During the 100-year history of Aberdeen Football Club there have been many trophies, mementos and unique items of memorabilia inherited along the way. Unfortunately, the club don't have enough space to display this fascinating collection at the moment and so many fans are unaware of their existence. Each of the items has a story to tell and some are well known while others are a bit more obscure. All, of course, contribute to the rich history of Aberdeen Football Club.
Over time we hope to populate 'The Aberdeen Collection' section with a large selection of items. We have showcased a number of exhibits her to give you an idea of the treasure trove lurking in Pittodrie. We hope readers will find this fascinating and possibly get a further insight into the history of the club. In fact, one of the items on show here - the Changi Internment Camp Trophy - is a bit of a mystery to everyone at the club and if anyone can shed some light into its background we want to hear from you.
Other than the match programme or a ticket to the game, this very special pair of boots is the only souvenir of the 1937 Scottish Cup Final that can be directly traced through the history of the Club. The final, played out between Aberdeen and Glasgow Celtic has a special place in the history of club football in Europe. The crowd that attended the game on the day was officially reported as being 146,433 with many more people locked out and an unknown number that found their way in uncounted. That figure remains the biggest for any club match in Europe and is unlikely to be surpassed.
Despite fielding one of the Club's greatest teams, Aberdeen were unable to overcome Celtic who won by two goals to one, although the winning goal was controversial as Celtic's McGrory handled the ball to help Buchan score. Matt Armstrong had scored an equaliser for the Dons from a low Jackie Benyon cross. Nobody knows how many Aberdonians were at the match, but contemporary accounts make it clear that they certainly made their positive presence felt all round the city of Glasgow.
The miniature boots, signed by all of the participating players and football staff, are also signed by Aberdeen's own, and most famous comedian - Harry Gordon - a man who was just as popular in the central belt as he was in the Granite City.
For a long time, it was believed that both clubs were presented with a pair of these, but recent research has revealed that Celtic Football Club do not have a pair in their collection, nor do they know anything about them. Present theory is that Harry Gordon was the man behind the gift to the Dons as he would have had easy access to both sets of players thanks to his showbusiness connections in both cities. Whatever the truth of it, the boots are a popular part of The Aberdeen Collection and a constant conversation piece for visitors to the boardroom.
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