1982: Goals from Black, Strachan, Hewitt, Simpson, McGhee and Kennedy plus a Sion own-goal see the Dandies start their Cup Winners' Cup campaign with a 7-0 victory. Nice work if you can get it!

1993: The Dons hosted Hamburg in a match to mark the official opening of the new Richard Donald Stand by Princess Anne

1993: To celebrate the opening of the new Beach End (or Richard Donald Stand as some would have it) a brand new fanzine (or scurrilous rag as some would have it) took to the streets with the give-away issue 0 of The Red Final. 1000 copies were printed and given away although some people thought it was some sort of political pamphlet and crossed the Merkland Road to avoid it.

1928: Revised Regulations for Traders. Revised rules for the sale of certain articles, such as confections, fruit, fresh fish, tripe, tobacco, cigarettes, matches, and newspapers have come into force under the Shops (Hours of Closing) Act, 1928. Extra time is being allowed for the sale of table waters, sweets, chocolates, confectionery, and ice-cream, while there are new restrictions in regard to newspapers. The Act was under consideration at a meeting of the Bills and Law Committee of Aberdeen Town Council. Some of the alterations, which become applicable this month, are: Table waters, sweets, chocolates, confectionery, and ice-cream can now be sold on Sundays up till 9.30 p.m., except in shops which are registered as places of public refreshment. Under local by-laws all places of public refreshment must be closed on Sundays at 8 p.m. On week nights all such premises can be kept open till 11.30 p.m., and all the aforementioned articles can be sold up to the closing hour. These articles can also be sold any time during the performance in any theatre, cinema, music hall, or other similar place of entertainment, so long as the sale is to a bona fide member of the audience, and part of the building to which no other members of the public have access.

Fruit and Fresh Fish. The sale of all kinds of fruit, including the sale of certain soft fruits (formerly exempted), and the sale of fresh fish and tripe, also formerly exempted, must now cease at 8 p.m. on every day of the week, except Saturday, when the closing hour is 9 p.m. Tobacco, cigarettes, and matches must, as formerly, cease to be sold at 8 p.m., except that these articles are permitted to be sold on licensed premises during the hours during which intoxicating liquor is permitted by law to be sold on the premses, and also at any time during the performance in any theatre, cinema, music hall, or other similar place of entertainment, so long as the sale is to a bona fide member of the audience, and in a part of the building to which no other members of the public have access. Newspapers must now cease to be sold in all shops at 8 p.m. on every night of the week except Saturday, when the closing hour is 9 p.m. Newspapers, however, can still continue to be sold at any time on the streets. Mr James Cumming, the Aberdeen sanitary inspector, has been instructed by the Bills and Law Committee of the Town Council, to draw the attention of shopkeepers to the important changes in the law, and an advertisement bearing upon the new Act appears in our columns today.

Source : Aberdeen Press and Journal Saturday August 19th, 1928

1925: Scots Prison Experiments. 

The delegates to the International Prison Congress had an opportunity yesterday of studying at first hand enlightened Scots methods for dealing with that particular section of the community which, as Lord Polwarth has said, has to be secluded because it does not fit in with society as a whole. The big event of the day from the point of view of the investigation of penal methods was, of course, the visit to Peterhead Convict Prison, where important experiments in the treatment of criminals have recently been receiving a good deal of attention. Indeed, it is scarcely an exaggeration to say that, in regard to modern methods of prison administration, the famous convict institution on the north-east coast of Scotland has been in the forefront of the reform movement. 

There is no lack of hard work at the granite quarries and elsewhere, but when the day's darg is over ordinary prison discipline is partially relaxed. Meals are now given in association, and the rules forbidding prisoners to speak to each other are less strictly enforced. Classes in languages, engineering, singing, and physical culture have been formed with convicts as teachers, and it is a matter of common knowledge that culprits who only a year or two ago achieved nation-wide notoriety take a prominent and successful part in this work. Concerts are got up by the convicts themselves. Cricket and football teams have been organised, and the duties of referee are performed by convict officers or monitors. It is premature, naturally, to pronounce judgment on the results of the new system, but the Scottish Prison Commissioners express the confident opinion that the general effect of the reforms has been satisfactory. The object of prison treatment to-day is to combine with punishment crime the reform of the criminal, and the Peterhead experiment is a noteworthy step in that direction.

Source : Aberdeen Press and Journal Tuesday August 18th, 1925

1952: Why Hamilton Refused To Play  Club And Player's Points Of View

  A serious difference of opinion developed between Aberdeen F.C. and George Hamilton, their international forward, before Saturday's match at Ibrox. When told on Saturday morning that he would be included in the team against Rangers at Ibrox Hamilton refused to play. I was given this information officially by Mr David Halliday after the game. The facts of the case as told me by the manager are that he was in touch with Hamilton, who was on Z training at Aldershot, during the week. He told the player to join the Aberdeen party on Saturday morning at the completion of his Z training. 

Club's Responsibility Mr Halliday states he informed Hamilton on his arrival in Glasgow that he would be a member of the team to play Rangers. The player replied that he did not feel thoroughly fit and did not want to play. Mr Halliday, after consulting three of his directors, again approached Hamilton and told him that he would be in the team. The manager added that he and the directors, in spite of Hamilton's statement about his fitness, were prepared to take the responsibility. Hamilton refused to play.

