Dons hero returns to Pittodrie on Friday

When Jim Leighton moved to Manchester United in the summer of 1988, Alex Smith and Jocky Scott decided to go Dutch and spent £300,000 on a big ‘keeper from FC Twente called Theo Snelders. Now goalkeeping coach of tonight’s opponents, everyone at AFC is looking forward to welcoming Theo back to Pittodrie.
At the time a number of players arrived from Holland including Paul Mason, Willem van der Ark, Hans Gillhaus and Theo ten Caat. All of them played their part during a memorable period in the clubs history.

Filling the shoes of Scotland’s greatest ever goalkeeper though was never going to be an easy job, but during his 290 appearances Theo showed a remarkable level of consistency.

H e established himself in a fantastic first season for the Dons when he won the Scottish Players’ Player of the Year Award and helped the club win the Cup double, pulling off a string of saves to help win the League Cup with a 2-1 extra-time win over bitter rivals Rangers, then saved Anton Rogan’s penalty in the Scottish Cup and watched as Brian Irvine sealed victory for the Dons. Not many fans had heard of him but by the time he left in 1995, Theo had become a cult figure with the Red Army.

Theo spoke to the AFC Former Players’ Association recently.

Moving to Aberdeen to replace Jim Leighton must have been a big decision for you. Did you know just how big a legend Jim was at the club?

I was 24 and had played for eight years at FC Twente, playing over 200 games. The time was right to make a move. Aberdeen FC was a big club that won a lot of trophies and you don’t win those if you don’t have a good goalkeeper.

Did you take long to settle in at Aberdeen?

No, I stayed for three months in the Atholl Hotel and then moved to Broomhill Avenue.

What did you know of the club and the city before you joined?

When I came to Aberdeen with Ton van Dalen, my agent, there was someone from the Dutch School. He told me that there was a Dutch community in Aberdeen.

How did you find Scottish football in comparison with the Dutch league?

Quicker, more physical, with a lot of passion.

Big crowds with great atmospheres.

It would not be long before you had success at Aberdeen with the 1989/90 season being a particularly successful one. How did it feel to win the League Cup with the Dons after a 2-1 victory over Rangers?

Great! In extra time we were under a lot of pressure. Ray Wilkins played the ball into the back post area, Terry Butcher ran in, I came out to intercept the ball, and then the referee blew his whistle for full-time!

You had a big hand or two in making sure the cup went north to Pittodrie. Do you remember just how big a part you played in that cup win?

Paul Mason scored two goals in the final and I had a couple of saves that helped us.

We were Alex Smith’s first two signings so he must have been a proud man.

Not content with that, you got personal glory as you were voted Player of the Year in 1989. How did that make you feel?

That was in my first season, the first goalkeeper and foreigner to win this award, so it made me very proud. The year after I won it, Jim Bett won it.

You helped clinch the double for the club after beating Celtic on penalties in the Scottish Cup. After you saved the spot-kick from Celtic’s Anton Rogan, what was your reaction as Brian Irvine stepped up to slot his penalty away and win the cup?

The best feeling I ever had in my career. Before Anton Rogan stepped up to take his penalty, I asked the Red Army for help to make more noise. That’s what they did and then I saved the penalty low to my left. Then Brian scored his penalty and we won the Scottish Cup.

You had mixed fortunes later with an International call up, but also you had a horrendous injury after a clash with Ally McCoist. Was it hard coming back from that injury to play again?

Yes! I had four small plates in my cheekbone and they were taken out six months later.

The Aberdeen team you played in had players of special talent but they just could not get over the finishing line in the title race on a few occasions. Was this a mentality thing with the players?

Football had changed. Money was a big thing. At Rangers they had a bigger squad and a number of million pound plus players.

Over the longer run we fell short.

In 1995/95, Aberdeen endured shocking defeats to Stenhousemuir and Skonto Riga and almost got relegated, only surviving via two play-off wins v Dunfermline. How did you and the rest of the players feel being involved in such a poor season for the club?

Aberdeen had lost players who were key players for the club in Alex McLeish, Jim Bett and Roger (Robert) Connor. In the end we were relieved that we stayed up, even though it was through the play-offs. We had a win in the second last game against Dundee United at home, a full house with one of the best atmospheres at Pittodrie in my time.

Did you enjoy your time at Aberdeen?

It was the best time of my career! My kids Ryan and Kayleigh were born in Aberdeen.

Do you feel your time spent here made you a better goalkeeper?

Yes, both through the games and the training with Drew Jarvie.

Do you think Scotland does enough for grassroots football?

To make better players you need to have better facilities!