The RedMatchday team have been busy putting together another top quality programme for the visit of Burnley this week.
The cover has once again been brilliantly recreated by our artist-in-residence Dolly Digital. It is inspired from the 1960’s. A similar design was used on the front of Aberdeen v Standard Liege programme from 1967, the year of the club’s first foray into Europe.
While the draw had been kind to the Dons in the preliminary round, Aberdeen defeated Icelandic side KR Reykjavik 14-1 on aggregate, there was no such luck when they came up against Standard Liege. It was the novices from Aberdeen who were up against a side with an impressive pedigree in European competition. The best Belgian sides more than held their own in Europe and Liege were seen as one of the favourites to go all the way in the competition that year. The first leg in the intimidating Sclessin Stadium was a far cry from the relative calm of Iceland.
A large home crowd made it an uncomfortable night for the Dons who went down 3-0 in what was a huge disappointment. Set pieces were Dons weakness, losing two goals from corners in the first 11 minutes. When Aberdeen lost a poor third just after the hour, it appeared a lost cause for the Scots.
The return at Pittodrie looked like being an anti-climax. A severe snowstorm hours before kick off kept the crowd down to less than what turned up for the Reykjavik tie. If ever Aberdeen needed their support behind them it was then with a three goal deficit to make up.
But the outstanding Frank Munro scored with a searing volley in the 20th minute and after Harry Melrose made it 2-0 in 65 minutes it was game on. Aberdeen threw everything at a clearly rattled Liege side. Despite laying siege on the visitor’s goal in a frantic closing spell the Dons ran out of luck and time. The 2-0 win was not enough for the Dons and their first foray into Europe was over.
For the record Standard Liege were narrowly knocked out by eventual winners AC Milan at the Quarter Finals stage.
On Thursday we are delighted to welcome Bobby Clark back to Pittodrie as our special guest and as he played in the game back in ’67, the cover is in honour of the great Dons keeper. Bobby made 595 appearances for the club, winning the Scottish Cup in 1970, League Cup in 1976 and a League Championship medal in 1980. He also won 17 Scotland caps.
Bobby still remembers the two games against the Belgians:
“Liege brought us down to earth after the Reykjavik game. They were a quality side and they hit us hard over in Belgium. I think they had about seven players in the Belgian national team.
“We got hit by a whirlwind in the opening half in Liege. There was a big crowd crammed into a small ground and the overran us in that early period. We had usually defended well at set pieces, but they got the better of us before their own support.
“The second leg though was a reversal as we came out and really played well. I remember the return being played in thick snow and the game should never have taken place. But we did give them a real time of it at Pittodrie a missed a late chance that could have taken the tie to extra time but it wasn’t to be. Unfortunately we just fell short of what would have been a great comeback.”
We all look forward to welcoming Bobby back to Pittodrie on Thursday.
Copies of RedMatchday Magazine are available to buy in and around the ground and from the AFC Club Shop. You can also buy the publication online by clicking here
Copies of RedMatchday Magazine are available to buy in and around the ground and from the AFC Club Shop. You can also buy the publication online by clicking here
