Just look at the landscape of Scottish football four decades ago. Dundee United held off the challenge of Celtic and Aberdeen to land their one and only Premier League title, with Rangers languishing in fourth. But the story of Dundee United's triumph was not the only feelgood chapter the New Firm penned during the 1982/83 campaign.
There are so many ingredients involved in Alex Ferguson leading Aberdeen to glory in the European Cup Winners' Cup. An unforgettable night against Bayern Munich; injuries; planes, trains, automobiles and boats; relentless rain; a super sub almost being substituted; tragedy amidst the celebrations. Aberdeen beating Real Madrid in Gothenburg on May 11, 1983: football, bloody hell.
After hammering Sion 10-1 in the preliminary round, Aberdeen scraped past Dinamo Tirana, before easing past Lech Poznan to reach the last eight. Awaiting them were the mighty Bayern Munich, justifiable favourites in a competition containing other heavyweights in Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter.
The 0-0 draw in Munich was one of the finest displays during Ferguson's reign. But the task seemed an impossible one as the second leg progressed at a packed Pittodrie. Losing 2-1 with just 13 minutes remaining, the Dons needed a miracle. Two goals in a minute from Alex McLeish and super sub John Hewitt answered the prayers of those who would turn the stadium into a sea of limbs.
After Ferguson's appetiser for the Nou Camp 16 years later, things were a lot simpler in the semi-final. A 5-2 aggregate win over Belgian side Waterschei Thor set up the final against Alfredo Di Stefano's Real Madrid in Sweden. But before that date, two of Ferguson's players would face the prospect of missing out on the biggest night in the club's history.
Two semi-finals proved costly for midfielder Dougie Bell and full back Stuart Kennedy. Bell injured his ankle in the Scottish Cup win over Celtic at Hampden Park, and after a month out he had to admit defeat when he limped off in a reserve match against Hibs a few days before the final. Kennedy's injury would be career-ending.
Damaging his knee after catching his studs on the perimeter of the pitch towards the end of the second leg of the Waterschei match, Kennedy would never play again. But in a touching moment of respect, Ferguson named Kennedy on the bench, at least allowing the full back to pick up a winner's medal. It would take Ferguson and Bell 40 years to get theirs.
Real Madrid were far from the force that they had been. Runners-up in La Liga, Copa del Rey, Copa de La Liga, and Supercopa, the team could not shake off the role of bridesmaid prior to the Aberdeen match. Losing the league at Valencia in the final match did little to improve spirits, a fixture that saw Ferguson's assistant Archie Knox watch the second half, but only after he had paid a policeman to gain entry to the Mestalla, after a ticketing mix up.
Ferguson, Knox, and Jock Stein, who was a guest of Ferguson's for the final, agreed that Di Stefano's team were inferior to Bayern. Despite Uli Stielike returning, and the talented Juanito and Santillana a threat, the Guardian's Patrick Barclay summed up the general feeling in his match preview: "The Spaniards will need more than their reputation to disarm a side that thrives on a challenge."
It says a lot about the team Ferguson had built that confidence was so high. Winning trophies had become a habit, and the size of the opponent did not intimidate anyone associated with the club. The fans, dizzy on success and revelling in the excitement of a big European final, would turn Gothenburg red.
Reportedly 15,000 Aberdeen supporters made the trip, outnumbering Real Madrid fans five to one. Journeys involving coaches, fishing boats, hitchhiking, and trains were made. Dyce airport was crammed full of fans, with 60 flights departing for Sweden. Spending £49,000 in the duty-free shop - approximately a month's takings - vodka, wine and Champagne sales soared.
But if you wanted a real party then the P&O St Clair ferry was the place to be. Usually used for journeys to the Shetlands, the boat transported 500 supporters to Gothenburg, on a 30-hour crossing. With an estimated 14,000 cans consumed on the round trip, and £9,500 spent on duty-free goods, the fans were in good spirits on their arrival.
Those who did make the trip may have been wise to keep their alcohol levels topped up prior to their arrival. With pints costing £3 - the price of a pint in the UK being 67p at the time - it was little wonder that some fans slept on the streets. But the party atmosphere showed no signs of turning ugly. There would be just five supporters taken to police cells, essentially to sleep off their excesses.
In the lead up to the final, the club European Song was played repeatedly on local radio stations in Aberdeen. Fans in Sweden were more likely to sing The Northern Lights of Old Aberdeen or the popular Here We Go terrace chant of the day. Here Comes the Rain Again could have been an appropriate anthem for those who made it to Gothenburg.
