Everyone connected with Aberdeen Football Club was deeply saddened to hear the news of the passing of Barbara Cook.

Barbara died suddenly but peacefully at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, on Monday January 9, 2017. A private funeral was held at Barbara's request.

Barbara was a former employee who gave remarkable service to the club. She worked behind the scenes for an incredible 29 years after starting work part-time at Pittodrie in 1967, becoming a fulltime AFC employee in 1972. She was one of the longest ever serving members of staff, part of a devoted and tight knit group of workers right up until 1996.

Mrs Cook was a Dons fan before she got the opportunity to work for the club on a one-day-a-week basis. Interviewed in the “Pittodrie People” series on two occasions which ran in this publication in the 1980s, she was quoted as saying, “I recall that it was a very big thrill to get the chance to actually work for the club I supported”

During her early years, she worked with Eddie Turnbull, Jimmy Bonthrone, Ally MacLeod, Billy McNeill and Sir Alex Ferguson. Barbara witnessed some of the Dons’ finest hours – the 1970 Scottish Cup win, the 1976 League Cup triumph and, in 1980, the Dons’ Premier League title win, the first since 1955. “The club had a dinner at the Queen’s Hotel and everyone was there. I sat with Bobby Clark and he was so happy with finally getting the title. It was a super night.”

Of course, like all Dons fans, her favourite moment was in Gothenburg. “The trip to Gothenburg was
unforgettable”.

Her connections to AFC went way back. Her father played football in the Aberdeen area for a local side. He was actually on the Dons’ books, but then went to India and never actually played. From a very young age, Barbara was a fan and her early memories included watching goalkeeper Fred Martin who was her hero.

As well as the Dons, her other great love was tennis. At one time, she was the Aberdeen Grass Court Champion and played for the North East of Scotland. It was whilst playing tennis that she met her husband Eric. He was also a Champion and the two of them were a formidable pairing when they played doubles! Eric, who paid an emotional visit to Pittodrie last week, was also involved with the club as he worked as a maintenance man for Mr Dick Donald. His tasks included rebuilding the Board Room after the fire in 1971. Both from Aberdeen, they were married 58 years ago this year.

Barbara managed to somehow keep the administrative affairs of the club ticking over smoothly throughout the busiest of busy periods along with only a handful of other staff. It is astonishing to think how they coped with all the arrangements necessary in May 1983. Her duties over the years were many and varied; as well being the secretary to the managers, she looked after the wages, the ledgers, various accounting matters, helped out with ticket sales, general reception work, travel arrangements for the team as well as looking after the individual needs of the players. She and Eric would even babysit for a number of the manager’s kids, as well as Ally MacLeod’s dog!

Barbara was held in very, very high regard by all the players and managers who worked with her.

Sir Alex Ferguson paid this fitting tribute to Barbara: “The sudden passing of Aberdeen’s former secretary Barbara Cook was a great shock to everyone who remembers her devotion to her Club, Aberdeen F.C. In my eight and a half years there, I found her the most trustworthy and diligent of servants to her favourite Club. Even though our lives went in different directions, we always kept in touch regularly which made our friendship a rock-solid relationship. I am sure all the players of AFC who relied on Barbara for the same loyalty as I experienced will share the privilege I feel in having known her. God Bless.”

There is little doubt that Barbara, despite all the long hours and hard work, loved the club and was a real fan: “I loved my job, through it has changed a great deal over the years. There were just three of us in a small office when I first came here. It's not like any other job I can think of. Folks always say that this is a family club with a very friendly atmosphere and that is absolutely right.”

Barbara will always be part of the AFC family. She will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with Barbara’s family and husband Eric.

Rest in Peace.