Just out of curiosity, what are supporters recollections of the aftermath of our playoff win over Dunfermline in season 94/95?

Being a Weegie Dons fan of 14 at the time I don't really recall much about what happened next such as if there were wholesale changes? If there were grand proclamations made by the Chairman? If there was an exodus of players? If there was an overhaul of the prawcess  ? etc.

Anyone offer up any personal memories of this period of AFC's history and what the summer before the 95/96 season was like and how that season began?

14 minutes ago, THFN1983 said:

Just out of curiosity, what are supporters recollections of the aftermath of our playoff win over Dunfermline in season 94/95?

Being a Weegie Dons fan of 14 at the time I don't really recall much about what happened next such as if there were wholesale changes? If there were grand proclamations made by the Chairman? If there was an exodus of players? If there was an overhaul of the prawcess  ? etc.

Anyone offer up any personal memories of this period of AFC's history and what the summer before the 95/96 season was like and how that season began?

We spent a million on Bernard in Sept 95 which was quite the grand proclamation at the time 

A different time back then, internet was still in its infancy, so forums and Social Media were not available and most gripes were dealt with through the papers. The Green Final, being a particular place to read reviews about our hopes.

Ed Webster of Errol Place, Aberdeen, being a particular regular letter writer over the years and often wonder if he ever discovered forums.

I don't think we believed it would be as bad as what happened the previous season, but what did we know...

 

46 minutes ago, THFN1983 said:

Just out of curiosity, what are supporters recollections of the aftermath of our playoff win over Dunfermline in season 94/95?

Being a Weegie Dons fan of 14 at the time I don't really recall much about what happened next such as if there were wholesale changes? If there were grand proclamations made by the Chairman? If there was an exodus of players? If there was an overhaul of the prawcess  ? etc.

Anyone offer up any personal memories of this period of AFC's history and what the summer before the 95/96 season was like and how that season began?

I was at both games.

Though I don’t really remember too much about what ensued after that season, what I do remember is watching the pitch invasion at EEP at full time and thinking “have we really come to this”?

I get the relief, elation etc we as a support felt for getting out of jail that year - I felt it too - I just also felt rather embarrassed for us as a club watching it.

Still, at least it’ll never happen again I thought at the time, yet here we are - again…

We actually had an exceptional team. Someone said on another thread they'd win the league these days, and they probably could.

Snelders in goal.

McKimmie and Irvine were very good defenders.

Jess, Bernard (who wasn't worth £1m but wasn't terrible either), Grant, Glass, Miller.

Shearer, Dodds, Booth and Windass to pick from up front.

But, was wasted by a shite manager. Aitken gave us a boost to keep us up, and did win a league cup, but maybe he couldn't fail with that group of players, which he then dismantled in order to hasten the failure.

I think you look at Hearts, who slowly progressed after that and two years later were challenging for the title and winning the cup, while we were back struggling again with a pretty terrible team. 
 

Ridiculous how bad the drop off was from the players in that team to 97-98.

Leighton (a legend, but was 39 by then). Grant replaced by Kiriakov, Sheare & Booth by Newell, Irvine by O'Neil, etc.

 

Isle of Bute ASC 

16 minutes ago, The.Moog said:

I was at both games.

Though I don’t really remember too much about what ensued after that season, what I do remember is watching the pitch invasion at EEP at full time and thinking “have we really come to this”?

I get the relief, elation etc we as a support felt for getting out of jail that year - I felt it too - I just also felt rather embarrassed for us as a club watching it.

Still, at least it’ll never happen again I thought at the time, yet here we are - again…

Sheer relief min.

It felt like we were down, but picked up points that put us in the play off and survive to fight another day.

One of the best times following us, were those last few weeks of the season.

When you see the players we had at that time, it was ludicrous that we were in so much trouble.

 

1 hour ago, TheDonbytheDee said:

Sheer relief min.

It felt like we were down, but picked up points that put us in the play off and survive to fight another day.

One of the best times following us, were those last few weeks of the season.

