interview with Nicky Low
In this weeks RedMatchday there is a feature interview with Nicky Low:
“That long walk up to take a penalty is very nerve-wracking. I thought there are 40,000 Aberdeen fans who will be calling for my head if I do not score! Saying that, I was actually more nervous standing next to Russell and the lads in the line on the centre circle. I was so desperate that we won the cup for the skipper.
“On the halfway line, you hear all the noise but when you start your walk up to the goal you are so focused you are able to block everything out. All you are thinking about is where you are going to put it. I then got more nervous when the referee told me to re-spot the ball because he thought it was too far forward. That did nothing to help!
“I just thought about the things the gaffer had told me. Before I went on, he told me this was my chance to be a hero forever. Then before the penalties, he just told me to pick my spot and be confident. He told me that we see it every day in training. Thankfully for me the ball went in.
“Usually when I go up to take a penalty I know where I am going to go. I don’t believe it’s good to change your mind. When I went up, I just picked my side and thankfully the keeper dived the wrong way.
“Throughout my entire life, my whole career including my Boys Clubs football, I have only ever missed one penalty and that was last year for the U20s. It is not a bad record!
“I have to praise the gaffer because he stood by me and he has given me a chance this season. In the final, he had a lot of belief in me to put me on at that stage in the game. I just to have to keep working hard. I always do. I give everything I can. Hopefully I can continue to be involved in a successful Aberdeen team.
“Ever since I walked through the door at Pittodrie for the first time I have put my soul and heart into the club. I had a hard life when I was younger but that taught me to appreciate everything in life. I also think if you have a tougher upbringing it makes you more determined to succeed. It makes you determined never to be beaten at anything.”
Aberdeen FC FPs Feature |
Aberdeen FC has a history of young players coming to prominence in cup finals. Nicky Low and Cammy Smith did so a few weeks ago, Eion Jess did it in the ’89 League Cup final and back in the 1970 Scottish Cup Final, one of the most talented players ever to play for the club introduced himself to the world?..
In the 1960’s and 70’s Aberdeen were fortunate to call on the extraordinary talents of chief scout Bobby Calder. The Aberdeen scout was responsible for taking many young players from the west and put them on the road to stardom at Pittodrie. Calder had a keen eye for players but it was perhaps his powers of persuasion that was his hidden strength. One young player who was tempted by Calder to sign for Aberdeen was 17-year-old Arthur Graham who had been outstanding for Junior side Cambuslang Rangers in 1969. The Aberdeen scout had been tracking the young winger for weeks and he tempted Arthur to join Aberdeen in the face of serious competition from many senior clubs. Aberdeen had to wait until Cambuslang were knocked out of the Junior Cup before he could join the Dons. ‘Bumper’ as he went on to become known by the Aberdeen support signed for Aberdeen in February 1970. Arthur was grateful to Calder and his involvement in helping him start out as a professional player and Graham promised his first winners medal would be given to Bobby as a gesture for his help. Incredibly only six weeks after joining the Dons. That dream would come true as Graham found himself in the Aberdeen side that faced Celtic at Hampden in the Scottish Cup Final.
Also in the programme are all the usual features, columnists and extensive history section.
RedMatchday magazine is on sale from in and around the ground on Saturday and is also available from the Pittodrie Club shop priced at £3.
If you cannot get to the game you can buy a copy online by clicking here
