THE challenge facing Aberdeen at Hampden tomorrow is a considerable one which few hold out any hope of them rising to meet.

They must overcome a Celtic side whose players and manager are well on the way to attaining legendary status as a result of their historic achievements to date and who will complete a domestic treble if they triumph. It is a tall order. It has, however, been done before.

Back in 1970 the Pittodrie club was widely expected to be beaten, and beaten comfortably, by their Parkhead rivals in the final. With very good reason.

Jock Stein’s team that day comprised of a number of the Lisbons Lions – such as Tommy Gemmell, Jimmy Johnstone, Bobby Lennox, Billy McNeill, Bobby Murdoch and Willie Wallace – who had lifted the European Cup three years earlier.

What is more, they were also bidding, after securing the League Cup and the Scottish title for the fifth consecutive season, to complete a clean sweep of domestic trophies for the second year running and for the third time in four years.

Yet, Aberdeen ran out comfortable and deserved 3-1 victors –thanks to a first-half Joe Harper penalty and two strikes from Derek McKay, who lived up to his nickname “Cup Tie McKay”, late on – in front of a crowd of 108,434.

Arthur Graham, the teenage Celtic fan from Castlemilk, was handed a start by Aberdeen manager Eddie Turnbull, despite only being involved in a smattering of first-team games, believes that result proves an upset is possible tomorrow.

“Let’s hope Aberdeen can repeat that victory,” he said. “Aberdeen are always underdogs against Celtic and they will be this weekend.

“That was certainly the case in our day and we managed to beat them in the 1970 Scottish Cup final, the 1971 Drybrough Cup final and the 1976 League Cup final.

“We played a brilliant Celtic side in three finals and beat them three times. It can certainly be done.”

Graham, a skilful and pacey winger, enjoyed a long and distinguished professional career at the top with Aberdeen, Leeds United, Manchester United and Bradford City and also represented Scotland on 11 occasions.

However, his involvement in that Scottish Cup final at the age of just 17 was quite unexpected. Perhaps the impact which he had made on his Aberdeen debut against Celtic a couple of months earlier convinced Turnbull to take a chance on him. “I had only moved to Pittodrie that January,” said Graham, now 64.

“I made my first appearance for the first team around March.

“It was in a game against Celtic at Parkhead. We won 2-1 and I scored the winning goal. All my family were mad Celtic fans. They collared me afterwards to give me a hard time.

“But I didn’t play in any games leading up to the cup final. I didn’t really think I would be involved. It was a pleasant surprise when I got the nod to play.”

Graham returned to Pittodrie back in October to attend a 40th anniversary reunion of the Aberdeen team which defeated Celtic 2-1 in the League Cup final in 1976 and he took in a league meeting between the two finalists.

Brendan Rodgers’s team dominated the match and won thanks to a Tom Rogic goal that day. But Graham saw enough of Derek McInnes’ side to make him believe they are more than capable of emulating the famous triumph which he was involved in. “I was impressed by Jonny Hayes. He is a real old-fashioned winger, very direct. Aberdeen have done well under McInnes.

“I always check for their result and it has been great to see them up there challenging.”