Here is the story behind another brilliant programme cover from Dolly Digital 

Red Matchday Issue 13 | Aberdeen v Hearts

Our artist in residence Dolly Digital has wanted to adapt the classic Mike Higgs programme cover from December 1983 for a long time.

When the opportunity came up to update it, he knew the man he needed for the job: legendary cartoonist, Gordon Reid.

Gordon’s colourful depictions of Aberdeen figures, footballing and otherwise, have entertained fans for over 30 years; first in The Northern Light fanzine and then The Red Final. An artist with a deceivingly rough-hewn comic style, but drawn with a precise hand and an eye for hilarious detail, Gordon has drawn probably every single Aberdeen player of note over the last half century and beyond.

With this cover though, Mark and Gordon had a problem. As some of you may know, Gordon suffered a stroke back in January this year and his recovery has been long and steady. He’s doing very well and he continues to find increased movement and health through a determined exercise regime, but, for now, he’s not drawing.

Undeterred, Dolly and Gordon, along with long-time friends and TRF-collaborators, Chris Crighton and Drew McLelland, sat down to sift through the vast archive and retrieve some players past and present from which to recreate the cover. We had most players up to January this year and so much of the present squad are featured. The rest was up to Dolly, Peter Jackson-style, to use the source materials and bring them back to life! We hope you like the results.

Finally, Gordon was happy to give his blessing to the project on one condition.

“Tell the readers,” he said, “I’m nae deid yet!”.