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Sir Alex Ferguson has asked the Manchester United board to sanction an emotional return to Pittodrie in July to honour the Gothenburg Greats.

 

The Old Trafford team has agreed in principle to face Aberdeen in the north-east in July.

 

The testimonial game for the Dons team which won the European Cup-Winners' Cup in 1983 will be the highlight of a year of celebrations to mark the silver anniversary of the triumph over Real Madrid in Gothenburg.

 

 

 

The summer fixture must be ratified by the Manchester United directors before it can be formally confirmed.

 

The English club and the testimonial organisers both declined to comment last night but the Press andJournal understands an announcement, including a confirmed date, will be made next week if directors give their approval.

 

Ferguson has given his blessing to the game in honour of the team which upset the odds at the Ullevi Stadium in 1983 with a 2-1 win over the Spaniards courtesy of John Hewitt's dramatic late winner.

 

United's participation would guarantee a full house for the match, which will see Ferguson reunited with the players who gave him his first continental prize.

 

The imminent 25th anniversary has led the United manager to reflect on what he cites as his biggest achievement in the game.

 

Ferguson said: "When you look back I suppose it becomes bigger, because the problem of course with looking back is that Aberdeen at present are nothing like they were in that period.

 

"Scottish football first of all was pretty strong - Jim McLean at Dundee United took them to the semi-final of the European Cup and Aberdeen and Dundee United were really the strongest teams in Scotland for five years in a row.

 

"When you look back you say to yourself, 'How didI manage to beat BayernMunich who were the favourites and then beat Real Madrid in the final?'

 

"It was special becauseAberdeen was a small club. I just had two girls working for me in the office, the secretary, a couple of people were running the pools in anotheroffice, I had Archie Knox, my reserve coach and a physio-therapist and that was it."

 

The testimonial committee has been in talks with Man-chester United for months in an effort to finalise a friendly against Ferguson's current charges.

 

Proceeds from the package of events scheduled to run throughout this year will be shared between the 1983 squad after a donation has been made to the Aberdeen Football Club youth development programme.

 

The first confirmed event is a black tie gala dinner at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on May 9. The following night the same venue will host a more informal dinner for fans.

 

On May 11, the 25th anniversary of the triumph, supporters will be able to join the players for a screening of the Gothenburg final.

 

A DVD is also being produced as well as a limited run of prints by artist Dod Dow.

 

Game against Man U, a Gala dinner for the fans and a commerorative DVD. Nae too shabby, would have fancied a game against Real instead but it will be a sellout at Pittodrie anayway.

Great news.

 

Last season they were up here they won the treble, hopefully history repeats itself.

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Game against Man U, a Gala dinner for the fans and a commerorative DVD. Nae too shabby, would have fancied a game against Real instead but it will be a sellout at Pittodrie anayway.

 

release a DVD of the latest Euro adventure too

release a DVD of the latest Euro adventure too

 

Why? We won one match. Do you think in 5 years time people will be saying "Let's watch the Dons getting pumped by Panathanaikos, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich... those were the days".

 

 

Well lets be fair Robo, they have more chance of the treble than the Scousres have 

Why? We won one match. Do you think in 5 years time people will be saying "Let's watch the Dons getting pumped by Panathanaikos, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich... those were the days".

 

we havent had a run in Europe like that and aways trips like that for years and if we are honest might not have another for quite a while. i'd buy it for the highlights of the Copenhagen and Bayern game alone.

Why? We won one match. Do you think in 5 years time people will be saying "Let's watch the Dons getting pumped by Panathanaikos, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich... those were the days".

 

Or going unbeaten at home against Dnipro, Lokomotiv, Copenhagen and Bayern?

 

Well lets be fair Robo, they have more chance of the treble than the Scousres have 

 

Scousers or scousres?

 

On topic......Fair play to Aberdeen for getting Man U to come up and play them.........Real Madrid would have been better though

Scousers or scousres?

 

On topic......Fair play to Aberdeen for getting Man U to come up and play them.........Real Madrid would have been better though

 

Not on last night's performance they ain't.

The first confirmed event is a black tie gala dinner at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on May 9. The following night the same venue will host a more informal dinner for fans.

 

On May 11, the 25th anniversary of the triumph, supporters will be able to join the players for a screening of the Gothenburg final.

 

BTR anticipates a fun-filled birthday (Sat May 10th) weekend.  

 

A home game on the Saturday would be the icing on my cake. 

Or going unbeaten at home against Dnipro, Lokomotiv, Copenhagen and Bayern?

 

3 draws and a victory.

