Only bubbly could slow Stuart’s race for medals
Stuart Kennedy had an unquenchable thirst for winning.
But, on this day 40 years ago, the Aberdeen defender discovered he didn’ t have a taste for champagne.
The Dons thrashed Hibs 5- 0 on May 3, 1980, to clinch the title for the first time in 25 years.
It was the start of a trophy-laden spell under the leadership of Alex Ferguson.
Aberdeen went to Edinburgh with two games still to play, and a final fixture against Partick Thistle on the following Tuesday.
Celtic were playing their last game at St Mirren and needed a win to keep their title hopes alive.
The men from the Granite City had never won a Premier Division game at Easter Road until then, but that wasn’t something Fergie was going to dwell on.
Stuart, a dynamic right- back, admits that statistic is something he was never aware of.
He said: “I didn’t realise we hadn’t won at Easter Road until now.
“I certainly wasn’t conscious of us having any problems with Hibs at any time.
“It was typical of Alex Ferguson not to make a big thing of it and put doubts in our mind.
“It’s a bit like why your granny’s soup is always so good – she’s got the best ingredients and stuck to the same recipe.
“We played really well on the day and won 5-0.
“News then came through that Celtic had drawn with St Mirren.
“So we had to lose by 10 clear goals against Thistle to blow the title.
“We drew with them 1- 1 but we’d have put five or six past them if we needed to.”
Two goals from Ian Scanlon, along with str ikes by Steve Archibald, Mark Mcghee and Andy Watson blew Hibs away.
“Scanlon tortured Hibs on the Saturday, and his second goal was a cracker. He really lashed it into the net,” Stuart went on.
“Steve Archibald used to wind him up by sending postcards to his dog.
“He’d write things like, ‘ Hello Shep, having a great holiday here. By the way, how’s Scan?’.”
So there was bubbly flowing in the dressing room and Stuart had a sip.
He said: “I’m a teetotaller, always have been. But I dabbled in the champagne that day.
“I wished I hadn’t because it left me feeling worse for wear.
“It was a reminder of why I never drink at all.”
Two away victories against Celtic in April were key to the title swinging in Aberdeen’s favour.
Stuart said: “The first game at Parkhead was one we had to win.
“They used their old trick of delaying the kick- off by five minutes to add some extra nerves.
“But it didn’t make us nervous. We said we’d be ready whenever they wanted to start the game.
“We were like dogs out of a trap. We won the game 2-1.
“Bobby Clark saved a penalty and their unbeaten home record was over.
“You can always get guys who are up for winning cup ties, but winning a league takes something more.
“I was very driven. I arrived at Aberdeen after five years as a parttimer with Falkirk.
“I’d been working in a shipyard – a noisy, brutal environment – and I didn’t want to go back to that.
“I was a psychopathic trainer. I loved fitness. It was a passion.”
Stuart, now 66, won every domestic honour with the Dons and collected eight Scotland caps.
Injury meant he had to settle for a place on the bench when Aberdeen beat Real Madrid to win the 1983 European Cup-winners’ Cup.
That injury ended his career and he want on to become a publican and guest house owner.