Upon receiving the email from the club in regards to the topic of this very column I’m not ashamed to say a wry smile appeared on ones face. I like so many others need no invitation to re-visit days gone by as an Aberdeen fan. To be honest hardly a day goes by when one memory or another pops into my head when day-dreaming in the office. Most of my childhood is covered in my book “Begg to Differ” (wink wink, plug plug) so a little more thought than normal was required to fill the required 800-1000 words for today’s effort.

Earliest memory:
The Dons losing 4-0 to Liverpool in the European Cup and crying hysterically over my Corn Flakes the morning after the night before. I do believe that was the first time my dad called me a drama queen! It’s been said many times since.

First strip:
Season 82/83, the rather fetching pin stripe number that became so famous during that memorable campaign. I wrote a heart-warming letter to Santa well in advance of Xmas 82’ in hope he would read it ahead of the millions received. Santa delivered and instantly became my new all-time hero alongside Willie Miller. For any parent reading this column, you know that moment when you’re trying to change your kid from their favourite pajamas and they refuse to take them off and all hell breaks loose, I was like that for months with my first strip – at the age of 10!

First Aberdeen related book:
“A Light in the North” by Sir Alex Ferguson. I clearly remember queuing outside the old WH Smiths above the St Nicholas Center for what seemed like an eternity in the pouring rain waiting to get my book signed from the man himself. Upon reaching him he took a moment to chat on with my dad (Sir Alex knew my late grandfather well) getting impatient I thrust the book in his hand where he eventually signed it while patting me on the head. Imagine my disappointment when looking down and discovering he had signed it to Alastair and not Ally – I rejoined the queue!  

First Autograph:
Long before that fated day at WH Smith’s my dad was invited to Pittodrie as a guest of the great man himself for the Dons group League Cup match against Dumbarton on the 21st August 1982. That day so happened to be my 10th birthday and a day I will never forget. After the game while munching away on the never-ending supply of chocolate bourbons the players slowly made their way into the lounge to greet their respective friends and families. The first to arrive was big Doug Rougvie, I stared in wonderment as this giant of a man looked down on me from above and with that iconic toothless grin of his took my programme and signed away. Forget your pop-stars, movie or TV stars; give me big Doug and his former team-mates all day long!

Favourite goal:
There are so many to choose from: John Hewitt’s winner against Bayern Munich, Hans Gillhaus’s over-head kick on his debut v Dunfermline, Charlie Nicholas’s volley against Celtic, Frank McDougall’s volley against Hearts, Jamie Smith’s belter from 25 yards against FC Copenhagen, Scott Severin’s half-volley from 25 yards against the old Rangers, Neil Simpson’s solo effort against Waterschei to name but a few but for me there is only ONE goal which to this day still gives me Goosebumps every time I watch it. I defy anybody to disagree with me but John Hewitt’s diving header to win the Cup Winners Cup is beyond doubt the greatest Aberdeen goal I have ever seen – and I was there!

Funniest moment:
On my first trip home after moving to Singapore in 2007 my mum and I took in a game at Pittodrie against Hearts. Sat in the Richard Donald Stand an old fella sat within ear-shot constantly moaned throughout the game. As his views became more animated his voice became higher and higher until eventually a fellow fan said to him “hey min, gonna stop coz only cats and dogs can hear ye now” Another one which stands out is a game against Kilmarnock at Pittodrie in the early 90’s not long after Joe Miller returned to the club. Unusually that day my dad and I took our seats further down the South Stand about 6 rows up from the touchline. Joe went through his stretching routines close-by and somebody shouted out “gonna show us some magic today wee man” Joe gave the thumbs up, then without a beat or the blink of an eye another fan retorted with “aye gonnay *#@@!** disappear” I swear I spat my Bovril all over my poor dad!

All-time favourite player: 
Growing up when I did I was blessed to watch so many great players don the red and white shirt but for me and I’m sure many of my generation, Willie Miller was simply outstanding. The word legend gets thrown around far too casually these days but Willie is a true hero and legend. One of the greatest moments of my life was when he asked me to name my all-time greatest Aberdeen XI for his book and then without persuasion kindly giving up his time to help launch my own book last year. Those moments will stay with me forever. Willie is quite simply a truly great man.