Weekend of celebration to include Freedom of the City Award to the Club and the Gothenburg Greats

Aberdeen FC will commemorate the 40^th anniversary of the Club winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup with a weekend of celebrations in May.

The celebrations will kick-off with a gala dinner on Thursday, 11 May, exactly 40 years to the day since the Dons beat Real Madrid in Gothenburg.

The highlight of the weekend will be a special event at Pittodrie on Friday, 12 May, at which the Club and the Gothenburg Greats will be presented with the Freedom of the City by Aberdeen City Council.

This ticketed event will see the Club, in its 120^th year, and the players that led it to its greatest achievement receive the top civic honour from the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, which was previously bestowed upon legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson in 1999.

Player interviews, historic footage and untold stories from the triumph in Gothenburg will also feature at this historic event which is planned to take place on the pitch and shown on a large screen, with fans able to view proceedings from the Richard Donald Stand.

The 40^th anniversary festivities will culminate with a homecoming game on either Saturday 13 May or Sunday 14 May at which the Gothenburg Greats will be welcomed back to Pittodrie as guests of honour. The SPFL has confirmed the Club will have a home fixture that weekend, with timings and opposition set to be confirmed later this season once the post-split fixtures are confirmed.

Dave Cormack, Aberdeen FC chairman, said: “Being awarded the Freedom of the City is a tremendous honour for the club and befitting of our greatest-ever team. The Gothenburg Greats have long been assured of their position as legends at the Club and in the city but this special tribute further underlines their place in our history.

“To beat Real Madrid in a European final is an achievement that has only become increasingly impressive over the course of time. Winning the Cup Winners’ Cup and European Super Cup in 1983 was inspirational for the club and city; something that we should remember and cherish.

“This weekend of celebrations will allow our supporters to share in recognising these players and in celebrating with them.”

Willie Miller, who skippered the team at the Ullevi Stadium, said: “It is difficult to believe that four decades have passed since that night in Gothenburg. We were all incredibly fortunate to be part of such great team and are honoured and humbled, in equal measure, by the celebratory events to commemorate our success being laid on by both the Club and the City.

“It will be an emotional weekend where we can reflect on what we achieved and mark what is still one of the best nights of our lives.”

Aberdeen Lord Provost Dr David Cameron added: “I very much look forward to presenting the Club and the Gothenburg Greats with the Freedom on the City. The Club, with its rich history, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup team, with their giant-beating performances, have long been an inspiration for the whole city.

“The Dons’ work within our local communities has also helped bring people together. The event in May promises to have all the excitement and sense of team spirit of the best football matches.”

To celebrate the anniversary, a limited-edition range of merchandise, bearing the anniversary logo, will be available for sale from March onwards.

Further details of May’s special events will be announced in due course. Meanwhile, bookings can be made for Gala Dinner on 11^th of May through Harvey Smith at harvey@championsofeurope83.co.uk or 07786561040.