DONS PLAYERS MAY GET TO SHOW OFF THEIR PERFECT PITCH
08:50 - 13 December 2007
The Aberdeen squad could turn their attention from the pitch to the recording studio if they can defeat Copenhagen at Pittodrie next week.
The Dons have been approached about the prospect of releasing an updated version of The European Song to mark this season's Uefa Cup adventure.
Victory against the Danish club on Thursday will take Jimmy Calderwood's team through to the knockout stages of the competition.
Potential opponents include Hamburg, Villarreal, Everton and Spurs, with the ties scheduled to be played in February.
Harry Barry, who wrote and recorded the original track for the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup final against Real Madrid, is poised to re-issue the song in time for the next round and has approached the club.
All 55,000 copies of The European Song were snapped up in 1983.
Barry said: "I'm sure it would have sold 155,000 if the extra copies had been available.
"There seems to be a real passion for European football again among the Aberdeen supporters and I'm sure the song would be well received.
"I've lost count of the times I've been asked to release it again by fans and, with the 25th anniversary of Gothenburg approaching and the club going well again in Europe, this would be a good time to do it."
The Coatbridge-based musician and composer, still performing with The Big Elastic Band and also in the process of writing his own musical, would be prepared to work to a tight deadline. He said: "If there was support for the idea, the whole project could be completed within three weeks.
"Obviously the club's input would be important and it would be good to involve different samples or perhaps the players if they were keen.
"The lyric that was released in 1983 was slightly different from my original version and I have ideas about how it could be adapted for this season."
The Dons have had initial talks with Barry about his plans.
Spokesman Dave Macdermid said: "Obviously we're keen to speak about it in more depth - but first we have to get the Copenhagen game taken care of. We wouldn't want to tempt fate by planning any further ahead than that."
Aberdeen's bid to reach the final 32 of the Uefa Cup will have vocal backing of a different kind after it was confirmed the Copenhagen tie is close to a sell-out.
The remaining seats for the game are expected to be snapped up today and 21,000 will attend on Thursday.
The club has announced tickets for the away games at Falkirk in the Scottish Cup on January 12, and Dundee United in the league on January 19, will go on sale to season ticket holders and shareholder on Monday, December 17.
"With Miller, and Mackie, and Foster too...."?