ABERDEEN FOOTBALL CLUB Pittodrie Stadium

Aberdeen were formed in 1903. Their address is Aberdeen FC, Pittodrie Stadium, Pittodrie Street, Aberdeen AB24 5QH. Tel: (01224) 650400  Fax: (01224)644173. Aberdeen can be found on the web at http://www.afc.co.uk
Pittodrie Stadium has been the home of Aberdeen FC since the 15th August 1903 when they entertained Stenhousemuir in front of a crowd of 8000, the final score being 1-1. Crowds steadily grew during the early 1900's, but disaster nearly struck in 1931 when a fire broke out in one of the changing rooms, but then coach, Donald Coleman, played the part of fireman and managed to prevent the near potential disaster.
The 1930's saw regular crowds of 30,000+ flocking to Pittodrie, but the record attendance was actually set on the 13th March 1954 when a crowd of 45,061 crammed into Pittodrie to watch Aberdeen beat Hearts 3-0 in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.
The club eventually one there first major trophy, the Scottish League Cup, in season 1945/46 and they followed this up with the Scottish Cup in 1947, but the real success was to come eight years later in season 54/55 when they lifted their first League title. The 60's were to pass without any major honours, through the Scottish Cup was captured again in 1970.
Disaster struck in February 1971 when Pittodrie suffered great damage when a fire destroyed a part of the Main Stand, in fact the Scottish Cup had to be rescued from a smoke filled office through a broken window by a fireman.
Another league title was to arrive in season 1979/80 and this was to be the start of a 10 year dominance of Scottish Football and success in Europe. 1983 was to see Aberdeen lift the European Cup Winners Cup beating Real Madrid in the final in Gothenburg, but en route Aberdeen beat Bayern Munich in the quarter final stages, in what was probably the greatest night ever seen at Pittodrie. The atmosphere that night was unbelievable, as Aberdeen twice came from behind to win 3-2, and will probably never be recaptured, without a doubt Pittodries greatest ever night. In 1984 Aberdeen added the European Super Cup to their haul of trophies, beating Hamburg in the two leg match. During this period Aberdeen had also won 3 more Scottish Cup Finals.During this time the new South Stand was constructed making Pittodrie an all seated stadium.
1985 was also to see more sweeping changes to the ground when the Paddock end was demolished to make way for a new enclosure for the exclusive use of home fans after it had previously been used by visiting supporters, who were now to be seated in the Beach End. In 1987 the club installed under soil heating with around 26 miles of pipe being buried below the pitch.
The next change at Pittodrie was the Beach End was to go to make way for the new Richard Donald Stand (pictured left), which opened at the start of the 1993/94 season bringing the capacity to 22,500. With the home fans now taking up residence in the Richard Donald Stand, visiting fans were moved to the East section of the South Stand.
Two more league titles were added during this period, 1983/84 and 1984/85 as well as a the Scottish Cup in 1986 and 1990 and the League Cup in 1985/86 and 1995.

The Richard Donald Stand (left).
 

HOW TO GET THERE TRAIN: The train station is a twenty minute walk from the ground or catch one of the following buses 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 11 from the city centre, all pass close to Pittodrie. BUS: Buses park half a mile from the ground at the beach. CAR: Parking in adjacent streets.

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