AFC Milestones and Records

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milestones and records

1881
October	08-Oct-1881 The original Aberdeen formed after a public meeting held in the Albert Hall in Correction Wynd. Three teachers from Woodside School initiated the meeting and the new club was formed and the secretary was instructed to purchase a ball, an inflator and eleven maroon jerseys.
1882
March	11-Mar-1882 Aberdeen play their first ever game-a 4-0 defeat at Coupar Angus. The teams play a return match at the Holburn Cricket Ground a month later-this time the fledgling Aberdeen side lose 3-1.
October	07-Oct-1882 The first ever Scottish Cup tie to be played in the city; Aberdeen lose out to Dundee Harp before a 400 attendance at the Grammar School Grounds.
1887
April	18-Apr-1887 Formation of the Aberdeenshire Football Association. Dr F Maitland-Moir later presented the association with a trophy to be played for by all member clubs: the Aberdeenshire Cup.
1888
March	24-Mar-1888 First ever Aberdeenshire Cup Final is played before a 1,000 crowd at the Chanonry. Aberdeen defeat Aberdeen Rangers 7-1. Aberdeen were now playing in an all white strip.
April	21-Apr-1888 A Scotland international side visit to play Aberdeen in an exhibition match. A record 4,000 crowd turned out to see the internationalists win 6-1.
1891
August	01-Aug-1891 Northern League formed to be competed for by clubs from the Aberdeen, Tayside and Fife areas. This was the first league set up that Aberdeen had competed in.
1899
February	01-Feb-1899 Aberdeen move away from the tight confines of the Chanonry and take up residence in what was formerly a dung hill for police horses; Pittodrie or the Gallows Marsh as it was known.
September	02-Sep-1899 Aberdeen make their debut at Pittodrie-Dumbarton visited to open the new ground and are sent packing in a 7-1 win. Alex Shiach became the first player to score at Pittodrie and he went on to net a hat-trick in this game.
1900
February	03-Feb-1900 Scotland defeat Wales 5-2 in the first ever full international to be played at Pittodrie. A record 11,000 crowd turned out taking in receipts of £290.
1901
April	30-Apr-1901 Everton become the first English team to visit the Granite City winning 3-1 in a Pittodrie friendly.
1902
November	01-Nov-1902 Aberdeen board resist overtures from Hibernian to relocate to Aberdeen and effectively take over. This move from the Edinburgh club prompted the first steps to amalgamation.
December	02-Dec-1902 Working representatives of the three main clubs Aberdeen, Victoria Utd and Orion met for the first time in the County Hotel as a possible amalgamation was discussed.
1903
January	05-Jan-1903 An attempt to gain admission in to the Scottish League is dashed. The League informed the club that 'drastic changes would have to be made to the constitution' before admission would be allowed.
March	20-Mar-1903 A public meeting attracts 1,600 as the amalgamation process gathers momentum. 1500 shares are issued and the new club would play out of Pittodrie Park. Despite a late dissention from Victoria Utd the amalgamation is now certain.
April	14-Apr-1903 Aberdeen Football Club is formed. At a meeting in solicitors' offices in Bridge Street the existing club affairs were put in order and a new board was elected. Jimmy Philip is appointed as the manager later to be assisted by Peter Simpson.
May	10-May-1903 Hopes of the new club being admitted in to the First Division of the League are once again dashed. Despite some serious backing from some of the bigger established clubs the new re-organisation did little to help the Aberdeen cause. With no application to join the Second Division, Aberdeen will play their first season in the obscure Northern League.
August	15-Aug-1903 Captain Willie MacAulay had the distinction of scoring Aberdeen's first ever goal in the first outing against Stenhousemuir at Pittodrie. 8,000 turned out at Pittodrie for this Northern League opener.
1904
May	01-May-1904 Another bid to gain admission in to the top league fails. This time bottom clubs Kilmarnock and Motherwell apply for re-election and are successful. However Aberdeen will replace Ayr Parkhouse in the Second Division.
August	20-Aug-1904 Aberdeen make their debut in League football with a 2-1 defeat at home to Falkirk. Aberdeen had now adopted a new look with a Black & Gold strip and they were soon nicknamed the 'Wasps'.
