http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149213&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149206&contentPK=20077219&folderPk=85709&pNodeId=149229

 

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.

I've heard a rumour it's the same weekend as T in the Park... (12th/13th July).

Ah well, looks like I won't be going then. It'll be the second time i've missed Man Utd coming to Pittodrie as I had something better to do.

http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/532358

 

MAN U are to take on the Dons at Pittodrie on Saturday, July 12.

 

It will be confirmed today that Alex Ferguson’s United are coming north on that date for a glamour match to honour Aberdeen’s Gothenburg Greats.

 

The possibility of seeing United stars like Wayne Rooney, Christiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez guarantees a sell-out crowd for the game.

 

It is also likely to be an emotional farewell to Pittodrie for Ferguson, manager of the Dons side which lifted the European Cup Winners’ Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1983.

 

Ferguson also took United to Pittodrie in 1999 for Dons trainer Teddy Scott’s testimonial match, which was sold out within hours.

 

But this is likely to be his last official appearance at the ground, where he enjoyed so much success in his early days as a football manager.

 

The glamour match is the highlight of a series of events organised to mark the 25th anniversary of Aberdeen’s greatest triumph.

 

Aberdeen’s Exhibition and Conference Centre is staging three events in the lead-up to the actual anniversary, on May 11.

 

A formal dinner is being held on Friday May 9, with a less costly fans’ dinner organised for the following evening.

 

The majority of the 1983 squad will also be at the AECC on May 11 to see a video re-run of the game and take part in a question and answer session with fans.

 

Former Open golf champion Paul Lawrie is also hosting a golf tournament on September 4.

 

Dons legends Neil Simpson, John Hewitt, John McMaster and Peter Weir were in Spain at the weekend with some of the Club 83 members, who are helping to fund the celebrations.

 

Do I delay going away for the month of July to go to the game? Hmm...

Same saturday as T in the Park!! FFS!

 

That will me out of going along with quite a few others I'd imagine. Date was probabky dictated by Man U, but still bad planning.

I'll be going to neither.

 

12th July?  Both teams will barely be back into pre season training and it's about 2 mins after Euro 2008 finishes.  A waste of fucking time if you ask me.  Let the star gazers fill Pittodrie and ooo and ahh at the sight of Ronaldo.  I hope we charge £40 a ticket.

What about the "traditional marching" that needs to be done that day.

 

AFC and Man U have clearly forgotten about their "Loyal" support.

I'll be going to neither.

 

12th July?  Both teams will barely be back into pre season training and it's about 2 mins after Euro 2008 finishes.  A waste of fucking time if you ask me.  Let the star gazers fill Pittodrie and ooo and ahh at the sight of Ronaldo.  I hope we charge £40 a ticket.

 

I doubt very much he'll be playing. Will only be two weeks since the Euros had finished, would imagine he'll be given an extended break because of this. Same story for Tevez...

Confirmed on Redweb: http://www.afc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/clubNewsDetail/0,,10284~1262238,00.html

I doubt very much he'll be playing. Will only be two weeks since the Euros had finished, would imagine he'll be given an extended break because of this. Same story for Tevez...

 

I doubt Tevez will be playing at the euros

I doubt very much he'll be playing. Will only be two weeks since the Euros had finished, would imagine he'll be given an extended break because of this. Same story for Tevez...

 

Ahh well, you get the jist of it anyway.

Sir Alex will no doubt do his best to make sure some of his big stars are playing.

Oh well guess I'll be missing it for T in the Park. Awfully early for an English team to have a pre-season friendly but I suppose they'll be off to Asia or USA for the main part of their summer.

 

Sir Alex will no doubt do his best to make sure some of his big stars are playing.

 

The English ones will be alrite 

I doubt Tevez will be playing at the euros

 

There's always one.

I'll be going.

Rage against the machine v A pointless friendly

 

I know where I'm going!

Scouting for Girls v A pointless friendly

 

I know where I'm going!

Will hold off until they announce prices and who's playing for Man United (and us for that matter) before deciding if I am going to ditch Saturday tickets for T in the Park for this.

 

Agree with a few folk above that this is very early for a preseason game and would not bet against it being played at walking pace.

Rage against the machine v A pointless friendly

 

I know where I'm going!

 

Prodigy v Pointless friendly.

 

Easy choice.

 

 

Prodigy v Pointless friendly.

 

Easy choice.

 

Yeah, one is Saturday and the other is Sunday.

Comfy sofa v pointless friendly

 

          v     

 

By the sounds of things, you'll need a comfy sofa!

 

Yeah, one is Saturday and the other is Sunday.

 

Pee in the Dark isn't the only Festival in the world that weekend.

 

Trust me, i'll be watching the Prodigy!

Pee in the Dark isn't the only Festival in the world that weekend.

 

Trust me, i'll be watching the Prodigy!

 

Ah, Oxygen! 

Ah, Oxygen! 

 

Nope, Oxegen!

 

Why can't the Irish smell?

Fucking marvellous cannae make it either

 

However I will be sunning myself and drinking copious amounts of cheap Spanish lager 

I thought JC would have timed our trip to Ireland around the 12th July!!!

 

I'll be in Aberdeen though - Pwopa notteeeeeeee!!!!! 

 

Nah you will be on some rig in the North Sea watching porn.