An important element of my job as TV Sports producer is to be fully prepared for when my show goes to air. I have always forced home the message to my hosts that you can never do too much research to ensure a smooth yet professional production.

In my opinion, research, preparation and delivery are the main components for that success. So what does all the above have to do with our Club?

In recent months it’s been almost impossible not to read an article or delve through social media without noticing the magnificent job all and sundry are doing behind the scenes at Pittodrie to ensure the highest standards are maintained. This was particularly in evidence during the recent Europa League campaign. From the moment the First Qualifying Round draw was made, Chief Executive Duncan Fraser as well as Football Operations Manager Steven Gunn and TMG representative (travel company) Jason Smith clocked up the air miles to ensure hotels, travel, training facilities, food, access to stadiums etc were of the highest standard to ensure all was in place for when the team arrives.

While this is in process, constant contact is made with the boss and Tony Docherty. The whole operation can almost be described as military! It’s important at this juncture to explain that Messrs Fraser, Gunn and Smith are not just preparing for one game at a time, they are primed for all eventualities. With the initial draw taking place back in June, the Club was already armed with the knowledge of who our next opponents would be if KF Shkendija fell to the Dons sword – Croatian side HNK Rijeka.

I applaud the club for having sufficient foresight and confidence in the management team and the lads to progress through the first stage to start preparing for round two before a ball against our Macedonian opponents had been kicked.

At this point, the scouting team led by Chief Scout Russ Richardson, Nobby Clark and Tom O’Neill kicked into action with all watching our opponents, guaranteeing no stone was left unturned. The information, knowledge and attention to detail offered by these fine gentleman to Derek, Tony and the lads is of a level that many in the game that I know and have spoken to envy! I think it’s safe to say that the information gathered and man hours clocked paid dividends when much fancied Rijeka were soundly beaten in Croatia.

Upon knowing our next opponents, Tom O’Neill travelled to Kazakhstan ahead of the team to watch the opponents. The hours spent analysing Kairat Almaty meant the players could not be better prepared for what faced them close to the Chinese border.

Behind the scenes at Pittodrie, it was all hands to the pump. Steven Gunn and his team made a reconnaissance trip before flying back out with the team a few days later. In total that’s an 18,000 mile round trip! And by the end of the European run, they had travelled enough miles to have flown around the world within the space of a month. When in Kazakhstan, Jason, Steven and Duncan kicked into action, working away on the best hotel availability, making sure the team bus was of the highest standard and the food on offer at the hotel was perfectly suited while also ensuring that the safety of the traveling support remained high on their vast list.

The boss, alongside his coaching staff, analysed hours of video tape via special software available to coaches these days meaning they can watch virtually any team from any country at length and work on a tactical game plan. I mentioned it before and I’ll say it again, the attention to detail from Derek, Tony and the backroom staff is extremely impressive. I believe it’s the foundation for our recent success. Oh, let’s also not forget that the private plane the club hired was the best on offer. No expense was spared in making sure the team were properly prepared. 

In the end it was not meant to be, but we as fans could probably have not asked for more from the boys in terms of efforts and endeavour in Europe this season. I believe that was very much evident when all stayed behind after the Almaty game to stand and applaud the lads off the pitch. So to conclude, I applaud ALL who contributed to our qualifying campaign including the incredible traveling support who carried the good name of our club to untouched territories.