November	01-Nov-1904 The first piece of silverware comes to Pittodrie in the shape of the Qualifying Cup. Aberdeen defeat the famous Renton side 2-0 at Dens Park. A reported 1500 travelled from Aberdeen to the game and thousands welcomed their return.
1905
January	28-Jan-1905 A record attendance of 16,000 fills Pittodrie for the visit of Queens Park in a Scottish Cup-tie. Aberdeen defeat the former winners 2-1 with goals from Low and Robertson.
May	01-May-1905 First Division football finally arrives at Pittodrie. At a League meeting Aberdeen are at last successful as the top division is expanded from 14 to 16. Celtic had instigated the move and had backed the Aberdeen bid along the way.
1908
March	07-Mar-1908 Willie Lennie becomes the first Aberdeen player to be capped for Scotland when he turned out against Wales at Dens Park. Lennie scored the Scots winner in a 2-1 win. A week later Lennie came up against team mate Charlie O'Hagan as Scotland played Ireland. O'Hagan was the Irish captain on that occasion.
	21-Mar-1908 Aberdeen reach their first Scottish Cup semi final only to lose 1-0 to Celtic at Pittodrie. A record 20,000 crowd pelted the Celtic players with stones after the game as the Parkhead side had adopted an aggressive outlook throughout the game.
1910
April	01-Apr-1910 Willie Lennie becomes the first Aberdeen player to receive a testimonial from the club. His former club Dundee travel north as Aberdeen won 3-2.
1911
May	10-May-1911 The club embark on their first foreign tour when they journey to Bohemia and Poland. The journey took the best part of four days. All this after Aberdeen had finished in their highest ever league place-2nd in 1910.11.
1914
November	01-Nov-1914 Aberdeen struggle to come to terms with the repercussions from the onset of the First World War. Players wages are cut, crowds disappeared and players were called to arms. Despite this the club battled on as the threat to replace them should they withdraw was not an appealing one.
1917
May	01-May-1917 Aberdeen along with Raith Rovers and Dundee withdraw from the League as the Great War continues. Had Aberdeen opted out two years previously they would have been frozen out. Now they would be welcomed back after the end of hostilities.
1919
August	16-Aug-1919 A welcome return to competitive action as Aberdeen open new season with 2-0 win over Albion Rovers. There is a shock for the fans though as admission prices had doubled.
1920
December	01-Dec-1920 Aberdeen push forward plans to build up the embankment on the south side of the ground after paying of the final instalments due on the purchase of the ground. Jock Hutton follows Donald Colman and Willie Lennie as he is capped for Scotland.
1923
February	10-Feb-1923 Record club score in Scottish Cup tie against Peterhead. Aberdeen eclipse their neighbours 13-0 after Peterhead gave up ground rights and take the tie to Pittodrie. It backfired as a bonus row deprived Peterhead of their full team and only 3,241 turned out on a wretched day.
1924
July	01-Jul-1924 Jimmy Philip stands down as manager and former player Pat Travers takes over as boss. Peter Simpson retires to make way for Billy Russell as trainer. Alex Jackson joins Aberdeen for one, memorable season.
1926
October	01-Oct-1926 Jock Hutton sold in a record transfer deal when Blackburn paid £5,000 for his services. Hutton went on to win an FA Cup winners medal at Ewood.
1927
July	01-Jul-1927 Aberdeen tour South Africa for the first time and they discover a real gem in the form of Benny Yorston, a forward with an eye for goal.
1929
May	01-May-1929 Alec Cheyne creates his own piece of football folklore. Playing for Scotland against England at Hampden, the Aberdeen winger scored the winning goal direct from a corner kick in the closing minutes. Legend has it that goal started the 'Hampden Roar' such was the noise generated after Cheyne scored.
1930
April	01-Apr-1930 Benny Yorston scores 38 goals from 38 league matches-a club record that still stands to this day. Yorston also scored six in the Scottish Cup that season.
November	15-Nov-1930 Alex Merrie helps himself to six goals in Aberdeen's 7-0 rout of Hibernian at Pittodrie.
1931
November	01-Nov-1931 The 'Great Mystery' rocks Aberdeen to the core. Five players suddenly dropped after an alleged betting scandal was discovered. Hugh McLaren, Benny Yorston and Frank Hill would never play for the club again.
1937
April	03-Apr-1937 Aberdeen reach their first ever Scottish Cup Final after defeating Morton 2-0 at Easter Road. Billy Strauss scored and is injured in the process.
