In this weeks RedMatchday Magazine ….
PLAYER INTERVIEW | KENNY McLEAN
…“I joined the AFC Glasgow Academy when I was nine or ten. I was there for about four years before I moved on. I still keep in touch with my coach, Gary Gibson. I still remember a lot about my time with the Dons back then. They were good times, I have a lot of good memories. It was at that age when you just enjoy your football. We also had a very good team and a lot of the boys from back then still play here or elsewhere. Ryan Jack, Jamie Masson, Nicky Low, Mitch Megginson, Clark Robertson, Stephen O’Donnell, Fraser Fyvie, they were all in my team.
…“It meant a lot of travelling, but you didn’t care as long as you were getting a game of football! You would go anywhere for a game. The bus journeys up to Aberdeen were actually decent. We had a good group of young boys and our parents travelled with us as well. The trip just added to the excitement of the day.”
…“I went back to St Mirren for the following season and was on the bench for a few games prior to my debut, mainly due to injuries. Then my debut came in October. I can remember it quite clearly. It was at home to Hamilton, we were 2-0 down and Danny Lennon ,who was the manager, took a bit of a chance and put me on and we brought the game back to 2-2. I did pretty well and from then on Danny put a bit of trust in me which was great for me personally. From then on he played me quite a bit for the rest of that season and after that, I became quite a regular.
…“I will always be grateful to Danny for what he did for me. I think every player will be the same, looking back on where they started, someone needs to give you that chance. Danny gave me that chance but he also stuck by me during the time he was there. He texted me when I got the move to Aberdeen which was nice.
…“Here, there is more experience round about me and hopefully I will be able to relax more and enjoy my football which should lead to stronger performances again. I am still adapting to how some boys play, but every day in training we are getting used to each other more and hopefully things will keep getting better.
…“I have mostly played central or left midfield. I have played right across the midfield, sitting, attacking but I do prefer playing as an attacking midfielder. It does not really bother me but I think my game is arriving in the box and I am going to say getting goals, which I appreciate has not happened yet for Aberdeen. I got seven this season for St Mirren so hopefully when the first one arrives there will be more to follow!”
FEATURE | EARL FOREMAN
There is a tribute from David Innes on Earl Foreman who recently celebrated his 90th Birthday. Earl played a really interesting part in the history of Aberdeen FC.
In the President’s Cup final, LA Wolves, on vacation from Molineux, won by beating the Dons, disguised as Washington Whips, 6-5 in “…one of the greatest sporting events ever played in this country”.
No-one who witnessed it live, or who has seen the video footage copied to me by Chalky Whyte when I was researching my book on the trip nearly 20 years ago, would disagree. But we have reason to celebrate the man who uttered those words, Earl Foreman, President of the Washington Whips, as he celebrated his 90th birthday on 28th March.
Although his is a little-known footnote in our proud history, he was a significant player in bringing ‘soccer’ to the US. In his welcome to fans in the match programme for the Whips’ opening fixture against Cleveland Stokers (Stoke City), his address fizzes with enthusiasm.
“Although it has its intricacies, soccer is a game which can be appreciated and enjoyed immediately. It is a streamlined game, one of beautiful simplicity and clarity. It is a game of continuous action, which requires a degree of stamina and agility demanded by no other sport.
“By bringing the Aberdeen Dons to play in Washington, we are doing something very selfish. We are trying to convert you into instant soccer fans.
“After you see how the game is played by some of the world’s best teams, we believe you will become “hooked” on the sport.”
YOUNG DONS | KALVIN ORSI
“I joined Aberdeen at U13 level. I was part of the Glasgow Centre with Peter Weir. We used to train three days a week and then we played a game on the Sunday. Peter is one of the best coaches I have ever worked with, he is exceptional. He’s a very good character and was very well liked by all the boys in the Glasgow Centre, respected by everyone. His sessions were very tough though, he was a hard man as well on the training field! I never got to see him play but sometimes in training, he would join in and he was still amazing. His touch was still there.
“Being a winger himself he passed on a lot of invaluable advice to me. For example he used to tell me to cross the ball more. I used to cut in and shoot a lot but he got me to mix my game up a bit more. He told me that I should always leave the defender thinking. He used to always make sure I worked with both feet and also worked on my acceleration as he understood the importance of having that initial burst of pace. He also got me involved with the Sports Science side of things at a young age and that was very beneficial. He did it all. I cannot thank him enough for what he did for my career.”
AFC FPs CLUB | DEREK WHYTE
“I knew what Aberdeen was all about when I signed for the Dons. Pittodrie was always one of my favourite grounds and Aberdeen had a marvellous tradition. With the World Cup in France coming up at the end of that season, I was keen to part of that. Being in the Scotland side was a great honour. I was involved in the European Championship finals in 1992 and again in 1996. However France 1998 was something different. My last game for Scotland was during my time at Aberdeen when we beat Germany 1-0 in Bremen.”
RedMatchday Issue 21 is available from the programme sellers in and around the ground. It will be on sale from the AFC Club Shop and you can also buy a copy online by clicking here
