Richard Gordon | Andrew Considine

The recent achievement of Andrew Considine in moving into the Dons’ top ten all-time appearances list says much about the characteristics of a player who has offered not just longevity, but also a large degree of dependability in the near thirteen years since he made his full Aberdeen debut.

It took him a few seasons to establish himself, barely reaching double figures in his first two years as a senior player, but he then grabbed the opportunity and has been a stalwart for the past decade.

He has weighed in with a few important goals along the way, but his main attributes have always been of a defensive nature and he has blossomed into a reliable performer as he has matured.

No less than Willie Miller has been singing Andrew’s praises for a number of years on the radio now – and he knows a thing or two about the art of defence.

Back in 2012 it was my pleasure to announce that he had scooped both main awards at the annual end of season AFC Player of the Year dinner, and those were thoroughly deserved back then. He may not have picked up any more personal silverware in the years since, but there can be little doubt that he has consistently contributed to the team’s general improvement during that time. He has tough competition this season, but he would certainly be one of my contenders.

The excellent archive site (www.afcheritage.org) tells me he has now played 381 times for the club and that being the case, he could find himself in 7th place in that appearances list before the summer, edging ahead of Brian Irvine, Drew Jarvie and Willie Cooper along the way. By early next season Andrew could have overtaken his former captain, Russell Anderson, but he would then have to adopt a holding position before coming close to the top five of Leighton, McKimmie, Clark, McLeish and Miller.

Each member of that quintet has played over 500 times for Aberdeen, with Willie well clear at the top with his total of 797 matches. It’s no surprise that Gothenburg Greats dominate the top of the list, but the combined tally of 2,018 matches played by Miller, McLeish and Leighton is a staggering statistic.

Andrew has said he feels it’s an honour for him to be mentioned in the same breath as those legends, but it’s one he richly deserves given the hard work and determination he has displayed.

It’s well known that centre-half is his preferred position, but he has become an accomplished left-back, and that adaptability has helped him be selected as often. Derek McInnes has himself admitted that he had doubts over the big defender when he took over as boss, but was won over by Andrew, and now has him down as one of his first picks, safe in the knowledge that whichever role he is asked to fulfil, it will be carried out professionally and without fuss.

The signing of his contract extension means there’s every chance that Andrew Considine will join that exclusive band of one-club men, an even bigger rarity these days given how the game has changed.

And whatever appearance total he ends on, wherever he is on that list, he will have thoroughly deserved all the accolades that come his way.

I just hope that when he finishes his playing career, he has a few more winner’s medals to treasure .. starting with this season’s Scottish Cup!