	24-Apr-1937 A British record attendance of 146,433 fill Hampden for the Cup Final between Aberdeen and Celtic. Despite a goal from Matt Armstrong, the Black & Golds go down 2-1.
May	07-May-1937 The club leave Britain to head for a tour of South Africa. Tragedy struck Aberdeen when popular winger Jackie Benyon died in a Johannesburg hospital from peritonitis.
November	01-Nov-1937 Clyde entice Aberdeen manager Pat Travers to take over as manager. The former Celt went on to help Clyde lift the Cup two years later.
1938
January	05-Jan-1938 Surprise choice Dave Halliday takes over as new manager. Halliday was chosen from more than 100 applicants as he arrives from Yeovil.
1939
March	18-Mar-1939 Aberdeen change from their traditional Black & Gold strip to a red and white one for the visit of Queens Park.
September	01-Sep-1939 World War Two breaks out and football takes a back seat for the duration of the hostilities. Pittodrie is seconded for use as an air raid shelter.
1941
April	19-Apr-1941 Linksfield plays host to Scotland XI game against the British Army. Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen of FA Cup fame both feature. Benny Yorston also played.
August	01-Aug-1941 Aberdeen return to Pittodrie to play in the hastily arranged North Eastern league and Mitchell Cup. For the first time in their history league and cup success came to Pittodrie with six war time titles coming their way.
1946
May	11-May-1946 Aberdeen win the Southern League Cup after a remarkable 3-2 win over Rangers at Hampden. 135,000 see George Taylor score the winner in the last minute.
1947
April	05-Apr-1947 Aberdeen win the toss but lose the League Cup to Rangers in a 4-0 defeat. Captain Frank Dunlop elected to play in to a gale force wind at Hampden and the Dons are three down in the first half.
	19-Apr-1947 The Dons first success in the Scottish Cup. Stan Williams scores the winning goal in a 2-1 win over Hibernian. Stalwart Willie Cooper misses out through injury. Thousands gather at Aberdeen Station for the players return.
1948
April	03-Apr-1948 Pittodrie attracts a record 43,800 for the visit or Rangers. Archie Kelly scores the Dons goal in a 1-1 draw.
1953
April	25-Apr-1953 The Dons reach their third Scottish Cup Final and lose out to Rangers in a replay after a Harry Yorston goal gave the Dons a 1-1 draw in the first game before a 129,761 crowd.
1954
April	10-Apr-1954 Aberdeen humiliate Rangers in a 6-0 drubbing in the Scottish Cup semi final. Joe O'Neil scores three of them. The Dons luck does not hold in the Final however-Celtic defeat Aberdeen 2-1 despite a Paddy Buckley goal.
1955
April	09-Apr-1955 Archie Glen's penalty winner against Clyde at Shawfield hands Aberdeen their first ever Scottish League title. With only one defeat at home all season it was fortress Pittodrie. Aberdeen 'A' also get in on the act by winning the reserve title.
July	01-Jul-1955 Dave Halliday ends his association with the Dons by agreeing to take over at Leicester City. Trainer Dave Shaw moves in to the Pittodrie hot seat.
October	22-Oct-1955 Aberdeen win the League Cup after defeating a spirited St Mirren 2-1 in the Hampden Final. Graham Leggat scores the winning goal and manager Shaw said his team were lucky. 15,000 welcome the team on their return to Aberdeen Joint Station.
1959
April	25-Apr-1959 St Mirren gain revenge on the Dons when they win the Scottish Cup Final. Hugh Baird's late goal is but a mere consolation for a disappointing Aberdeen.
October	21-Oct-1959 Luton Town visit Pittodrie to officially bring floodlight football to Aberdeen. A young Dons team beat their English visitors 3-2.
November	01-Nov-1959 Dave Shaw steps down as manager and reverts to his trainers' role. Tommy Pearson takes over with immediate effect.
1963
March	30-Mar-1963 Lowly Raith Rovers knock Aberdeen out of the Scottish Cup at the quarter final stage with a late goal at Kirkcaldy.
1965
February	10-Feb-1965 East Fife, languishing in the second division knock the Dons out of the Cup. It is the final act for manager Pearson who resigns shortly after.
