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.
In the summer of 1981, Aberdeen FC was feeling very confident in the world of football and the board of directors decided that it was time to test new waters by hosting a pre-season tournament at Pittodrie Stadium. The guest teams were West Ham United, Southampton and Manchester United.
The Dons won their own tournament, pretty easily considering the opposition. On 1st August 1981 the took on West Ham United who presented the Club with the porcelain plaque shown here. It was made by the famous Wedgewood company, mounted in a gold frame with a claret coloured felt surround.
The match against the Londoners saw a comfortable 3-0 victory for the Dons who went on to play Southampton next day in the Final, where they easily won by 5-1 with the goals spread around the team. Sadly the tournament did not prove to be the draw that the directors had hoped for, despite the well-known teams involved, and Aberdeen have not attempted to repeat the event since.
This was the only occasion when Aberdeen have played against the Hammers throughout their history.
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