One of the legacies of the centenary year in 2003 was the establishment of the AFC Hall of Fame.

Aberdeen Football Club recognised the need to formally acknowledge the players and staff who have reached the pinnacle of their profession, making a significant contribution to the reputation of this great club.

The inaugural dinner in early 2004 saw Teddy Scott, Willie Miller, Fred Martin, Drew Jarvie, John Hewitt and Jim Bett all honoured for their contributions to Aberdeen, and many other legends followed.

In 2015 the Hall of Fame was re-launched as an annual AFC event with the induction of the club’s most successful manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.

In subsequent years Gothenburg Greats Alex McLeish, Stuart Kennedy, Neale Cooper and John McMaster were recognised for the outstanding contributions they made during a golden era at Pittodrie, alongside Ally MacLeod, Archie Knox and Graham Leggat.

Last year’s event saw Donald Coleman, Peter Weir, Bobby Clark and Eoin Jess join this illustrious list of players and coaches.

THEO SNELDERS

Theo started his career with FC Twente, before joining Aberdeen in the summer of 1988 at the age of 24 for £300,000. Signed by Alex Smith and Jocky Scott to fill the gloves left by Scotland’s greatest ever goalkeeper Jim Leighton, he soon became a cult hero with the Dons fans, with chants of ‘Theo Theo’ being heard throughout the country.

Theo played an integral part in the Aberdeen team of the late 80s and early 90s and was rewarded by his fellow pro’s in 1989 when he won the Scottish PFA Player’s Player of the Year, a reward for consistent outstanding performances in the Dons number one shirt. He was part of the Dons double cup winning side of 1989-90.

During his time at Pittodrie, Theo made 290 appearances for the Dons and was capped for The Netherlands whilst playing for Aberdeen.

DAVID HALLIDAY

David was the first manager to guide Aberdeen to a major trophy when the club won the Scottish Cup in 1947 and, eight years later, led them to a first ever Scottish title.

As a prolific forward player with Queen of the South, St Mirren, Dundee, Sunderland, Arsenal, Manchester City and Clapton Orient in the 1920s and 1930s he has the claim to fame of being one of only a few players who have been top scorer in Scotland and England.

Upon leaving Aberdeen in 1955 he guided Leicester City to promotion to the top division in England after winning the 1956-57 Football League Second Division before leaving the Midlands Club in 1958 and later returning to the Aberdeen area where he scouted for Leicester City in the North-east of Scotland. He died on 5 January 1970 aged 68, and as AFC’s most successful manager before the arrival of Alex Ferguson, he rightfully takes his place in our Hall of Fame.

DOUG ROUGVIE

Defender Doug Rougvie joined Aberdeen in 1972 and went on to establish himself in the team of the late 70’s and the all-conquering Reds of the 80’s.

Big Doug made 278 appearances for Aberdeen and scored 21 goals before being transferred to Chelsea in 1984.

Doug’s single international appearance was against Ireland in 1983. As fearless a competitor that has ever worn the Aberdeen shirt, Doug is a true cult hero in every sense of the word.

ERIC BLACK

Eric Black will always be remembered as the player who scored the opening goal in the European Cup Winners’ Cup Final against Real Madrid and during his time at Pittodrie totalled 70 goals in 180 appearances.

Some of those goals coming in the biggest games Aberdeen have ever been involved in, including the Scottish Cup Finals of 1983, 1984 and the League Cup Final of 1985.

The striker moved to French side Metz in the summer of 1986 however injuries forced Bellshill born Eric to retire from professional football in his late twenties before becoming a very respected coach in the game.

GORDON STRACHAN OBE

Arguably one of the Dons greatest and most important signings, Gordon Strachan joined in 1977 from Dundee, in a deal that saw Jim Shirra move in the opposite direction.

Gordon went on to become a crucial player in the greatest ever Aberdeen side. Capped 50 times for Scotland, including appearing in two World Cup Finals, Gordon moved to Manchester United after scoring 89 times in 292 outings for the Pittodrie club.

The midfielder also enjoyed considerable success at Leeds United and Coventry City before moving into management.

His time in the dugout included a spell in charge of the Scotland National team.

MARK MCGHEE

Mark McGhee joined the Dons from Newcastle United in 1979, becoming part of the 80’s team that carried all before them both domestically and in Europe.

Scoring exactly 100 times in 250 appearances for Aberdeen, the striker won four international caps, before moving to SV Hamburg in the Bundesliga in 1984.

In his final game for Aberdeen he scored an extra time winner at Hampden to help the club lift the Scottish Cup and a week later, at the same venue, netted an equaliser against England.

Mark returned to Pittodrie as manager in June 2009 and left in December 2010.

A massive thank you to all who attended the Hall of Fame dinner, our host Richard Gordon, all of the staff at the Chester Hotel and our event sponsors READ Cased Hole.