copies in afc shop and online
For the final game of the season there was a special bumper 84 page edition of redmatchday magazine. If you were unable to buy a copy at the game there are still some available in the AFC Club shop at Pittodrie. Alternatively you can still buy a copy online by clicking here
RESPECT THE PAST,
We pay tribute to the greatest manager this country has ever seen. As well as an interview with Sir Alex there are tributes from some of the AFC FPs, In the Golden Years we take a look at the 1978/79 season – Fergie’s first at Pittodrie and there are some great old photos that we have unearthed.
Sunday afternoon genuinely does mark the end of an era in British football when Sir Alex Ferguson, the most successful manager these islands have ever produced, hangs up his bench coat and bins his chewing gum for the final time before heading off into semi-retirement, taking up a seat on the board at Manchester United as well as handling some ambassadorial duties at the club.
“The moment the team became special was when we signed Peter Weir. When Peter was on form, Aberdeen were a really top side. At that time too, the likes of Eric Black and John Hewitt and the other young players were starting to get themselves into the first team. I signed Mark McGhee, who did a great job as a battling ram type player upfront. He was an athletic lad who could take a lot of abuse, not a great goalscorer but very athletic and could run all day, so we worked round that but Weir was without doubt the catalyst for the success we had. I know that Gordon Strachan was the star of the team in the sense of his profile but believe me, when Weir played, Aberdeen were hard to beat.
We also remember and pay tribute to Ernie Winchester.
We can confirm we will be holding a minute’s applause prior to the kick off on Saturday to remember the Aberdeen and Hearts striker.
From the outset of season 1962/63, Ernie was given the centre-forward position at Pittodrie, taking over from Billy Little who was given a winger’s role. Winchester responded to the challenge by scoring an impressive 20 goals from only 34 matches, a ratio that stands up against any of the illustrious forwards that have graced Pittodrie in the past. He scored his first goal for the Dons against Motherwell in a League Cup tie at Pittodrie on 15th August 1962.
Ernie also had the distinction of scoring a hat-trick for Aberdeen in each of the next four seasons, the first of which came against Raith Rovers at Pittodrie in a 10-0 rout on 13th October 1962. For three seasons Ernie finished at top scorer at Aberdeen during a period which was a difficult time at Pittodrie.
BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE
There is also a feature interview with the U20s coach Neil Cooper.
If the senior side hasn’t delivered on the early season promise this term, Aberdeen’s Under 20s have been in terrific form from start to finish, finishing second in the Clydesdale Bank Youth League, scoring 77 goals along the way, far more than any other team in the division, while still posting one of the best defensive records.
“There is plenty that I have been happy with this season. The last two seasons, the training sessions have been really good, high tempo, quality sessions. They have a great work ethic and all the players are very good technically, with a good touch. We have a lot of creativity in the group – you don’t score 77 goals if you are unable to open teams up. That is a great achievement to score that number of goals, especially as we have lost our two main strikers, Declan McManus and Cammy Smiths for international get togethers, and Cammy has also been in the first team squad for large parts of the season.”
plus all the usual features and columns.
Russell Anderson |
It is always hard to say goodbye to people you have worked with, people who have become good friends over a period of time, it does make for a slightly strange atmosphere around the last game of any season. I’d just like to wish all the players who are leaving, wherever they land up, all the very best in the future. I think the numbers involved indicate the size of the job that the new manager has taken on and that he is very keen to put his imprint on the football club very quickly. We have already seen changes in the way we train and look to play, but from a supporters’ point of view, you won’t be seeing the impact of that until next season now because it takes time for those changes to sink in and be shown out on the field.
Derek McInnes |
The financial situation in Scottish football dictates many, many decisions these days and the decision to release players was done with a very close eye on the budget. We ended in the bottom half again this season and we all know that’s not good enough for this club. There’s no secret as to how you improve – it takes hard work and an effort to bring in good players who will improve our squad. That is what we will look to do in the summer, although we won’t bring in as many players as we have released, which is why the young boys will continue to be so important for us. In terms of our acquisitions, we will be looking for quality rather than quantity as we strive to put a team out that matches your support and your aspirations for this great football club.
redmatchday magazine is on sale from in and around the ground on Saturday and is also available from the Pittodrie Club shop still priced at £3.
You can pre-order a copy and have it delivered to your door – Visit www.curtis-sport.com and order your copy now!
The Dons award winning matchday programme is now available as a digital iPad download. For more information on the service please visit Matchday Digital by clicking here To download the app from itunes please click here
