This week’s main in-depth interview is with man of the moment Jonny Hayes….

It’s been quite some season for everyone at Pittodrie, but for none more so than Jonny Hayes who you might see down at your local furniture store in the next few days, investing in a new trophy cabinet.
Already nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award, Jonny picked up the AFC Player of the Year, Player’s Player of the Year and Goal of the Season trophies on Thursday, official recognition, if it be needed, that this has been a very special one for the new Republic of Ireland international. And with the Euros to come, he might not be finished yet.

“It’s been a stellar season for Hayes, so does he think he’s in the best form of his career?

“I don’t really know. I don’t over analyse my performance in that way, I just look forward to my next game. As a player, you are always trying to improve and the more you improve, the higher you can go. I have always just gone out and tried to enjoy my football. You enjoy football when you are winning. Despite the last two defeats on the Friday nights, we win more games than we lose so it is enjoyable. If we were even closer to Celtic I would be enjoying it even more!

“The first season I was here, we maybe did not play too well but I still enjoyed it. Off the park things were fine. I made good friends fairly quickly and settled into life in Aberdeen very easily. I have got on well with everyone since I got here. It’s a very welcoming place to live. Even if you are in town shopping or stopping at the petrol station, everyone wants to speak to you.

“I have come across clubs before where sometimes the staff are not so friendly. Here, there has always been a very good atmosphere since the first day I came down from Inverness. I remember being taken around the city looking for somewhere to live. Craig Brown, who was the manager at the time, was trying to get my partner a job. He was going round hair salons to see if there were any positions available! Little things like that stick with you. It is the little things that make the difference.

“I remember the first time my partner was in and about the club was when I got knocked out in the League Cup game. Everyone really helped her that night, they looked after her. It is hard to explain, but as I say these little things stick with you.

“I have been involved with eight or nine clubs now, but I have never been at one where everyone is pulling in the same direction the way they do here. Having a really well organised club does not mean you are definitely going to be successful, but you can go onto the pitch without worrying about the little things like whether your family will be shown to the right seats, things like that which can play on your mind. If my dad came to the game without a ticket, I know he would be looked after. It is that sort of club. He would probably land up sitting next to the Chairman! All these little things add up. And on the field, the manager then came in and made things a bit more professional with the football side of things.

“Everyone is welcoming and everyone helps you. Everyone is a fan and wants the club to do well. Being a family club, there is a great bond between us all. Everyone I bring over from Ireland loves coming here. They are looked after as if they were a VIP.  There is also a bond with the fans. We all want it to be one big family.”

Derek McInnes

“We’ve relied heavily on Adam’s goals and the intention of having both him and Simon in the squad was always give us the added threat we needed. Our players have given so much this season which started for them at the start of June but the message to us all is to continue to give all we can for the remaining four games. We have so much to play for still and it’s important for us all to see that and go about our business with enthusiasm and I ask for that from you also. I accept there has been disappointments and possibly a feeling of anti-climax but the fact that we’re still even talking about a title challenge when almost in May shows exactly how far we’ve come as a club in the last three years.”

Ryan Jack

“The most important thing between now and the end of the season is to go and get some good results, end the season on a high and reward the fans for a season of great support, home, away and in Europe, with some good football.

“It’s been a long, hard season but I think as a team and as a club, we have seen more progress. We qualified for Europe very early on which is a big step forward and it means we have that to look forward to almost as soon as we come back for preseason. Now we need a strong finish to round things off properly.”

Aaron Lennox

“The one thing I have noticed about Aberdeen is that the fans are really, really good. Everyone is supportive. They are always behind the team and there is always a buzz around the city leading up to a game. There is a community feel about the club. You want to be part of it.

“I enjoy working with Gordon Marshall and the other keepers. He works us very hard but he presents the coaching very well. He does not stand there and pick faults in your game. He is very positive and just talks about little things I could do to improve the game. Every single session he will give me something to concentrate on.”

Barry Robson

We are still sitting second top of the league. We have some fantastic players, we have a great support, we have a good club. We have to go out and show what we are made of every time we go and play. Everyone faces adversity in life. You just have to get on with it and get through it. We will make sure we do that.

“We have players who want to go to the Euros, we have players who are out of contract. There are so many things to play for in football. Every single game should matter to you, whether you are an older player or a youngster”.

RedMatchday magazine has once again been named the top programme is the Scottish Premiership. Every week it has 84 pages packed with Dons stories, interviews, news, opinions and historical photos. Costing £3.00, it is available in the AFC club shop and from programme sellers in and around the ground.  You can also buy a copy online by clicking here