Aberdeen: A Centenary History 1903-2003

The first 100 years of Aberdeen Football Club are a tale of triumph over adversity. Aberdeen were the last of Scotlands big clubs to gain admission to the Scottish League, which was a struggle in itself. For most of their existence the Dons have under-achieved. By World War II they had done no better than finish runners-up in League and Cup. It all changed for the better, of course, never more spectacularly than during the eight years under Alex Ferguson. Aberdeen have posted a series of firsts the first club to win the unofficial League Cup (in 1946), the first Scottish champions to be denied entry to the European Cup (1955), the first team to be knocked out of Europe on penalties (1970), the first to win the European Super Cup (1983), the first to win the Scottish Cup after extra-time (1982) and on a penalty shoot-out (1990), and the first to contest a play-off for the right to play Premier League football (1995). Whenever there is novelty, you can be assured Aberdeens players will be a part of it. Under Ebbe Skovdahl, Aberdeen posted yet another first after six games the team had zero points and zero goals. But the canny Dane has turned things around. In 2001-02 the Dons qualified for Europe and, with promising youngsters bursting through, the future looks bright.