In Saturday’s Red Matchday Magazine, plenty of reading ahead of the big game and over the Easter weekend.
There are exclusive interviews with Peter Leven, Graeme Shinnie and Ester Sokler who all spoke with the Red Matchday Editor this week.
Also in Saturday’s packed programme: the young Dons feature is with Rodrigo Vitols, and the Q&A is with striker Aaron Reid. The AFC women’s interview by Mark Gordon is with captain Hannah Stewart:
“I had always thought of myself as an out-and-out striker, but I have loved the role Clint has asked me to play. He has changed the way that I play and has given me the freedom to go where I want on the pitch to get on the ball. I’ve also got Bayley Hutchison up front with me which is a big help and Darice Miller jut breaking through is a great young striker.
“It’s massive for me to keep playing and the issue I had with my knee meant that I can’t really stop playing without it getting worse. The confidence I’ve gained and the improved fitness of putting so many games together has been massive for me. It’s important mentally going into games to know that you have an important role and that you are valued by the team and its credit to Clint for making my feel like that.”
There is a Former Players Q&A with Niall McGinn who was back at Pittodrie last week:
“On the pitch, he told me to enjoy my football, go out, create chances, chip in with assists and goals as much as I could and just demand high standards of yourself. Out of possession as well, he was always very thorough, help your full-back. When you had a defensive job to do, you had to do it and he always got that from the likes of myself and Jonny who would work equally hard going back as you would going forward.
“The main job was just create chances for the likes of Adam and we knew if we created chances, Rooney would be in there at the right time. For me it was probably more of a step start, get on the half turn, try and whip crosses into the box, whereas Jonny was out and out pace, very tricky and could beat anyone on his day.”
Plus all the usual in depth history articles and photos from the archives, including the story of the Pittodrie floodlights with some fantastic photos from 1959 and a look back season 1931/32.
The 1930s was without doubt the best era Aberdeen enjoyed when they wore their Black & Gold kit, which they had worn since 1904. Aberdeen had become well known for being a fluent footballing side that relied heavily on their ‘passing game.’
The decade did not get off to the most encouraging of starts however as the club were immersed in a scandal that was known locally as ‘The Great Mystery’. In November a shock announcement came from Pittodrie as Aberdeen issued a statement stating that five first team players, namely, Jimmy Black, Hugh McLaren, Frank Hill, Benny Yorston and David Galloway were dropped from the side and that none of them would ever play for the first team again. The reality was that Aberdeen had lost one of the best half back lines in British football in Black, McLaren and Hill.
Frank Hill was a Scotland international at left half, while Hugh McLaren was a previous Scottish Cup winner with Kilmarnock when he was loaned to the Rugby Park club by Aberdeen in 1929. Jimmy Black had been honoured by the Scottish League against the Irish League earlier that season. With Yorston the record club scorer also out, and arguably the greatest striker to play for AFC during the pre-war era, the club did not have its’ troubles to seek.
On a positive note for Aberdeen was the fact that the ‘Great Mystery’ hastened the promotion of several younger players to the side. Included a select few were Matt Armstrong and Willie Mills who both went on to become Pittodrie legends. Bob Fraser went on to replace Black and he became Aberdeen captain in 1935. Eddie Falloon was an Irish international who took over for McLaren and went on to play his part in that great Black & Gold Aberdeen side of the mid-1930’s.
And also, your latest set of stickers!
Priced at £3.50 Red Matchday Magazine is available to buy from in and around the ground on Saturday from the sellers and also in the AFC Club Shop. You can also buy your copy online and have it delivered direct to your door by clicking here.