March	01-Mar-1965 Queens Park coach Eddie Turnbull takes over at Pittodrie as a new era begins. At the end of the season he releases no less than 17 players. Bobby Clark is his first signing from his old club.
September	01-Sep-1965 The first signs of recovery as Aberdeen take Rangers to a second game in the League Cup semi final.
1966
August	01-Aug-1966 Aberdeen change to an all red strip for the first time.
1967
April	29-Apr-1967 Without Eddie Turnbull in charge the Dons go down to Celtic in the Scottish Cup Final. It could have been all so different had the Dons team bus not been delayed and Turnbull was forced to stay in his sick bed.
June	01-Jun-1967 The Dons under the guise of the Washington Whips play an exhaustive tour of the States in the Presidents Cup. They eventually lose out 6-5 in over time in a thrilling final against Wolves.
September	06-Sep-1967 Aberdeen play their first tie in European competition and they register their club record 10-0 win over KR Reykjavik at Pittodrie in the ECWC.
1968
August	01-Aug-1968 The old enclosure at Pittodrie has gone as new seating is installed in what is now known as the Main Stand.
1969
May	01-May-1969 Aberdeen struggle to stay clear from the foot of the table all season. Boss Turnbull sells of prize assets Tommy Craig and 'Jinky' Smith. Craig became the first teenager to command a six-figure sum in British football.
1970
April	11-Apr-1970 The legend of 'Cup-tie McKay'. Aberdeen win the Scottish Cup for only the second time when they defeat Celtic 3-1. Derek McKay came from the reserves to play a starring role scoring the winner in both the quarter and semi finals. McKay also hit a brace in the Final. In between Joe Harper scored the club's 500th goal in the Scottish Cup when he opened the scoring in the Final. Martin Buchan becomes the youngest captain to lift the trophy.
September	30-Sep-1970 The Dons become the first team to go out of Europe on penalties. In Budapest Aberdeen go down to Honved. Jim Forrest hit the bar with his effort and Aberdeen went out of the ECWC.
1971
January	16-Jan-1971 Pat Stanton becomes the first player to score against Aberdeen after 12 consecutive shut outs for Dons keeper Bobby Clark-a British record.
February	06-Feb-1971 Fire destroys part of the Main Stand at Pittodrie as the dressing rooms and club offices are ruined.
April	17-Apr-1971 The League title stays with Celtic after the 'decider' at Pittodrie ends in a 1-1 draw.
July	01-Jul-1971 Eddie Turnbull takes up an offer to return to Hibernian as manager. Coach Jim Bonthrone is immediately installed as the new Aberdeen manager. Aberdeen defeat Celtic in the Drybrough Cup Final at Pittodrie.
1972
February	01-Feb-1972 Captain Martin Buchan is sold to Manchester Utd in a record £125,000 deal.
December	09-Dec-1972 Joe Harper is sold to Everton in a £182,000 transfer. The Dons then draw 0-0 at home to Arbroath. Even the magical Zoltan Varga fails to lift the gloom.
1973
April	28-Apr-1973 One Dons legend goes while another arrives. At Cappielow against Morton Zoltan Varga bows out while Willie Miller makes his first team debut.
1975
April	19-Apr-1975 The Dons lowest post war attendance as only 3,300 turn out in wretched weather against Clyde. Aberdeen are now set for their place in the new Premier League.
September	13-Sep-1975 Willie Young throws his shirt at the dugout after being substituted and he soon is sold to Tottenham. Manager Bonthrone follows him out of the exit door as Aberdeen struggle near the foot of the new 10-team league. Ally MacLeod takes over as manager after leaving Ayr Utd.
1976
April	24-Apr-1976 Aberdeen defeat Hibernian 3-0 on the last day to save themselves from relegation. Joe Harper returns to Pittodrie in a £50,000 switch from Hibs.
November	06-Nov-1976 The Dons under MacLeod win the League Cup for the first time in 21 years. Celtic are defeated after Davie Robb's extra time winner. First trophy for captain Miller.
1977
June	01-Jun-1977 The SFA tempt MacLeod to take over as Scotland manager and guide the nation to Argentina in 1978. Aberdeen turn their attention to former Celtic legend Billy McNeill as he joins from Clyde.