It simply would not stop raining. For 36 hours the heavens refused to close, as a huge plastic sheet protected the playing surface at the Ullevi Stadium. Even with this covering the pitch was inevitably boggy. The saturated surface would later provide an unfortunate moment for McLeish.
With the match kicking off at 7.15 UK time, live coverage of the match was introduced on ITV 15 minutes before the kick off, Dickie Davies presenting with Denis Law in the studio. Brian Moore would again be on commentary duties on a glorious night of European football, with Ian St John alongside him.
Aberdeen started the match on the front foot, Ferguson's young team - with an average age of just 24 - were fearless. 19-year-old Eric Black had already struck the bar when in the seventh minute he slid home after a clever Gordon Strachan corner had found McLeish's head on the edge of the box. But the man who provided the assist would soon undo his good work.
Prior to the match, McLeish had informed teammates that they would need to lift the ball on the soaked surface. Sadly he did not listen to his own advice. Seven minutes after Black's opener, a McLeish back pass slowed enough to allow Santillana to intercept. Keeper Jim Leighton brought down the forward, with Juanito converting the penalty.
Momentum halted, Madrid now began to gain the upper hand, with Juanito busy, Stielike and Gallego composed, and Santillana dangerous. But led imperiously by their skipper Willie Miller, Aberdeen got through to half-time with no damage done. As the second half progressed, the midfield duo of Neale Cooper and Neil Simpson grew and grew.
Wide men Peter Weir and Strachan were also superb, the former gliding across the wet surface throughout the evening and the latter almost volleying Aberdeen in front after 55 minutes. Madrid keeper Agustin saved well from a Black header, with Di Stefano's team seemingly unable to cope with the energy of their opponents.
Later Ferguson revealed his only fear was the match drifting to penalties. But an ankle injury suffered by Black with a couple of minutes to go would shape the night. Super sub John Hewitt came on, yet the hero very nearly didn't make it through extra-time. Ferguson and Knox, furious with Hewitt for not staying up front, briefly contemplated substituting their substitute.
Doug Rougvie went close in the first half of extra-time, Agustin again doing well to keep out a header, but with eight minutes remaining in the match, the moment of glory arrived. Weir won back possession, beautifully playing the ball into the path of Mark McGhee on the left wing. McGhee dragged the ball just far enough away from the covering defender, before playing a delightful cross to the edge of the six-yard box.
Hewitt knew that Agustin was not going to reach the ball, and as the keeper failed to cut out the cross, the 20-year-old headed into the empty net, causing Moore and St John to explode in joy. Hewitt's fifth goal in the competition - all scored from the bench - had toppled the mighty Real Madrid.
There was time for one scare, as a last minute Salguero free kick shaved Leighton's post. But a Madrid equaliser would have been a travesty. As Miller lifted the trophy in the rain, and Rougvie smiled his famous toothy grin, the dream had become a reality.
"Their rise to prominence in Europe is a happy reminder that nice guys can finish first," Barclay wrote in the Guardian. "The lads were tremendous, every one of them," Miller declared. "In the second half and during extra-time, I thought they were different class. I am just so happy for the city of Aberdeen and all our fans who have given us such tremendous backing all the way through the tournament."
For Aberdeen fans the celebrations went on and on. Supporters danced in the fountains in Gothenburg, with those who made it back to the St Clair destined for the mother of all parties. But during the journey there was a minute's silence as a mark of respect for a 23-year-old supporter who suffered a heart attack and died after the opening goal.
On arriving back in Aberdeen, Ferguson and McGhee greeted the returning heroes, and a reported 100,000 lined the streets for an open-top bus parade. Somehow the players got back on the horse just three days later to beat Hibs 5-0 in the league. Yet it would be Dundee United who clinched the title.
Ferguson's standards demanded that no laurels would be rested on. Winning the Scottish Cup a week later, the manager famously tore into his team - excluding Miller and McLeish - in a furious post-match interview. He later apologised, but the subtext was clear.
"This is just the start for us, I'm sure of that," Ferguson announced after Gothenburg. "The Cup Winners' Cup wasn't won because of a single night in Sweden, or even because of one season's performance. It's the reward for a cumulative process of learning by every one of us at the club."
There was no danger of Ferguson being satisfied with his lot. He had provided Aberdeen fans with memories that would last forever, yet such was his determination that there was still more to come. Gothenburg was a night to remember, but the next season would bring more domestic and European success.
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