Throughout the season the RedMatchday Magazine has been packed with even more exclusive and in-depth interviews, even more player features, more behind the scenes photos, even more historical features, even more columnists plus some new features and has once again been named the top programme in Scotland by Programme Monthly & Football Collectable. It is the 16th straight season the Dons have won the award for the Top Division.

Scottish Programme of the Season Awards 2016-17 By Programme Monthly & Football Collectable

There is a standout issue and in spite of strong efforts from both the Old Firm. It is perhaps no surprise to see the award returning to Aberdeen. At 80 pages for £3, 'RedMatchday' is neither the biggest nor most expensive in the league but it provides a wealth of reading – and in particular historical content – which is joined together in a seamless manner that combines to put it above the others.

Split into categorised sections Aberdeen’s issues also provide plenty of current-day coverage through a number of player interviews and coverage of the Youth Academy and Under 20s. However, it is the historical coverage that is the hallmark of their programmes. Stretching to 16 pages it looks at past players, games, seasons and photographs with the final touch of a historic image on the back cover typical of the production. Perhaps the only programme that could enter the English Premiership, even the most casual reader goes away more informed of Aberdeen than prior to buying, which is surely the happiest accolade of all.

In RedMatchday Issue 23 there is an in-depth interview with Ryan Christie:

Ryan Christie

…. I was only five! I was actually at the game in Glasgow when they put Celtic out. I remember it, but only just! I remember being in the stand and it raining. That is all I can remember, but I have been made to watch it back a few times since then!

…. “It is strange having a dad who was a player as well. People are always trying to compare us. I think we are very different from what I can remember of watching him as a player. He was more a playmaker in the middle of the field. He was maybe a bit more defensive and a bit harder in the tackle! I am more attack minded.

…. “He is still head of youth in Inverness, so he is still playing his part.

…. “It is about finding that consistency with your game. That is actually something very hard to do week in week out, to perform at a very high level every game. That is why I have so much admiration for guys like Graeme Shinnie who can do that.

…. “That was a big reason for coming here, to get more time on the pitch. Although this is not my first loan spell, it is the first to a new club. I did not really know what to expect or how it worked. To be fair, ever since I have come to Aberdeen everyone has treated me so well. They have put everything on a plate for me so I can’t complain.

…. “When you move clubs in the summer, you normally have weeks or even months to think over a move. In January you can have days or even hours! But I do not regret the decision to come up to Aberdeen. When you first come up, you want to prove to the other players and manager that the club have taken in a player who is of good quality who can fit right in. So scoring a couple of goals early on really helped.

…. “I think all the boys are looking forward to the run in as the finishing line is in sight. We have got a really positive attitude going into the last couple of months. There are no more international breaks. Everyone really wants to finish the season off on a high. You take it game by game through the season but it is especially important to do that now as every game is really important.”

Derek McInnes

We've got a cup to try and win and we've got second spot to try and get. I think it's important that we go all the way to the end and give it everything. We've put ourselves in position now, and hopefully we can see the job through, starting tonight.

We, fans and players alike, let’s bring togetherness and momentum to the very last kick of the ball this season and see where it takes us.

Night games at Pittodrie are always something special and with your help and support, hopefully this can be another one of those for us all to remember.

Ryan Jack

Finishing second would be a big achievement for Aberdeen and not one to be underestimated. If we are going to do that, we need to keep on winning games the way we have been doing and to maintain this good home run especially. It’s not easy to keep on winning, whatever the opposition, and if you need proof of that, we only have to think back to September when Caley Thistle came here and took a point back up the road with them after a 1-1 draw.

Things haven’t gone so well for them this season and they are scrapping away at the bottom of the division at present but if anything, that makes them even more dangerous opponents than they were in September. I’m certain they’ll come here and put up a real fight.

We are playing well though, we are feeling refreshed after the international break, confidence is high and we are determined to have a strong end to the pre-split fixtures, going into the cup semi-final with Hibernian. This is another big game in the season, but that’s the great plus of playing for a club like ours – every game is a big game.

Jonny Hayes

“I’m really pleased to have made that first start for my country and I hope there are more to come, but I will only get that chance through playing well for Aberdeen. There’s so much to look forward to in the next couple of months and all of us need to be fully concentrated on the games we have coming up.

Richard Gordon

I wrote recently about the elevation of Andrew Considine into the club’s top ten all-time appearances list, and while looking at the legends on there, decided to dig deeper into the stats surrounding some of them.

Each of the players is rightly considered a Dons great. All gave incredible service to Aberdeen FC, some with little tangible reward along the way.

Russell Anderson finally got his hands on silverware when lifting the League Cup three years ago and it would have been criminal if his 407 matches had borne nothing in terms of trophies. Willie Cooper (393) stands just behind him on the list and ended his two decades at the club with nothing to show for it, albeit that a special medal was struck for him after he cruelly missed the 1947 Scottish Cup final because of injury.

Everyone else in the top ten picked up league or cup winner’s medals, some more regularly than others, and it’s no surprise that the two most decorated Dons in the history of the club fill the top two places….

Our monthly history feature looks back at April 1955. There are articles from our various columnists plus the usual features. Still available for only £3.00 – offering you our readers great value for money.

Thank you for your continued support of the magazine.

RedMatchday Issue 23 is available from sellers in and around the ground. There will be copies available to buy in the club shop plus you can buy all the AFC programmes online here: www.curtis-sport.com

RedMatchday Issue 23 is available from sellers in and around the ground. There will be copies available to buy in the club shop plus you can buy all the AFC programmes online here: www.curtis-sport.com