IN MEMORIAM
Flowers and football scarves have been laid outside Pittodrie as fans pay their respects to Norman Goldie, who died on Tuesday May 3rd. He suffered a stroke and, sadly, never recovered. Norman, 87, was a hugely popular figure at both home and away games for generations of Aberdeen fans. He could often be seen decked out in Dons gear, even on non-match days, wearing his iconic sandals with one red sock and one white.
The club, as a mark of respect, have retired his seat. It has also been painted half red and half white, in memory of his famous socks.
On Friday his funeral procession passed by Pittodrie with fans, players and staff gathering to see him off. His funeral took place at the Aberdeen Crematorium.
The Red Army will remember and pay tribute to Norman on Sunday. Please note there will be a card display in the RDS Lower prior to kick off. Would also those located in that section of the ground please raise the card on your seat when prompted. Thank you to all the fans who gave up their time to help set up the display on Saturday afternoon.
With the help of his sister Jess Horne, the RedMatchday Editor paid tribute to our greatest ever fan in Thursday night’s RedMatchday Magazine:
I first had the pleasure of meeting Norman during the 1990s. He would travel on the same supporters bus as myself from the Bridge of Don – ‘Jean’s bus’ as it was better known. My first memory of him was a trip to Easter Road. We had to take a detour along Princes Street so we could drop Norman off as he wanted to walk along the famous street waving his flags. The tourists looked a bit bewildered.
I knew him simply as ‘Mr Aberdeen’.
His actual name was Norman Cowie Maitland Goldie who was born in Novar Place in Aberdeen, the middle son of five boys to parents Janet and Alec. The family then moved to Balnagask Road in Torry during the war years, where his sister Jess was born. More recently, Norman lived in sheltered accommodation at St Peter’s Court in Torry.
Noman did manual work all his life with Hall Russell and then Lewis Shipyards in Torry where boxes for the fish were made. He finally worked as a scaffie. His sister Jesse points out, “The nature of his work meant working outdoors in all weather and I think that’s why he hated being cooped up indoors and was seen daily wondering the streets of Aberdeen, usually not appropriately dressed for the temperatures! With his red sock on one foot and his white sock on the other!”
Norman very seldom missed any matches, home or away. Throughout the good days and some of the less good days, Norman was always there.
He was in Gothenburg. He even managed to travel on the official team flight. Norman often used to wonder how the plane managed to make it home in one piece with all the singing and merriment that went on!
Sadly Norman was unable to attend the League Cup final in 2014 due to illness but no one would have had a bigger smile on their face when Russell lifted that trophy.
In September 2007 Norman was attacked near Kincorth whilst undertaking one of his lengthy walks. Whilst the incident left him with a few bruises and some cracked ribs, Norman bravely carried on his life and did not let it affected him. The one positive to come out of it was that Norman was able to see how much love there was for him from the Aberdeen family.
The Red Final Magazine gave a tribute to this Torry Loon and called him the King of the Dandies. On May 12th 2012 the Red Army recognised ‘superfan’ Norman with a DONS (Distinction of Notable Service to Aberdeen Football Club).
Others to receive the award include Joe Harper, Willie Miller and Teddy Scott.
Norman was also a very popular figure at the club and friendly with all the ticket office staff. In recent years, he attended away games on the AFC supporter’s bus that ran from Pittodrie. As recently as the St Johnstone away game in Perth, he was on the bus.
Norman always loved the sun as witnessed when he was seen in Aberdeen in his red shorts, red and white socks and Jesus sandals, a habit it took his sister a VERY long time to discourage.
Jess told us, “Money was never an issue with Norman but buying new clothes, shoes, scarves was a problem for me! His answer to anything new was ‘aww Jessie, I like the een I’ve got!! Even upgrading his Aberdeen gear was a problem. If I did manage to persuade him to buy it, wearing it was a different story!”
“I once asked him what he would do if he won £1 million. Give it to Aberdeen Football Club was the reply! “Norman became ill last Friday and when the doctor came, he was not impressed to be told he couldn’t go to Pittodrie the next day. By the time the match came around, Norman was unconscious but he was kept up-to-date with the score as the Dons won 4-1 against Motherwell.
“Norman, all his life, was a quiet, unassuming, non-violent man, and a loving brother.”
Only a week or two before his sad passing, I saw Norman in town on a Saturday, on one of his long walks, like me with nothing to do as it was the Scottish Cup semi final weekend and the Dons were not in action. He was fortunate, he was not getting dragged to John Lewis…. I remember saying hello and thinking how well he looked. Like many of you, I only really knew Norman to say hello to, but he was still one of us. He will always be one of us.
Rest in peace Norman.
Rest in peace Norman.
