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.
A simple but striking oak shield set with a solid silver replica of the Scottish Cup and with a silver plate containing details of the Dons? first success in the venerable competition provide one of the most memorable pieces in The Aberdeen Collection. Adding to the significance is that the shield was presented to the Club by the City of Aberdeen Corporation, and they did not stint on the gift.
The 1947 Cup Final was only Aberdeen?s second appearance at that stage of the competition and it was the first time that the trophy was secured for Pittodrie.
On the way to the final, Aberdeen overcame five other clubs, Partick Thistle, Ayr United, Morton (after a replay), Dundee, and Arbroath before meeting the much-fancied Hibernian at Hampden on the19th of April 1947. Hibs were doing a bit better that Aberdeen in the League and would finish second in the table to the Dons? third, but the Dons had taken a bit of a pasting in the League Cup final only a couple of weeks before.
The final started disastrously for the Dons with Hibs? Cuthbertson latching onto a George Taylor back-pass to score in the first minute, but it took George Hamilton only 35 more minutes to level the scoring and another 4 for Stan Williams to put the men in red and white in front. That?s was all the scoring and the victory meant joy unbounded for the supporters of Aberdeen FC and the citizens of the north east.
Memorabilia of all kinds appeared for the celebrating masses to snap up and the City fathers quickly realised that this was a bandwagon they very much wanted to jump on. The commissioned the production of this oak shield with its silver adornments and a special dinner in the Caledonian Hotel on the 1st of May 1947 the shield was presented to Frank Dunlop, the captain of that successful team.
From that day until 2014, the shield was on show in the Pittodrie boardroom, and later spent time on display with other memorabilia from that 1947 final where it could be seen by everyone passing through the Main Stand. That success will always have a special place in the Dons? history and the shield makes a wonderful focal point for any reminiscences of that first ever winning of the Cup.
about the trust
