Tributes paid to AFC Author

 

Everyone at Aberdeen Football Club was saddened to hear the news on Tuesday that Jack Webster has passed away.

Jack, one of Scotland’s foremost writers and broadcasters, and best-known Aberdeen fans, was 88.

He was born and brought up in the Buchan village of Maud, where his father was the local auctioneer, and attended Robert Gordon’s College from 1943 to 1946. His travels as a journalist brought him interviews with some of the world’s biggest names, from Charlie Chaplin to Muhammad Ali.

In 1996, Jack Webster was voted Bank of Scotland Columnist of the Year and UK Speaker of the Year. In 2000, he was given an honorary degree by the University of Aberdeen.

Such was his knowledge of the club, he was selected to write the definitive history of AFC. First published in 1978 to mark the club’s 75th anniversary, the official records had been destroyed by the Pittodrie fire in 1971 and the book was written only as a result of painstaking research by Jack through old newspapers and interviews. A revised edition was then published in 1990 and then again in 2003 for the club’s centenary.

His three sons are also all journalists and our thoughts are with them this evening.

 

An AFC spokesman said, “Jack was a great friend of the club over many years and, of course, a massive Dons fan.

“His book on AFC is regarded as the definitive history of that era and is frequently referenced for historical articles.

“A true gentleman, Jack will be sorely missed.

“The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Jack’s family and friends at this very sad time.”

 

 

Favourite AFC XI

In 2011, Jack was asked by Willie Miller to pick his best Aberdeen XI for the book ‘Aberdeen Dream Team’, written by Rob Robertson.

Jack was quoted as saying “As you can guess, picking my Aberdeen Dream Team has been a really tricky, but enjoyable task. I go back a long time. When I wrote the first Dons history in the 1970s, I was able to interview players right back to the First World War, virtually to the origins of 1903.

“I originally drew up three Dream Teams, which gives you an idea of my dilemma, showing the wealth of talent that has passed Pittodrie’s way. Remember I struck to the old 2-3-5 formation and have moved one or two players from their normal positions, if only to get them in my Team.

“Some would rage that I haven’t even mentioned memorable names like Stan Williams, the brilliant South African from that first Scottish Cup winning team of 1947, nor Matt Armstrong, he of the film-star good looks and great of partner of Willie Mills. Also what about Alec Jackson or Benny Yorston? It was a tough decision to leave these guys out, but there was a balancing job to be done.”

 

Goalkeeper:
Leighton

Full-backs:
Cooper, Coleman

Half-backs:
Miller, McLeish, Varga

Forwards:
Strachan, Hamilton, Harper, Mills, Pearson