The Illustrious History of Aberdeen Football Club

In the UK there is nothing more uniting than the love for football. Millions of fans every week crowd into pubs, stadiums, and around the television to watch their favourite teams play.

Often the support of a team will be a hereditary affair, children following the team of their parents, grandparents, and sometimes even great grandparents.

The History
One of Scotland’s most illustrious clubs, Aberdeen FC was established in 1903 and has some of the most dedicated fans in the world, following their team through the highs and lows.

Affectionately referred to as the Dons’, a nickname they’ve had since their earliest days, the club is a vital part of the wider community of the North East of Scotland.

Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest city but AFC is the only senior football club here, adding to its strong uniting spirit.

The Dons’ won their first major trophy in 1947 when they defeated Edinburgh based Hibernian at Hampden Park in Glasgow, the home of Scottish football. Over the course of the next fifty years they would go on to win a further 17 titles.

Tragedy
On the 6th February 1971 a blaze tore through the main stand at Pittodrie; thankfully nobody was hurt but as many of the fire fighters on the scene were dedicated Dons’ fans, they smashed through the window into the club boardroom to rescue the trophies, the first to be rescued was the Scottish Cup which they won in 1970.

Success
Their most successful period was in the early to mid-1980s when from 1980-1986 they won 10 of their 17 trophies, three of them in 1983 when they won the Scottish Cup in extra time against Glasgow Rangers; the European Cup Winners Cup when they defeated Spanish football giants Real Madrid; and the European Super League over two legs against Germany’s Hamburg.

The man who presided of this period was the most famous manager in British football, Sir Alex Ferguson. He managed the team from 1978-1986 before heading to Manchester United in November 1986.

The Future
Their last title came in 1996 with the Scottish League Cup, and even though they haven’t lifted a trophy since then, the fans are as faithful and loyal as ever.

The history of this club is a key part of community cohesion, and despite much of the club’s records being destroyed in the 1971 fire The Aberdeen FC Heritage Trust was formed to preserve what was left, and to continue recording the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of this icon of the beautiful game.

No matter where you go in Scotland’s third city, pubs, junior teams, shops, parks and even hotels in Aberdeen have had a part to play in the club’s past, and more importantly its future.

Fiona Roy writes for a digital marketing agency.  This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency.  This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.