When you see the players we had at that time, it was ludicrous that we were in so much trouble.

 

I know it was, and I genuinely got it. It was a great bounce at EEP that day, but I just couldn’t go on the pitch.

A club like Aberdeen should never be in a position like that - worrying about potential relegation in this league - and the fact we have been several times since, is just such a damning indictment of how chronically mismanaged this club has been for decades now...

Edited March 24Mar 24 by The.Moog

Was just talking about the Red Final book 'Never Again' wi my dad.

Agree Moog min. And along those lines - I dinna want to tempt fate so I'm not gonna say it outright - but should a certain unthinkable thing happen in future then I dinna even want to see a smile on a face, let alone celebrations, when it's ultimately rectified.

2 hours ago, Panda said:

We actually had an exceptional team. Someone said on another thread they'd win the league these days, and they probably could.

Snelders in goal.

McKimmie and Irvine were very good defenders.

Jess, Bernard (who wasn't worth £1m but wasn't terrible either), Grant, Glass, Miller.

Shearer, Dodds, Booth and Windass to pick from up front.

But, was wasted by a shite manager. Aitken gave us a boost to keep us up, and did win a league cup, but maybe he couldn't fail with that group of players, which he then dismantled in order to hasten the failure.

I think you look at Hearts, who slowly progressed after that and two years later were challenging for the title and winning the cup, while we were back struggling again with a pretty terrible team. 
 

Ridiculous how bad the drop off was from the players in that team to 97-98.

Leighton (a legend, but was 39 by then). Grant replaced by Kiriakov, Sheare & Booth by Newell, Irvine by O'Neil, etc.

 

Didn’t Aitken get rid of Booth and Irvine at a poor time, given they were two who were playing for the shirt when we were pish? I can’t remember the exact timing though. 

Bernard wasn’t worth £1M and seemed to be injury prone but he was a fucking good player. 

The one and only time I have gone on to the pitch at full time was at EEP.

Let's remember in the previous fifteen years or so I had enjoyed watching my team win league titles and cups left right and centre.

This was alien territory to me to witness potential relegation and was all about sheer unadulterated relief.

The one overwhelming factor for me as I remember it was that the fans never turned their back on the team and I genuinely believe the players fed off that energy.

It wasn't long until.we were winners again, both in terms of the League Cup win as a team and individually with a certain Stephen Glass winning his Coca Cola branded mountain bike for his MOTM performance 

Unfortunately I'm not sure our team or support of 2025/26 possess what is required to pull us through this time around.

On the subject of Paul Bernard, he was a lot better player than his stats might suggest and after signing him for £1m i genuinely believe we could have sold him for many times that figure if we could only have kept him fit. Even a 50% fit Bernard would walk straight into our current line up.

1 hour ago, Kowalski said:

Didn’t Aitken get rid of Booth and Irvine at a poor time, given they were two who were playing for the shirt when we were pish? I can’t remember the exact timing though. 

Aitken not responsible for Booth leaving as he signed for Dortmund under freedom of contract.

Not sure if he was but he might have been the first player we lost under the Bosman ruling 🤔

We should send a copy of the book Never Again to the current squad. Give them some inspiration 

Did big Bri not leave under a cloud.

Did they not give him a contract because of his MS diagnosis.

 

Could be havering shyte with that.

Just now, TheDonbytheDee said:

Did big Bri not leave under a cloud.

Did they not give him a contract because of his MS diagnosis.

 

Could be havering shyte with that.

Yep pretty sure that was the case 

1 hour ago, BigAl said:

 

On the subject of Paul Bernard, he was a lot better player than his stats might suggest and after signing him for £1m i genuinely believe we could have sold him for many times that figure if we could only have kept him fit. Even a 50% fit Bernard would walk straight into our current line up.

I feel like Paul Bernard has long had an unfair time at the hands of Dons fans. He did spend the vast majority of his time on the treatment table, but he was a classy player and when him and Jess played together they were some unit.