 

Oh how the mighty have fallen... 

BTR anticipates a fun-filled birthday (Sat May 10th) weekend. 

 

A home game on the Saturday would be the icing on my cake. 

 

Aw fuck it, I'm going to Newcastle for a stagger! 

we havent had a run in Europe like that and aways trips like that for years and if we are honest might not have another for quite a while. i'd buy it for the highlights of the Copenhagen and Bayern game alone.

 

Well, you usually get away trips when playing in Europe, it's the fairest way of doing it.

 

If you want memories of your away trips, you should have taken a camera with you...

3 draws and a victory.

 

Oh how the mighty have fallen... 

 

Indeed.

 

Or conversely, oh how the shitey have risen! 

Indeed.

 

Or conversely, oh how the shitey have risen! 

 

Indeed.

 

Reaching brand new heights of mediocrity...

Well, you usually get away trips when playing in Europe, it's the fairest way of doing it.

 

If you want memories of your away trips, you should have taken a camera with you...

 

It may be he canny, like many others, remember much about the games. Unless you're suggesting no drinking afore the game so you can mind it!

what makes you think you are getting a cake?

 

I've been promised a cream pie.

 

That's a type of cake isn't it? 

Indeed.

 

Reaching brand new heights of mediocrity...

 

Little steps . . . .

 

Wouldn't have traded this season for anyone else's in the league.

I've been promised a cream pie.

 

That's a type of cake isn't it? 

 

Aye,  a Bukcake.

Little steps . . . .

 

Wouldn't have traded this season for anyone else's in the league.

 

Completely agree with you there (outwith the OF's). Just don't think a DVD is really necessary. I mean, if the market is there, by all means go for it. I personally wouldn't buy it. One victory in 8 matches...

 

Would rather they released Team of the Decade on DVD instead so I can sit of an evening watching it, drunk, bawling my eyes out...

Indeed.

 

Reaching brand new heights of mediocrity...

 

Grow Up, fair enough in most of our european games we have greatly over achieved, bearing in mind not many people gave us much of a chance after drawing dnipro. 

 

All people are saying is they hope the club gives them something to remember an extended european run by, something aberdeen hasnt had, and probably wont have for a long time.

 

Why shouldnt we look back fondly on matching teams of a vastly superior quality, with a much greater budget than ours? This season has given us some great memories, despite our terrible league form

A friendly against Man U eh?

 

Well I don't care.  It's just a fucking friendly.

 

If we play them in a meaningful fixture then I'll get moist about it.

Grow Up, fair enough in most of our european games we have greatly over achieved, bearing in mind not many people gave us much of a chance after drawing dnipro. 

 

All people are saying is they hope the club gives them something to remember an extended european run by, something aberdeen hasnt had, and probably wont have for a long time.

 

Why shouldnt we look back fondly on matching teams of a vastly superior quality, with a much greater budget than ours? This season has given us some great memories, despite our terrible league form

 

Have a day off man, seriously.

Indeed.

 

Or conversely, oh how the shitey have risen! 

 

Well, for the thousands and thousands who are too young to remember Gothenburg first-hand, having a DVD of impressive draws against mighty teams like Dnipro and Bayern, not to mention comprehensively thrashing Danish champions FCK would be a quality addition to the AFC Shop merchandise.

 

If anything, that's probably the biggest money-spinner that the Dons haven't latched onto yet: DVDs. We only need to look at the sheer volume of copies that were sold of the Stand Free DVD from five years ago to realise there is an apetite there for buying a bit of the club's history on video!

 

Hell, even a season review would be bought by people like me who have lived away fae Scotland for so long and seen so few Dons matches as a result that we couldnae point to Andrew Considine if we tried!

Well, for the thousands and thousands who are too young to remember Gothenburg first-hand, having a DVD of impressive draws against mighty teams like Dnipro and Bayern, not to mention comprehensively thrashing Danish champions FCK would be a quality addition to the AFC Shop merchandise.

 

If anything, that's probably the biggest money-spinner that the Dons haven't latched onto yet: DVDs. We only need to look at the sheer volume of copies that were sold of the Stand Free DVD from five years ago to realise there is an apetite there for buying a bit of the club's history on video!

 

Hell, even a season review would be bought by people like me who have lived away fae Scotland for so long and seen so few Dons matches as a result that we couldnae point to Andrew Considine if we tried!

 

You're right. Would it kill the club to re-release all the old videos on DVD as well? That would raise some money for them. If Jack Webster's still alive, maybe he could do another Glory of Gothenburg DVD?