In RedMatchday 15/16 Issue 01

There is an interview with Ryan Jack :

“I got told the news that I was going to be captain in St Andrews, the day before the Brechin match. The manager just said he wanted me to lead the team out and he would announce after the game that he was going to be make me club captain.

“Obviously when he told me, I was delighted. I was more proud than anything else to be honest. It is a very proud moment for myself and my family. I have grown up only knowing what it is like to play for Aberdeen Football Club. The club has been my life. I was part of the youth set up at a very young age.

“Growing up and watching Aberdeen and being part of all the youth squads means this is a dream come true. As a youngster, you can’t even imagine captaining a club as big as Aberdeen. I am very thankful that I am going to get the opportunity to do that this season.

“I have to be honest and say it did come as a bit of a surprise when the manager told me but it is has done a lot for my confidence. It is obviously given me a lift knowing that the manager sees something in me, that I can captain and lead this side, especially as we have such a good side with a lot of experienced players. There are a lot of guys who could easily and very deservedly have been handed the armband.

“I believe the most important thing about being a captain is being there for the team. If there are problems, it is important the players feel they can come and speak to me. It is also important if there are problems that I sort them out quickly.

“On the pitch I will lead the team as best as I can. I will always try and lead by example. It is not just about going out there and shouting and bawling. It is about doing the right things at the right times.

“I am so used to having Russell there in the dressing room it does feel a bit weird him not being there. He was a very good captain who did a lot for me. Hopefully I have learned from the way Russell educated me and I can pass on advice to the other young boys in the dressing room.

“He has been a big influence in the dressing room. You could go and speak to him about any problems you have and he would sort them out or give you advice. He has been a very good captain and has always been there for the players. He will be missed in the changing room but I can still go and speak to him upstairs, although I might have to book an appointment now!”

There are also interviews with Paul Quinn, Graeme Shinnie, Niall McGinn and Danny Ward.

There is a column from Derek McInnes :

Last week’s game was always going to be tough and it kind of played out the way we expected it to. We knew that if we gave Shkendija any encouragement at all, they could cause us problems and we were wary of that threat. We always felt that the tie would never be won or lost over the first leg and that it would take two decent performances from us to get through and that is exactly how it is looking. The away goal may give us a slight advantage but it is certainly not enough of an advantage for us to think that we don’t have work to do.

There are also columns from Andrew Shinnie, Chris Crighton, Richard Gordon, and we are also delighted to welcome David Preece to the RedMatchday team :

To have been a Dons fan at that very moment is to be as blessed as any fan of football can be, a sensation fans of most clubs will never get remotely near to experiencing. The perfect concoction of the right group of players, the right management team, the perfectly understated setting and the footballing royalty of the opposition all resulted in perhaps the greatest achievement by a British club ever.

The cover design contains a special painting from our good friend Paine Proffitt celebrating Pittodrie’s European Nights. Paine will be doing various projects for the programme through the season.

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 Thursday you can buy a copy online by clicking here

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 Thursday you can buy a copy online by clicking here