Don Dean hopes to make more dreams come
De a n Ca m p b e l l has finally achieved his boyhood dream of playing for Aberdeen in Europe.
The 18- year- old, who was raised a diehard Dandy, made his first start for the club in the Europa League against ROPS Rovaniemi on Thursday.
The midfielder remembers attending UEFA Cup fixtures at Pittodrie with his dad when the Dons were on their fine European campaign of 2007/08.
Up against Atletico Madrid, Copenhagen and Bayern Munich, the seven-year-o ld Campbell was there.
The youngster knows the club’s history, too.
Photos of the freshfaced youngster posing alongside legendary ECWC- winning captain, Willie Miller in family snaps have circulated on social media.
Now Dean is aiming to write some history of his own and be part of the first Aberdeen squad to reach the group stages of the Europa League.
“It is a dream come true to play in Europe,” he admitted. “To play my part in a win in my first start that took us through to the next round was fantastic,” said Campbell.
“I really appreciate the gaffer’s trust in me by putting me into a game like that.
“It’s down to me to now prove why he shows faith in me. As long as he keeps doing that, I have to keep working hard and do the best I can when I get the opportunity.
“All Aberdeen fans know of the glory days against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. But times have changed due to the money in the game now.
“We’ve just got to do all we can to get to the group stages, and that starts with the next round in Georgia (against Chikhura Sachkhere).
“It would be absolutely brilliant to get there – for the players and financially for the club.
“I had a season ticket in the South Stand, and I loved it. I was at the Bayern game in 2008, and I remember the one against Copenhagen.
“For Aberdeen to play clubs the size of Bayern, Copenhagen and Atletico Madr id was huge, and showed how good we can be.
“Now we all have to focus on getting to that stage and testing ourselves against the best opposition possible.”
Although Campbell played against Rovaniemi, he may struggle for game time this season as he is behind Craig Bryson, Lewis Ferguson and Funso Ojo in Derek Mcinnes’ midfield pecking order.
He admits: “It’s brilliant for me to have players like Craig Bryson at the club.
“I know he is coming here to play and I have to do as much as I can to get to his standard and compete against players like him.
“So I’ll be doing a lot of learning this year.”