Aberdeen fans relish ‘emotional’ ceremony

Aberdeen fans were sharing their views as the team received the freedom of the city award.

Doug McKay, 72, came along to the ceremony with his longtime Aberdeen FC supporters’ bus partner David Catto, 71.

Mr McKay was one of the 500 fans who set sail on the St Clair “booze cruise” to Gothenburg and remembers the party with a big smile and a glint in his eye.

“It was absolutely fantastic. We were buying beers by the crate – not the can”, he said.

“When we came back to Aberdeen harbour, Alex Ferguson shook everyone’s hand and I put him on my shoulders.”

Mr Catto was unable to go to Gothenburg, something he wishes he could have managed.

“I had a one-year-old daughter at the time, but she is a season ticket holder now so it worked out in the end”, he said.

Bert Innes worked at Aberdeen Journals and had just booked his summer holiday the previous week and couldn’t afford to go to the game.

He watched at home in Turriff with sons Michael and Dave, who are now in their 50s, and their neighbours.

Dave, who was 10 at the time of the match, said: “I was full of emotion and really nervous. I still get nervous looking back at the goals. When we scored in extra time, I jumped up on the sofa which I was not allowed to do. But I never got in any trouble.”

Michael said: “I remember skiving off school the next day and celebrating. Everyone got into Pittodrie for free when the players got back.”

Kelly Thomson, 35, travelled from Fraserburgh with her mum Aileen Fuerst, 61, and sons Logan, 10 and Kieran, nine.

Despite not being alive to see the game, Mrs Thomson said it was still important the Aberdeenmad family attended.

“It was a really emotional ceremony, just seeing them all together it was like a band of brothers”, she said. “The banter was great.”