In the final Red Matchday Magazine of the year there is an exclusive interview with Jack MacKenzie who looks back at 2023.
“It’s a really strong group, all the boys get on really well, it’s a very tight dressing room. I think we’ve needed that this season, because we’ve had quite a few setbacks, bad results, and you can see the boys get around each other and normally put it right in the next game.
“There is more pressure probably now that I’ve been around the team for three years. I think there’s more expectation as well. I’ve seen myself evolve this year from being that up and coming young player into, not necessarily one of the more experienced ones, but I’m getting there! Whether that’s just driving standards up in training, making sure everyone’s up to what I believe is the Aberdeen level or just giving absolutely everything on the pitch, those are things I need to do.
Also in Saturday’s packed programme: the young Dons feature is with first players Ryan Duncan and Jack Milne, the women’s interview is with Laura Holden and the Q&A is with Jonny Hayes. There is a Former Players Q&A with Bobby Clark:
BEST PLAYER YOU PLAYED AGAINST: Again, possibly too many good players to single out one, but playing against Rivellino and Jairzinho in the Maracana in front of a huge crowd in 1972 was special. Unfortunately they did combine to score the only goal of the game to knock us out of the final of their Independence Cup. If we had squeezed out a draw, we would have played Portugal in the final in the Maracana. That was a great trip, as we also played Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia.
plus all the usual in depth history articles and photos from the archives, including the story of the boardroom coup of 1969…
Season 1968/69 was not a memorable one for Aberdeen Football Club. The sales of Jimmy Smith and Tommy Craig compounded frustration amongst the support who suffered a season of turmoil on the park with Bobby Clark being dropped and some heavy defeats dragging Aberdeen into a relegation battle. That unrest spread to the Pittodrie boardroom as news came through of a potential take-over of the club.
On 10 April 1969, the Evening Express declared, ‘A shock move for control of Aberdeen FC’. A take-over bid had been instigated by a mystery bidder through a local solicitor acting on their behalf. It was understood that a substantial offer had been made for the club’s share capital of £5,000 in 10,000 10/- shares, conditional on it being for the controlling interest – there was no appetite for a nominal holding.
It is a story that could have dramatically altered the history of AFC.
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.
Postponements
With two home games now to be re-arranged during the second half of the season, Red Matchday Issue 7 (Dundee) and Issue 14 (Motherwell) will be sold when the games are played – this is due to the fact the stickers included in these programmes cannot be reprinted. The original programme will also though be accompanied with a small updated Red Matchday publication.
All issues of Red Matchday Magazine from this season are available to purchase from the curtis sport website. Aberdeen (curtis-sport.com)
A big thank you from all the red matchday team to all our readers for your support during 2023 and we wish you all a very happy new year.
