In Saturday’s edition of RedMatchday:
ASHTON TAYLOR
It’s been a season of milestones for Ashton Taylor so far with, let’s hope, a few more to come as the months go by.
The giant central defender made his 250th senior appearance against Motherwell, an achievement he celebrated with a goal. He is close to clocking up his 50th game for the Dons and last time out registered a fifth straight league win to equal the club’s best ever start to a season with a fourth clean sheet.
Conceding just one goal across those games – in spite of the absence of Aberdeen stalwart Mark Reynolds – has been pivotal to that record, Ash rising to the challenge with a string of outstanding displays.
Saturday though represents the biggest of the challenges by far as the Dons take on the reigning champions, well aware that if we are to push the Bhoys closer this term, we will have to improve on last term’s meetings.
But at Pittodrie, that has been the mantra of 2015/16 thus far – improve, improve, improve, season on season, month on month, week by week. It’s a philosophy that’s currently paying dividends according to Taylor.
“I think we have improved from last season. We have improved massively our points total from the start of last season, albeit that we made a slow start after the European games last year. After the first five games last season we had six points. This season we have 15 points, so that is a big step forward.
“I know we have equalled the record of wins at the start of the season, but the manager will just be pleased with the fact we have improved on what we did last season. We are always wanting that improvement. We want to build on what we did last season.
“The manager has strengthened the squad and there is competition for every place in the team and you definitely need that over a long campaign. The gaffer has utilised the squad well. He is able to do that because of the strength in depth that we now have. You only have to look at the bench each week to see that.
“Looking back, last season, we didn’t have that ability to change things around but also, coming back early, playing in Europe, however well we were prepared for it, it was still something very new to us and it did have an impact on how we started the domestic season. This year, we’ve been able to use the European games as a springboard this season after learning from the experience last season”.
“I am quite happy with my performances, throughout last season and into the season. I have to keep working hard though to keep that form and keep that consistency.
“I actually thought one of my best performances was this corresponding fixture last year when we played Celtic in September at Pittodrie. We lost the game when they scored in the last minute and that was hard to take as I thought we played very well that day. It was disappointing not to come away with the three points, never mind not taking anything from the game. But that is just a reminder how fine the margins are in games like this.”
GRAHAM LEGGAT There is a special tribute to one our greats who sadly passed away recently. As well as picture on the cover there is a full tribute to Graham Leggat.
A powerful link with Aberdeen’s glorious past was lost last month with the sad passing of the great Graham Leggat at the age of 81. Leggat stands out as one of the Club’s greatest ever players, the crown jewel in the side that brought us our first League title in 1954/55. More than that, he will forever be remembered as one of the finest wingers that this nation has ever produced.
With a phenomenal strike rate of more than 200 senior goals in 400 games, extraordinary statistics for a man who generally plied his trade out on the right flank, Graham was a very special talent and a tremendous sportsman.
Born in Aberdeen on 20th June 1934, Graham Leggat was an outstanding talent from an early age. Even while playing local schools football, he looked destined to be a player of some note although he was also a natural sportsman who was good at any sport he tried, particularly rugby. He grow up in the Hilton area and was spotted as a ten-year old at Woodside Primary before playing for Aberdeen schools and the youth side Torry FP. Aged 17, he joined Banks O’ Dee and Aberdeen moved quickly to sign him on a provisional form. During the summer of 1953, Graham was called up by the Dons and his talent was such that he was pitched straight into the first team at outside right where he made a tremendous impact in his first season.
Graham made his debut in a 1-0 league defeat away to Stirling Albion in September 1953, but got revenge on Boxing Day of that year in an 8-0 win when Graham grabbed a brace for himself.
Leggat had all the attributes normally associated with a top class player: natural ability, mental and physical agility, speed and the knack of improvising to outwit an opponent.
His introduction to the Dons’ side in 1953 was probably the biggest factor in turning Aberdeen from a team that habitually came close to the glittering prizes into the squad that finally rose to the top of Scottish football in 1955. Graham played during five seasons for the Dons from 1953/54 to 1957/58, winning the league title in 1955 and a League Cup medal the following season. He also played in the 1954 Scottish Cup Final when Aberdeen lost 2-1 to Celtic.
Following the title triumph of 1954/55, Graham’s goalscoring was also a big factor in the Dons’ 1955/56 League Cup success, with Leggat scoring nine goals in 10 ties, including the winner in the final itself v St Mirren at Hampden, a goal that caused heated debate. Some suggested his incredible shot from 35 yards was a ‘fluke’ and not meant. Those lucky enough to see Leggat play regularly for the Dons would suggest otherwise and lobbing keepers at Hampden was to become his party piece.
For a player who was not an out and out striker, Graham’s statistics are astonishing and highlight just why he is regarded as one of our greatest ever players. He scored 92 goals in 152 appearances during his time at Pittodrie.
Plus all the usual features, articles and columns from Scotland’s top match magazine.
RedMatchday Magazine is priced at £3.00 and is available from the sellers in and around the ground before the game as well the AFC Club shop. For anyone who can't make it along to Pittodrie on Saturday you can buy a copy of RedMatchday online please click here