Different Training It was intended to play Hamilton at right half, but I have the assurance of the player himself that the question of which position he would fill had nothing to do with his refusal to turn out. When I discussed the situation with Hamilton here is what he said: "I have always been a good club man and I'm always ready to have a go anywhere in the team, providing that within myself I feel fit. I didn't feel thoroughly fit on Saturday. I found the Army training was totally different from football training. I fell fine when I left for my Z training, but I played in section matches and in one game against the P.T. permanent staff and I did not feel at my best. I felt I had lost a yard. Hamilton also mentioned that he had travelled overnight, leaving London at 9.25 p.m. on Friday and arriving in Glasgow at 9 a m. on Saturday. These are the facts as given me by the Aberdeen manager and the player. The matter now rests with the club officials.

Source : Evening Express Monday August 18th, 1952

NO EXCUSE FOR THIS PLAYER  The pleasant, usually easy-going city of Aberdeen is in an uproar. Everyone is heatedly discussing George Hamilton's refusal to play again Rangers last Saturday - and the possible consequences. Should, as expected, Aberdeen's directors meet tonight, the Hamilton case will be No. 1 on the agenda. After all their decision may well mean the maintenance or wrecking of club discipline. Twice manager Dave Halliday told Hamilton to play. Twice the player refused because he considered that his fortnight's "Z " training had left him not quite match fit. 

Tuned Up Already I'm surprised at Hamilton, who played his first game for Aberdeen after being transferred from Queen of the South in 1938 in the Empire Exhibition Tournament. Surely he doesn't expect Aberdeen, - or anyone else - to agree that a fortnight spent as an Army P.T.I. could make such a difference to one who had already got himself thoroughly tuned up for a new season. For the past eighteen months Tommy Younger, of Hibs, has been soldiering - most of the time in Germany - and has returned every match day a thoroughly fit player. "But Younger is a goalkeeper," some may say. No one in football needs to be so quickly off his mark as a goalkeeper! It will be a great pity if when his experience is needed most by struggling Aberdeen, the club is forced to react in a manner which would discourage a repetition of Hamilton's refusal to play by others of the staff. It will be an even greater pity if Hamilton, a gentleman on and off the field, is even temporarily lost to Scottish football.

Source : The Daily Mirror Tuesday August 19th, 1952

Four-Week Ban On George Hamilton George Hamilton, the Dons' international inside forward, has been suspended for four weeks. This is the sequel to the player's refusal to play for Aberdeen against Rangers at Ibrox Park last Saturday. It will be recalled that Hamilton joined the Aberdeen official party in Glasgow on Saturday morning after fourteen days' "Z" service at Aldershot. This decision follows the weekly meeting of the Aberdeen F C board of directors last night. Mr David Halliday told me after the meeting last night that the club had no statement to make regarding Hamilton. When I spoke to Mr Halliday again this morning he reiterated that the club had no comment to make. I spoke to Hamilton as he was about to join the other players at training, and he said that he had been informed that morning by the manager of the club that he had been suspended for four weeks. The player would make no other comment. The suspension means that Hamilton will miss the remaining League Cup qualifying games against Motherwell. Hearts, and Rangers, and also the opening Scottish League games against Partick Thistle at Firhill and Hibs at Pittodrie. Hamilton was one of the first players signed by Mr Halliday when he became the Dons' manager in 1938. He came from Queen of the South. Except for a short spell with Hearts in 1948, Hamilton has been a regular member of the Aberdeen first team and is one of the most popular players at Pittodrie.

Source : Evening Express Wednesday August 20th, 1952.

AFCHT : Hamilton became available for selection after his suspension and remained a first-team regular until season 1954-55.

1883: The members of the order of Oddfellows in Aberdeen are this afternoon holding their annual picnic and games at the Recreation Grounds in delightful weather. At 2.15 the members of the different lodges assembled in the grounds of Gordons College, and having formed into processional order, with the band and pipers of the 1st Aberdeen Rifle Volunteers in the van, they marched to the Recreation Grounds by way of St Andrew Street, George Street, Hutcheon Street, Causewayend, West North Street, King Street, Castle Street, Union Street and Market Street, the festive appearance of the company attracting a good deal of attention along the route.

Arrived at the theatre of the sports, the processionists dispersed themselves over the grounds, and the competitions were shortly afterwards commenced, those who took part in them displaying their skill to the best advantage, and enlisting the interest of the spectators. The scene was animated and gay, and the excellent music discoursed by the band enlivened and lent a charm to the proceedings, Mr George Robertson conducted the games with his usual ability. The events consisted of throwing the hammer, putting the light stone, bagpipe playing, vaulting with the pole, 130 yards and one mile foot races, hop-step-and-leap, professional and amateur bicycle races, sack races over hurdles, and Highland dancing. These were open to all-comers, but there were some competitions open only to members of the Order - namely, 300 yards foot race, three-mile bicycle race, and tug of war. But while the ring was the main centre of attraction, there were sources of amusement in other parts of the ground, and the pleasure of the spectators was sustained to the end.

Source : Aberdeen Evening Express Saturday August 18th, 1883