1978
May	06-May-1978 The day the Dons froze. Despite going 23 games unbeaten to stretch Rangers to the limit, Aberdeen lose out in the Cup Final to the Ibrox club. Aberdeen had beaten Rangers 4-0 and 3-0 in their previous games. All they could muster this time was a freakish effort from Steve Ritchie.
June	01-Jun-1978 Billy McNeill joins Celtic after only a year at Aberdeen. Aberdeen take a chance on appointing the raw but ambitious Alex Ferguson who had just fallen out with St Mirren.
July	01-Jul-1978 Pittodrie becomes the first all-seated stadium in Britain after the South Terrace is fitted out with bench type seating.
1979
March	31-Mar-1979 Doug Rougvie is sent off after a 'clash' with Derek Johnstone in the League Cup Final against Rangers. The bitter rivalry between the clubs gathers momentum.
December	12-Dec-1979 The Dons lose out to Dundee Utd in a League Cup final replay at Dens. Aberdeen had done all the hard work by knocking out both Rangers and Celtic along the way leaving United clear to win their first ever trophy.
1980
May	03-May-1980 At Easter Road the Dons clinch their first league title since 1955 when the defeated Hibernian 5-0. Celtic could only draw at St Mirren to give the 8,000 Dons fans something to celebrate. In the summer a new cantilever stand is built over the South Terrace.
September	17-Sep-1980 The first European Champions Cup tie to be played by the Dons. Austria Memphis go out to the Dons before Liverpool teach Aberdeen a European lesson at Anfield.
1981
July	01-Jul-1981 A record transfer between two Scottish clubs results in Peter Weir arriving at Pittodrie in a £330,000 deal. Many said it was the final piece in the Ferguson jigsaw.
November	04-Nov-1981 Aberdeen go past the 2nd round of a European competition for the first time after defeating Pitesti in Romania. Earlier the Dons had eclipsed holders Ipswich Town with Bobby Robson in charge.
1982
May	22-May-1982 The Dons crush Rangers 4-1 in the Scottish Cup Final the highlight being a spectacular equaliser from Alex McLeish. The Dons also finished just behind Celtic in the league race, which went down to the final day of the season.
1983
March	16-Mar-1983 Bayern Munich are defeated in the quarter finals of the ECWC at Pittodrie in a remarkable 3-2 win after a 0-0 draw in Munich. Arguably Pittodrie's greatest night.
May	11-May-1983 Gothenburg welcomes Aberdeen and Real Madrid for the ECWC Final. The Dons reach their pinnacle in a 2-1 win. John Hewitt added to Eric Blacks early goal to spark wild scenes of jubilation all over Scotland. More than 16,000 Red Army at the Ullevi Stadium sing and dance in the rain.
	21-May-1983 Aberdeen do the double with another Scottish Cup win over Rangers. This time it is close with only an Eric Black header in extra time separating the sides.
December	01-Dec-1983 Aberdeen are now the best in Europe after European Cup holders Hamburg are defeated 2-0 in the Super Cup at Pittodrie. More than 80 countries worldwide take in the game. Aberdeen named as European Team of the Year.
1984
May	02-May-1984 The Dons win the Premier title after a 1-0 win at Tynecastle. The Dons also retain the Scottish Cup after beating Celtic 2-1 in the Final. This was Aberdeen's third successive Cup win. Which made up for the disappointment of going out in the ECWC to Porto in the semi final.
1985
October	27-Oct-1985 The last trophy to have eluded Alex Ferguson is won after the Dons beat Hibernian 3-0 in the League Cup Final at Hampden.
1986
March	19-Mar-1986 The Dons go out on away goals to IFK Gothenburg in the quarter finals of the European Cup.
May	10-May-1986 Aberdeen rub salt in to the Hearts wound by winning their fourth Scottish Cup in five seasons in a 3-0 win. Ferguson takes charge of the Scotland side that will play in the World Cup Finals in Mexico.
November	01-Nov-1986 Alex Ferguson brings down the curtain on the Dons golden age by agreeing to take over as Manchester Utd manager from Ron Atkinson. Aberdeen appoint a surprise replacement in Ian Porterfield.
1988
May	01-May-1988 Porterfield's turbulent reign ends with only a League Cup Final runners up place as his only crumb of comfort in what was a traumatic time.
June	01-Jun-1988 Aberdeen appoint Alex Smith and Jocky Scott as co-managers with Drew Jarvie as assistant.
