Dons goalkeeper Theo Simpson was recently named as Young Player of the Year at Buckie Thistle, the Highland League side where the shot-stopper has spent the 2025/26 season, his first full campaign in the professional game. Everyone at the Club congratulates Theo on his award. A product of the Dons Youth Academy, Theo has a big future between the sticks after signing his first professional contract on 11th July 2025. An international youth goalkeeper who joined the Aberdeen Academy at Under 11 level, and an SFA Performance School Graduate, who is very comfortable with the ball at his feet and is a brilliant shot-stopper as well. A young, local, Dons supporting goalkeeper coming through the Aberdeen Youth Academy begs the obvious question: Is he actually named after Theo Snelders?

“I am! I did not actually find out I was named after him until I was a bit older! I got asked a lot of questions when I was coming through the academy as a goalkeeper, and I eventually asked my dad. He told me Theo was his favourite player, and I was named after him. It is quite an uncommon name, I was the only Theo at school, but to me it was just my name and I got on with it! “After a while I did wonder why everyone kept asking me where it came from. One of my dad’s mates, who was also my football coach, used to call me Snelders as a joke when I was really young. At that point, I should have known! “I have actually met Theo Snelders. He came to one of my games when I was playing at U13 or U14 level at Cormack Park, he spoke to me during the warm up. A very nice guy.” “Finding out we were not going to be playing U18s football this season, and we were going out on loan was a bit daunting at first, I am not going to lie. It is so different. You are playing against men and not players your own age. You have to get your head around it, then think where you are going to go. But I quickly realised what a great opportunity it was for me.

“It has been a great experience but it’s been tough at times too. It’s tough when you lose a game and it was tough at the start when I was not playing. As with any team though, you have to force your way into the side, you can’t expect to just play. When you do get a chance, you have to take it and I was able to do that at the start of the year. “I think I have done well. I think I have had a successful season. Playing in the Highland League, physically and mentally has done me the world of good. It’s what I was needing at this age and this stage of my career. “I played a game that was live on TV when Buckie played Formartine United in the Scottish Cup. That was a good experience. You quickly forget the cameras are there and then go and do your job and I managed to do that that night. But doing a live post-match interview was something new!

“I feel the loan move has been very successful after a slow start. I have played over 30 games this season. For a goalkeeper my age, in my first year as a full-time professional, that’s a very good amount. For myself and my goalkeeping coach Kevin Stewart, we are all very happy with that. “I feel settled in now as we are a good seven or eight months into the season. It is a big step up from the Academy. I was fortunate enough to come in quite often even when I was still at school. Being in a completely full-time is still a big step up, but one I have very much enjoyed.” As well as playing for Buckie Thistle, Theo got the opportunity to train at Cormack Park and play with the Dons’ development side which won the Aberdeenshire Cup, reached the final of the Aberdeenshire Shield and the semi-finals of the SFA Youth Cup. That’s a decent haul, but Theo feels there should have been more. “It was a massive disappointment losing the Shield final to Fraserburgh and then ten days later losing to Queen’s Park in the Youth Cup semi-final. We were all desperate to get to Hampden and you can’t fault anyone on the night. It was not through a lack of effort, but during the game, we lacked the composure needed all over the park and it caught up with us. We have the quality, and have showed it all season but for whatever reason, we could not produce the goods on the night. It should not overshadow the fact that as an Aberdeen Development side, we’ve had a good season with a lot of good performances.” Theo has also had the opportunity to be involved on matchdays with the Aberdeen first team squad as the third goalkeeper following injuries to Nick Suman and then Per Kristan Bratveit.

“Every time I get the opportunity to go over onto the first team training pitches, I go and try showcase my skills. You don’t just get an opportunity, you have to earn it. But if you are doing well, you get asked to go over and work with the first team squad and in my case work with Dimi, Per, Nick and Rodrigo under Craig Hincliffe. “It is a great experience to be involved on a matchday and be in and around the changing room. Doing the warm-up is completely different from watching it in the stands. I am enjoying it so much right now, and hopefully there is more to come. “It is a really good group. Rod is a couple of year older and came through the academy like myself so I know him, and he is a big help. And Dimi, Nick, Per and Connor Douglas, we all get on really well. Out on the training pitch, if any of them see something, they won’t hesitate to tell me and I have learned so much from all of them.” A big Aberdeen supporter, Theo follows the side when he can and was even caught on camera at last year’s Hampden semi-final when Oday Dabbagh scored his late winner! “I am a big Aberdeen fan, as are my mum and dad. For the Scottish Cup final I was with my mates in the stand. That has got to be one of the best days of my life and it is my dream to play in a cup final for Aberdeen myself one day. “My hero growing up was obviously Joe Lewis, I liked him. I never got the opportunity to train with Joe, but he did sometimes come over to the Youth Academy and speak to the young keepers.

“My mates love the fact I play for Aberdeen. They are pleased for me. When I have been doing the warm-up recently, I have had a few shouts from behind the goal! “I realise I am living the dream of any Aberdeen fan. When I first came into Cormack Park and got to train with the first team and I was playing with Shinnie, and Duk, and Dimi it was a WOW moment. But like anything, you come to terms with it and you just get on with it. And my job is to get my head down and keep working hard.”