May be a myth, but it's often said Oldham didn't even expect to get £1m for him, but Aberdeen were intent on making a statement of intent by being the first non-Old Firm side to do so.

I remember reading a comment from Willie Miller saying he was annoyed he didn't get to be the first to make a £1m signing, so it was clearly being talked about for some time. Then along came Bernard.

Thankfully those running the club these days are more sensible... 😶

I mind when Bernard and Jess ran Gazza ragged in the League Cup semi final.

7 hours ago, Panda said:

Shearer, Dodds, Booth and Windass to pick from up front

Windass wasnt signed till the following season

A young Ian Crocker did the commentry for the playoffs with the cringeworthy 'Shear-errr magic' after the 2nd goal in the first leg. Note the playoff set up back then slightly favoured the 1st division team with them getting the second leg at home. Heaven forbid that happen now.

It seemed to be a season where finally come March the likes of shearer etc said 'right FFS we are better than this' and got their act together. Being pre bosman there was perhaps the fear of where they could end up of relegated and perhaps more 'pride' 

Lasting memories are being in a mates parents car outside rollerbowl inverness and the radio being switched on just in time to hear Dodds winner at Tynecastle and his Dad being shocked to hear it was a potentially relegation saving goal, and hearing Shearers 2nd against utd go in while my Dad and I were driving through Beauly.

Also still occasionally watch this

 

Edited March 25Mar 25 by tom_widdows

58 minutes ago, tom_widdows said:

Windass wasnt signed till the following season

 

He was signed in the 95-96 season, which is what the thread is about.

Thats why I also mentioned Paul Bernard.

9 hours ago, BigAl said:

The one overwhelming factor for me as I remember it was that the fans never turned their back on the team and I genuinely believe the players fed off that energy.

Unfortunately I'm not sure our team or support of 2025/26 possess what is required to pull us through this time around.

 

Without a doubt back then it was the fans and the energy generated by them that pulled us through of that I have no doubt.

Fast forward to today and I still believe even this time round the fans have not turned their back and will not turn their back on the team. We have the best traveling support in Scotland week after week game after game selling out the away allocation of tickets, than in itself should and would be more than enough to spur on their team but not our shower of 💩
We, the fans can be well proud of the continued effort to back this lot and try and get them singing a tune, but the lack of fighting spirit form 99.9% of these charlatans is a pure disgrace.
I honestly believe the fkn Salvation Army would have their work cut out trying to save this lot

7 hours ago, tom_widdows said:

Windass wasnt signed till the following season

A young Ian Crocker did the commentry for the playoffs with the cringeworthy 'Shear-errr magic' after the 2nd goal in the first leg. Note the playoff set up back then slightly favoured the 1st division team with them getting the second leg at home. Heaven forbid that happen now.

It seemed to be a season where finally come March the likes of shearer etc said 'right FFS we are better than this' and got their act together. Being pre bosman there was perhaps the fear of where they could end up of relegated and perhaps more 'pride' 

Lasting memories are being in a mates parents car outside rollerbowl inverness and the radio being switched on just in time to hear Dodds winner at Tynecastle and his Dad being shocked to hear it was a potentially relegation saving goal, and hearing Shearers 2nd against utd go in while my Dad and I were driving through Beauly.

Also still occasionally watch this

 

I was in the ‘home’ end at a Brockville for Scott Thompsons header. Easily in my top 10 favourite dons goals 

41 minutes ago, Mason89 said:

I was in the ‘home’ end at a Brockville for Scott Thompsons header. Easily in my top 10 favourite dons goals 

True Dandies were in the away end. I just managed to catch it going in, in a gap between folks heids, as the entire stand fell forwards. It was a wild one. Brockville was a class ground. 

4 hours ago, RicoS321 said:

True Dandies were in the away end. I just managed to catch it going in, in a gap between folks heids, as the entire stand fell forwards. It was a wild one. Brockville was a class ground. 

Aye was a bit of a challenge to see the first one but the second from Glass was right in front of us and twas a braw bounce