1989
October	22-Oct-1989 The Dons win the League Cup after two Paul Mason goals defeat big spending Rangers in the Hampden Final. It was the last trophy win for captain Willie Miller.
1990
May	12-May-1990 The first ever Scottish Cup Final to be decided on penalties goes the way of Aberdeen after they battled out a 0-0 draw. Theo Snelders and Brian Irvine are the Dons heroes in the shoot out.
1991
May	11-May-1991 The league race goes down to the wire-it is all on the final day as Aberdeen visit Ibrox. A draw would have been enough to give the Dons the title. As it is rookie keeper Michael Watt has no answer to the physical Mark Hateley.
September	18-Sep-1991 Jocky Scott jumps ship after a UEFA Cup defeat against BK Copenhagen. Unrest on the terraces as Alex Smith comes under increasing pressure.
1992
February	01-Feb-1992 Willie Miller takes over as Aberdeen manager after Alex Smith is sacked. Miller promises to instill some fight back in to the team.
May	01-May-1992 The old Beach End plays host to its last game before making way for the new Richard Donald Stand.
1993
May	29-May-1993 The Dons under Miller run Rangers close in all three domestic competitions. Cruel luck in the Scottish Cup Final at Parkhead means that Rangers celebrate with a treble.
August	01-Aug-1993 The new £4.5m Richard Donald Stand is opened as Clydebank come north for a League Cup tie.
1995
February	04-Feb-1995 The end of the road for Willie Miller as Aberdeen fight for their Premier League lives at the foot of the table. Roy Aitken takes over and soon the Dons fall to lowly Stenhousemuir in the Cup.
May	01-May-1995 Aberdeen survive by the narrowest of margins after winning both legs of the first ever Premier League Play off against Dunfermline.
September	01-Sep-1995 Aberdeen splash out a club record £1m on Oldham's Scottish international Paul Bernard.
November	26-Nov-1995 The Dons are back-winners of the League Cup after defeating Dundee 2-0 in the Final. Crucially Rangers are beaten in the semi final.
1997
November	01-Nov-1997 Roy Aitken and coach Tommy Craig sacked after disastrous run. Alex Miller takes over a month later with Paul Hegarty as assistant.
1998
July	01-Jul-1998 Craig Hignett joins the Dons from Middlesbrough and is reported to be the highest earner in the history of the club.
December	08-Dec-1998 Alex Millers' tenure is all to brief as he to fails to resurrect the ailing Dons. Paul Hegarty is asked to take over as caretaker and keep Aberdeen in the top flight.
1999
May	31-May-1999 Ebbe Skovdahl takes over as Aberdeen appoint a foreign coach for the first time. The Dons lose a record first six games in the league. The first five are without a goal scored.
2000
March	19-Mar-2000 Aberdeen lose out 2-0 to a superior Celtic in the CIS Cup Final. Thomas Solberg is sent off.
May	26-May-2000 Jim Leighton is injured in the first minute of the Cup Final and with it goes any hope of Aberdeen winning the Scottish Cup. Aberdeen finish bottom of the SPL with a record 83 goals conceded. Dons saved due to SPL ground criteria.
2002
May	01-May-2002 Aberdeen return to European football after finishing in 4th place in the league.
September	17-Sep-2002 The Dons play their 100th European tie when Hertha Berlin visit Pittodrie. A credible 0-0 draw is almost followed by an impressive performance in Berlin.
December	11-Dec-2002 Steve Paterson and Duncan Shearer take over at Pittodrie as Ebbe Skovdahls' reign comes to an end.
2003
January	01-Jan-2003 The Dons Centenary Year begins with a battling 1-1 draw against Celtic at Pittodrie.
August	01-Aug-2003 Liverpool visit Pittodrie as part of the Centenary celebrations. A capacity Pittodrie crowd are treated to some exhibition stuff from the visitors as Aberdeen go down 5-1.
October	01-Oct-2003 The climax to the Centenary Year with a Gala Dinner at the Aberdeen Conference and Exhibition Centre.
2004
May	24-May-2004 After a disappointing season Aberdeen legend Willie Miller returns to the Pittodrie board as Steve Paterson is sacked. Within days Dunfermline manager Jimmy Calderwood is engaged as the new Aberdeen manager.