Stirling Albion 1 - 0 Aberdeen

By NORMAN MACDONALD

THE depression still hangs over Pittodrie. There was no silver lining at Stirling. The team seems to have lost much of its fighting spirit.
Stirling Albion are no team of world-beaters, but they were a bright and lively company compared with Aberdeen. And that despite the fact that their forwards would never have been awarded any medals for their marksmanship.
If the Aberdeen officials had any illusions about their team they must have been dispelled on Saturday. The Dons simply didn’t possess the initiative and drive to offer a serious challenge The Aberdeen team needs strengthening. Until this is accomplished results will continue to be mediocre. The present team has little chance of putting Aberdeen on the Scottish football map.

Blood Transfusion

In spite of the fact that they reached the Scottish Cup final, the Dons' League record last season clearly indicated that the team required a blood transfusion.
The only close season purchase of note was Jimmy Brown of Falkirk (said to have cost £5000), who was signed with a view to solving the right wing problem. He played three games in the first team at outside right and on Saturday he led the reserve team attack against East Fife "A."
Young Graham Leggatt was promoted to the first team at Stirling. He was quite lively at the start, but received too little of the ball to be really effective. This 18-year-old lad has ability, and the pity of it is he did not gel his chance in a winning team. 
Again at Stirling the forwards failed to develop any real cohesion or thrust. The only dangerous shots which Jenkins, the Stirling 'keeper, was called on to deal, were two free kicks from Allister.
Both the left half and Harris, however are still suffering in the general slump. They can play better than their form in recent games would suggest. They must if better results are to be obtained.
Morrison in goal, Mitchell at right back, and Young at centre-half were Aberdeen's best players at Stirling. All three played hard enough and enough to have been in a winning side.
Caldwell was opposed to the best and most dangerous Albion forward in Chalmers.
The morale of the Aberdeen players was low on Saturday The Pittodrie officials may claim that the adverse criticism which has been directed at the club in the Letters to Editor column during the past week has affected the confidence of the players. 
But that cannot be accepted as an excuse for the displays against East Fife and St Mirren. The officials must look deeper than that tor an explanation of the team's lack success.

Source: Evening Express, 14th September 1953

This match gave us Graham Leggat's debut appearance.