweden, back home there was another tactical genius plotting how to clinch the Premier League title. I speak, of course, of Dundee United boss Jim McLean.
Aberdeen lifted their cup on the Wednesday and the Tannadice men had a chance to take silverware of their own on the Saturday.
McLean’s team went on to beat city rivals Dundee 2-1 at Dens Park to become champions for the first and so far only time in their history.
There you have it–both clubs recording their greatest achievements in the space of just a few days. That was certainly a week to savour, as two non-Old Firm teams pushed the game in this country to a dizzy height.
Of course, that success speaks volumes for the two giants Ferguson and McLean, one who subsequently brought even greater glory to Old Trafford and one who stayed closer to home.
There was a mountain of mutual respect between the pair and it is interesting, at the time when Sir Alex is being lauded as the finest manager Britain–never mind Scotland–has produced, to look at their head to head record.
Ferguson took charge of the Dons in June 1978 and stayed at Pittodrie until Manchester’s bright lights lured him south in November 1986. McLean, of course, was firmly in control at Tannadice throughout.
In contests between United and the Dons during that time, the numbers read: United wins 15, Aberdeen victories 17 and draws 12. Also, the Tangerines triumphed in the biggest match-up —their 3-0 League Cup final replay success at Dens in December 1979.
Many a Premiership manager would have bitten your hand off for a record against Sir Alex that got anywhere near that!