JOE Harper believes Motherwell should take inspiration today from the celebrated Aberdeen team of 1970 who smashed the double treble dream for Jock Stein.
Few outside of the Granite City gave Aberdeen a hope when they faced a Celtic side that had won the lot in 1968/69, romped to five in a row having also won the League Cup again and were on their way to their second European Cup final in three years.
Stein’s incredible team was bidding for a 15th major honour in six seasons but they were shocked by Eddie Turnbull’s Aberdeen who ran out 3-1 winners with Harper and Derek McKay the goal heroes.
Read more: Motherwell hero Steve Kirk grateful to be here for chance to witness Hampden history
Harper was only 22 and playing in a cup final for the first time when his side won an early penalty and he was given the responsibility – but had to wait nearly nine minutes to take it as the Celtic players argued with referee Bobby Davidson.
He recalled: “It was a massive moment. However, the funny thing was I wasn’t nervous at all. I was very confident in my own ability to take penalties and I wasn’t going to change my style because it was the cup final.
“The thing was I had to wait nine minutes to take it because of the Celtic players arguing with the referee. Tommy Gemmell got booked for
throwing the ball at the ref and then other Celtic players got involved and the arguing went on and on. Even when I placed it on the spot, one of the Celtic players kicked it away.
“It was probably the best penalty I have ever taken because it actually went into the sidenetting. It was a dream, really.”
Derek McKay – who became known as Cup-tie McKay as he also scored the winning goals in the quarters and semis – scored twice either side of a Bobby Lennox goal in the last 10 minutes to spark the celebrations.
Harper added: “There is no greater feeling than winning a cup final and I’m a great believer that you want to do it against the best teams.
“So it was a very special day for us and I really remember how great the Aberdeen fans were.
“Motherwell are up against it, but f they believe then they can do what we did.”
Parkhead legend Willie Wallace still has regrets about that day – and he believes that it would have been a better achievement then than it will be today if Brendan Rodgers makes it two clean sweeps in a row.
Read more: Tom Rogic insists he can be a Celt for life as he looks to recreate Hampden heroics
Wallace said: “I think if we had done it in 1970 it would have been a greater achievement than if the current team does it. Don’t get me wrong it will be a terrific feat to win all three trophies for the second year running – especially as it has never been done before.
“But in my view the quality of opposition right now is not the same as when we were playing.
“There were a lot of good teams in the late 1960s and early 1970s – Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibs, Dunfermline, Hearts – and I don’t think the current Celtic team is facing the same challenges.”
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