Sadly, this winter, all our fans will be watching their football from the comfort of their living rooms instead of having to brave the elements, although I think most members of the Red Army would put up with the cold if it meant getting back into Pittodrie.

It is usually at this time of year, mid January into February and even early March, that the extreme weather conditions really begin to play havoc with the football calendar and every fan will have memories of the coldest game they have been to. Through the years, the Dons have experienced some atrocious weather conditions where games have been postponed and abandoned but more often than not, the show has gone and the games completed, despite conditions that would have had Ranulph Fiennes rushing home for a hot water bottle.

The Red Matchday team look back on some extreme cases in point..

1 Aberdeen v St Johnstone January 1984

Aberdeen may have been enjoying the best of times on the field as league leaders, and ECWC and Scottish Cup holders there was little to suggest that any side could stop the Aberdeen bandwagon. However Mother Nature did her best to thwart the Dons when St Johnstone came calling for the traditional New Year fixture in 1984.

The Dons had been in fine form as they looked to stretch their lead at the top of the league. The Perth club had no answer to the Aberdeen bombardment during the first period on an almost frozen pitch. The highlight was a superb volley from Eric Black as the Dons strolled in to a 3-0 half time lead. The only respite for the visitors was when the weather intervened—a severe snow blizzard swept across the north east causing havoc which in turn cut the power supply throughout Aberdeen. Pittodrie was shrouded into darkness as the large crowd were told that the game had to be abandoned. There were surreal surroundings as the area was covered in snow and in total darkness but this caused no little concern as the crowd made their way out of the stadium. However many then realized they were not getting home that night as roads to the north were blocked. Northsound Radio, which had only started three years earlier, really come into its own as appeals were put over the airwaves to help find accommodation for stranded fans in the city. Those who decided to go to the pub instead landed up having a pint under candle light! While it was tough on the supporters it was also the same for young Eric Black whose superb goal was one that never was.

The setback did not prevent Aberdeen from marching on to the league title later that year.

2 Falkirk v Aberdeen 2004

Stenhousemuir’s dilapidated Ochilview ground was the venue for the Dons Scottish Cup tie against First Division leaders Falkirk. While the ground may not hold too many fond memories for Aberdeen fans who witnessed a cup shock in 1995, this tie was one that brought a deserved victory for the Dons after a 2-0 win. The real winners however were the travelling Red Army followers who were exposed to the occasional blizzard and freezing conditions throughout. While many had to stand in conditions that were more likened to the Arctic, the very thought of the game being abandoned and having to go through the experience again was a chilling prospect. A season later, in January 2005 the trip to Arbroath in the Scottish Cup was certainly no better and also maybe also worthy of a place in our top ten. For the record the Dons won both games 2-0.

3 Aberdeen v Peterhead 1923

The Dons record Scottish Cup win of 13-0 against Highland league side Peterhead was perhaps famed for Aberdeen keeper Harry Blackwell who was seen sheltering under an umbrella as he watched his team mates literally score for fun at the other end. Peterhead decided to switch the tie to Pittodrie in a bid to make money from an expected huge attendance. The blizzard conditions dictated otherwise with only 3,241 turning out to see the rout. The guaranteed £220 that Peterhead received came at a high cost for the Highlanders.

4 Duns v Aberdeen 1954

Borders club Duns welcomed Aberdeen for a Scottish Cup tie that brought about a near postponement as the pitch was badly flooded with one corner immersed in inches of water. The 700 hardy souls included six Aberdeen supporters who made the journey down by car; a trip that took about 6 hours to complete. While they may not have returned until the early hours of Sunday morning they could take solace in the eight goals Aberdeen scored without reply.

5 Aberdeen v Inverness Thistle 1937

Aberdeen opened their Scottish Cup campaign at home to Inverness Thistle in January 1937. Blizzard conditions meant for a difficult time of it with two opposing players requiring treatment for hypothermia during the game. Matt Armstrong seemed unaffected as his hat trick helped Aberdeen to a 6-0 win that was witnessed by 2,800 supporters who were huddled under what little protection there was back then.

6 Aberdeen v Clydebank 1970

On their way to winning the Scottish Cup in 1970, the Dons had to overcome the plucky efforts of Second Division Clydebank along the way. Severe weather put paid to the original tie going ahead causing a postponement. When the tie was eventually played a heavy mist could not disguise the Dons blue and white striped shirts; a hastily changed kit at the last minute to avoid a clash with the Bankies red diagonal striped shirts. Aberdeen scraped to a 2-1 win that saw them jeered off the field, two months before they went to Hampden and lifted the cup.

7 Partick v Aberdeen 1993

On from the modern era and a farce of a game at Firhill. With Aberdeen leading 2-0 at half time, the snow came and on came a couple of Firhill ground staff whose futile attempts to clear the lines forced an abandonment. Aberdeen were none too pleased and returned days later and hit Thistle for seven in a 7-0 whitewash.

8 Aberdeen v Clyde 1975

One of the Dons final matches in the old First Division brought about one of their poorest post war attendances of only 3,300 for the 2-0 defeat at home to Clyde. Aberdeen had easily qualified for the new Premier League so there was little at stake, but monsoon conditions and swirling winds made watching this end of season game an ordeal. The poor attendance and dreadful weather combined to make the match programme from that game quite a rare collector’s piece these days.

9 Aberdeen v Kilmarnock 1995

Not so much poor weather but dodgy electrics as this game was abandoned after floodlight failure. Duncan Shearer had scored for the League Cup holders and the game was finely balanced at 1-1 when a power cut caused the floodlights to fail. The game was abandoned and when the game was played several weeks later the club allowed free admission for everyone as more than 14,000 turned out to see the Dons win 4-1 with a hat trick from Joe Miller. Something that would never happen nowadays…. well maybe not.

10 Aberdeen v Rangers 1906

At that time the Scottish Cup tie against Rangers was seen as a huge tie for Aberdeen, only three years in existence. Such was the interest generated after the draw was made, the club hastily arranged for a contractor to build up the embankment on the south side of the ground to accommodate the expected huge crowd. It was all a bit in vain as the tie was in doubt right up until kick off time when the prospect of a flooded surface was very much a concern. The adverse weather had a bearing on the attendance with only 11,023 turning out for the tie.