Red Matchday Twelve | Preview

We have another bumper edition of Red Matchday for you, the final before Christmas.

The Main Interview is with Greg Leigh:

“It’s been a good experience here. It’s pretty much worked out how I would have expected. Until the recent Rangers game at Pittodrie, it’s been frustrating that the bigger games haven’t been as close as I or anyone wanted them to be. That was a real frustration, because I was really looking forward to them. Unfortunately, we just had too many injuries earlier in the season, but we showed against Rangers last time what we can do. We will have other chances to compete against them this season.

“The plastic pitches were a bit of a surprise, I’d forgotten about them! I played in Holland last year and some of the top teams play on plastic pitches there, so it’s something I am used to. The standard of the surfaces vary in this county. I wouldn’t say I’m a massive fan of them, as they do produce a different type of game, but I understand why they are used with the weather etc.

“I think the other thing that has surprised me is just how big football is in Scotland. It is a real stage to play on. Not that I didn’t think that there would be a lot, but I did not have any expectations for it, I didn’t really have a sense of what it would be like. There’s a lot of media coverage and, per head of population, there are lot of supporters.

The Player Q&A is with James Wilson:

Favourite goal you have scored?

Probably my goal against Hamilton last year. That is my favourite professional goal. It was a good strike and also won goal of the month. I thought it had a chance for goal of the season, but it was not to be!

Favourite goal you have ever seen?

April 2013, I saw Robin van Persie’s stunning volley in the win over Aston Villa which helped Manchester United win their 20th league title. I was in the stand. It was the year before I broke through. Rooney passed to him and over his shoulder, he has volleyed it in. The goal was the second of a first-half hat-trick. It was a nice one to watch.

The Cover Story

The Dark Side of the Moon cover art created intrigue when the album landed in record stores in March 1973. Over 45 years later it has inspired this week’s Dolly Digital creation.

Even if you have never heard of Pink Floyd, or never heard their music, you would still recognise the front cover which has become so iconic over the years.

The Dons in March 1973 were in the middle of a difficult season under Jimmy Bonthrone after a really promising start. From an historic point of view though, it has turned out to be quite an intriguing one, especially as by the spring a young Hungarian called Zoltan Varga was tearing the place up. Here is what else happened in 1972/73:

High spots: Drew Jarvie joins Dons in a club record £72,000 transfer from Airdrie. Harper-Jarvie partnership off to a flier with twelve out of 19 League Cup goals. Remarkable 8-0 win over Falkirk in League Cup, all goals coming in second half. Zoltan Varga joins Dons from Hertha Berlin following bribery scandal in Germany. Star-studded Manchester Utd are swept aside in Dons’ 5-2 friendly victory. Willie Miller makes his first appearance as a substitute in the last game v Morton. Brechin welcome Dons in Scottish Cup before a record 8,123 Glebe Park crowd. Joe Harper scores on his Scotland debut against Denmark in Copenhagen. Bobby Clark earns further caps v Denmark and England. Aberdeen ’A’ win the Reserve League Championship and the Reserve League Cup.

Low points: First ever-European defeat at Pittodrie against Borussia MG. Transfer of Joe Harper to Everton for £180,000 fee in December. Hibernian win the League Cup despite the Dons defeating them 4-1 in the section. Remarkable comeback against Borussia is futile, on account of three late goals in Nuremberg. 2-3 defeat in League Cup semi-final against Celtic after taking 2-1 lead.

Plus, our usual columnists, features, our extensive history and stats sections.

68 pages packed with AFC stuff! All this for still only £3.00.