record day in the club shop; season tickets sales over 8,000
It was a record day at Pittodrie – the club shop had one of its busiest days ever with more kits being sold on the opening day of a kit launch than ever before. At 10am this morning Aberdeen Vice Chairman George Yule introduced the new club sponsor Saltire Energy and Chief Executive Mike Loggie to the media. Saltire Energy become the club’s 10th shirt sponsor since JVC first appeared in 1987.
The new 2014/2015 home kit was then unveiled by Jonny Hayes, Jamie Langfield as well as Youth Academy players Andy Patterson and Fraser Duncan – Saltire Energy have sponsored the AFC Youth Academy for a number of seasons now.
RedTV | you can now see the official press launch by clicking here
George Yule
“We are on a journey and today is a continued part of it. There has been a perception out there that the club in the past have failed to attach a global oil field company so it ticks that box. However we have had six very good years with Terry Allan at Team Recruitment and we should not under estimate the role that they have played in supporting the club during some difficult years.
“I like the fact you have now got the Saltire on the front of the jersey. I like the fact you have the word energy (energy industry). For our new sponsors it a particularly good time to be associated with the club. It is a good fit.
“We have to continue to practice what we preach every day. It is all about delivering quality, value, standards. The more used you are to doing that, it then becomes natural. 99% of any football club is affected by what happens on a Saturday afternoon on the park. That is work in progress for us. Behind that we have to ensure as a Board and as a Club we are not only supporting the football management and the team out there, but we also have to get the other bits of the club into the right place as well.
“The early bird cut off (for season tickets) was last Friday and at the moment we are at just over 8,000 season tickets sold. Within that number there are 800 new season ticket holders – people who have never bought before. We still have about 2,200 season ticket holders from last year who have not renewed yet so we are seriously hoping to get up to the 10,000 mark by the start of the SPFL season.”
RedTV | interview with George please click here
Mike Loggie
“It is a fantastic day for the company. It looks absolutely brilliant having our logo on the shirt. To see the kids walking up and down Union Street with the Saltire logo on the kits will be amazing.
“We have been sponsoring the Youth Academy since 2008 and the sponsorship has grown well. Seeing young players coming through from the Academy to the first team is very satisfying and the way it should be at Aberdeen FC.
“We are doing a lot in the community. We are very conscious that this is our home town and we want to be involved with everything we can be. We want to give something back, especially to the youngsters in the area.
“We are also involved with Paul Lawrie who is very much an Aberdonian and someone else who gives a lot back to the community. He is a successful ambassador and you cannot get a bigger ambassador for the area than AFC. The football club is a huge part of the city and we are very proud to be part of it.”
RedTV | interview with Mike please click here
Jamie Langfield
“The new kit is really nice. I had the opportunity to wear the top in the league cup final. It is very light, I like it. The retro badge is a bit different. I think the fans will like that as well.
“I have done a few of these kit shoots over the years now! I am always seem to be in green! I am looking forward to wearing it this season.
“The first week of the summer was a bit of a nightmare obviously after the way things ended but that has gone now and we all move on. I know it will make me even more determined to do well next season and I am sure the rest of the boys will be the same.
“Last season was my best footballing season by far. The way I played, the way I felt. I really enjoyed the whole season, the games, coming into training, working with Jim who was working me hard as ever. Jim has now tasked me, if selected, to be even better next season.
“People say as a goalkeeper you get better in the head as you get older and I think that is true. Even at 34 though you are always still learning and trying to improve.
“I am looking forward to welcoming Scott Brown to Pittodrie and working with him. I am sure we will have a good goalkeeping fraternity next season.”
RedTV | interview with Jamie please click here
Jonny Hayes
“I think the new kit is really nice. It’s a nice touch having the retro badge. You can see the reaction on twitter already so the supporters seem to be liking it.
“It’s not long now, we’re back training next week or so. I personally I am looking forward to getting back in to it and playing football every day.
“If you had told us at the start of last season we would finish third we would have taken that but because we spent most of the season in second place it was a hard one to take, losing out on the final day of the season, in the manner that we did. It’s a realistic target for us to aim for second in the league now but we’ve got the goal of two cups to try and win, a European adventure and obviously trying to secure second spot.
“Players need time to settle in and gel so the way the manager does his business is really good. It’s good the players are coming in early and I’m sure the manager has a few more cards up his sleeve. It won’t take long for the new players to settle in to the dressing room because it’s a great dressing room.
“It’s great to get Shay back. He did fantastic for us last season.”
RedTV | interview with Jonny please click here
RedImages |
photos Newsline Scotland and SNSPix
photos Newsline Scotland and SNSPix
