News
Hall of Fame | Thursday 21st November 2024
We are excited to announce that the AFC Hall of Fame dinner will return for 2024 as we induct more Dons legends on Thursday 21st November at The Chester Hotel.
In the 2022 edition of the Hall of Fame, Duncan Shearer, Dougie Bell, Russell Anderson and Davie Robb were inducted and this time four more AFC greats will join them.
Our inductees for the 2024 edition of the AFC Hall of Fame, sponsored by Scott James & Associates, are Charlie Nicholas, Hans Gillhaus, Brian Irvine and Matt Armstrong.
The late Matt Armstrong will be inducted posthumously for 2024. In the opening game of the 1933/34 season Matt scored five of the Dons goals in an 8-0 rout of Ayr United.
After netting 14 goals in 13 appearances in 1933/34, a year later he was the top scorer with 39 goals from only 43 competitive games. During that season Aberdeen defeated Celtic for the first time in the Scottish Cup, the Dons 3-1 win before a then record crowd of 40,105 remains one of the Dons greatest ever performances at Pittodrie. Two goals from Armstrong and another from Mills sealed a memorable day for the club.
Brian Irvine made his debut in the Dons final game of the 1985/86 season in a 6-0 canter at Clydebank; seven days before Aberdeen would beat Hearts in the Scottish Cup final. A no-nonsense centre half, he was also a great professional. Rarely booked and never one to fall foul of officialdom, Brian was one of the game’s good guys; always ready to help others.
On the field he was fast becoming a real favourite with the Red Army who recognised Irvine as a player who gave his all for the Aberdeen cause. A ‘cult hero’ in every sense. One of the abiding memories for Dons’ fans was that Brian played in goal on more than one occasion, even saving a penalty at Easter Road. At the other end he also scored a very impressive number of goals for a defender.
If ever there was a stellar signing for the Dons, Charlie Nicholas was it…Hogmanay 1987, live on BBC1 Scotland from the stage at His Majesty’s Theatre, it was announced during the show that Aberdeen would be signing Charlie Nicholas. He was coming back to this country and to play for the Dons.
After a relatively slow start at Pittodrie, five goals in 22 appearances during the remainer of that first season, he certainly rediscovered his top form and scored 16 league goals in the 1988/89 season, finishing joint top-scorer in the league alongside Celtic’s Mark McGhee. In total that season he netted 18 goals in 37 appearances.
His debut for the Dons was impressive as his pedigree; several thousand Aberdeen supporters travelled to East End Park on 18th November 1989 to see Hans Gillhaus make his first start against Dunfermline Athletic. 15 minutes gone and Aberdeen are 2-0 ahead with new boy Gillhaus scoring both; one a well-placed header after an incredible jump and the other a sensational overhead kick that had the Dons support in raptures.
The Red Army had a new hero to worship.
The evening will yet again be a memorable occasion for Dons supporters with a 3-course meal with wine included and a Q&A session with our inductees.
Places for the event are priced at £135+VAT per person and will be available on a first-come-first-served basis, to register your interest please email commercial@afc.co.uk.