At the end of August, we invited all supporters to have their say in naming the training pitches at the club’s new £12 million state-of -the-art Community Hub, Professional Training Campus and Youth Academy at Cormack Park, including the Bobby Clark Football Academy.

With the opening of this dynamic and inclusive football and community facility just a week away the Club can now reveal which players you, the Red Army, have chosen to have a training pitch named in their honour.

Following on from the announcements over the past week that pitches will be named after Teddy Scott, Willie Miller, Neale Cooper, Eoin Jess and Joe Harper we can now reveal that Dons supporters have voted for Jim Leighton to receive the same recognition.

Over two spells at Pittodrie as a player Jim made 535 appearances and also served the club over two spells as goalkeeping coach. In the first of his spells at Pittodrie Jim was part of the all-conquering Aberdeen side which won every domestic honour throughout the 80s and famously kept six clean sheets on the way to European Cup Winners’ Cup glory in 1983.

A fantastic servant for club and country the stopper is Scotland’s second most capped player, playing for his country on 91 occasions between 1982 and 1998.

Almost 7,000 supporters cast their votes throughout August in what was a very tightly contested poll and we appreciate everyone taking the time to play their part in the new development.

This engagement with our supporters marks the start of our ‘Pittodrie-fication’ of the new facilities, and the club will embark on a comprehensive consultation process as we look at various innovative ways of incorporating more of our heritage as the project develops over time.

AFC Commercial Director, Rob Wicks, said: “This is an exciting milestone for the club, and it is crucial we retain as much of our heritage as possible in our new home. We want to hear ideas from fans about how best we can recognise our history and Club legends at the new site.

“Working together with the club’s Heritage Trust and Hall of Fame committee – which includes the likes of Willie Miller and Richard Gordon – every effort will be made to ensure we recognise all those who have represented this great club with distinction throughout its history.

“Some initial ideas that have been suggested include a club museum, statues of famous players, a Memorial Garden and incorporating the famous granite façade from the Merkland Road end at Pittodrie.”

The official opening of Cormack Park on 31st October.