Prints of the magnificent display seen at the Scottish Cup Semi final can now be bought.
Limited edition (1903 prints are available) 19×12″ prints suitable for framing are now on sale from here for £19.03
Money raised from sales will be used to fund future displays and a donation will be made to Aberdeen FC’s Youth Development.
Remember you can still buy the Pittodrie Years print featured on our DST Award scroll for just £30. Or buy a Legends or Gothenburg Greats print and receive the Pittodrie Years print free, with a £10 donation to DST.
Based on the results of 2 surveys , Supporters Direct Scotland (SDS) have issued “The Fans Plan” for the future of Scottish football.
An executive summary can be read here with full details of the plan – the PROBLEM, the PROPOSALS and the DETAIL
Dons Supporters Together endorse the plan as the biggest piece of fans feedback to date.
The content is rational and well argued and contains many strong arguments that we do agree with if not all, and we assume our members will be likewise.
SDS Council have a meeting with Stuart Regan, Neil Doncaster and David Longmuir in a couple of weeks’ time to discuss the contents of the Fans’ Plan.
We would be interested in any comments that you have on this – email us at info@donssupporterstogether.com
The following has been brought to the attention of Dons Supporters Together which we wish to share with the fans.
As previously mentioned there is a display planned by supporters for next weeks Scottish Cup Semi Final at Hampden.
Supporters have been kindly donating to a fund for the display. Recently Aberdeen Football Club donated £500 to the fans fund.
I’m sure all supporters wish to join DST in thanking the club for their donation. It is hoped this will help in making the display as large and memorable as possible.
Supporters have also kindly been given access by the SFA to Hampden at 12.30pm on the Friday before the semi final to set up a card display.
If any fans are in Glasgow at this time, any help with setting up the display will be greatly appreciated.
If fans want to be part of setting up and helping with the display then contact ssmccorms@hotmail.co.uk
Supporters are still taking donations for the display. paypal payments can be sent to: redarmy12merch@hotmail.co.uk
Dons Supporters Together are delighted to announce that the recipient of our third D.O.N.S Award for Distinction of Notable Service to Aberdeen is Teddy Scott.
Teddy served Aberdeen as player, trainer and in many other capacities for nearly 50 years since joining the club in 1954.
Willie Miller in his autobiography referred to Teddy as “a cornerstone of the Pittodrie establishment. His depth of experience, together with his unquestioned loyalty to the club and his conscientious attention to detail were assets successive managers recognised and treasured”
Alex McLeish said of Teddy in his book “He is probably the most important member of the Pittodrie staff. If he ever left AFC they would have to appoint three or four people to take his place such is the volume and variety of the work he undertakes. But his greatest importance lies in the role he plays in developing the talents of young players”
Teddy was held in such high regard by the club that he was awarded a testimonial match in 1998 when Alex Ferguson sent his treble winning Manchester United side.
DST board member Ian Hay visited Teddy in Ellon to present him with his award.
Local artist Dod Dow has brought to our attention the following offer on Aberdeen FC artwork.
Anyone purchasing a “Gothenburg Greats” or “Dons Legends” print from here http://doddow.com/dons-prints-23-c.asp will receive a free copy of the “Pittodrie Years” worth £30 and as featured on our D.O.N.S award scrolls.
Dod has kindly agreed to donate £10 from every purchase to Dons Supporters Together
DST were asked to pass this message on to our fellow Aberdeen supporters.
A collection of Dons fans are organising a display for the semi final,we did a great job at Fir park in the last round and want to go even better than that at Hampden
With a big display planned for the Scottish Cup Semi Final vs Hibs, any donations to cover the costs are most welcome.
Paypal Payments can be sent to; redarmy12merch@hotmail.co.uk
If you wish to donate in another form then please post up on this thread and something can be arranged.
Any contribution is appreciated.
The display will certainly be a spectacle that will inspire the players and the red army.
Thank you
Fans will be well aware of the current financial problems suffered by Rangers FC in the last few weeks. DST consider it pertinent to offer their views on this matter.
DST’s stance on the matter is uncompromising. The sporting integrity of Scottish Football is critical. We want our club to take the moral high ground by insisting that all member clubs play by the rules, comply with the law of the land as well as the game, and fulfil their obligations to other clubs and to society as a whole. DST fully believes in these principles and is sure that all right minded supporters will feel likewise. We wish to send a clear message to the board and management of AFC that we will not condone any departure from these principles, and that they should not be party to any future arrangement which allows a club to renege on its legal and moral obligations.
Rangers led most of the top Scottish clubs into ruinous debt by their unsustainable overspending from the Souness years onwards, and the creation and structure of the SPL has institutionalised the unfair distribution of wealth within our game. Now is the time to challenge the OF’s stranglehold to ensure a more equitable league structure and format.
The OF need the rest of Scottish football much more than we need them. Without a league of opponents to compete with, they cannot survive. The media argument that the OF subsidise the other teams and keep them afloat is spurious. The reverse is in fact true, since they get a totally disproportionate share of the money in the game. This unfair subsidy must cease immediately.
This is watershed for Scottish football. DST believes that the supporters of AFC and supporters of every SPL club should now send a strong and clear message to their club’s directors that we expect and demand change to the structure of the game as a whole. It is in every club’s interest (including the OF) to level the financial playing field, and to have 2/3rd majority voting in the SPL.
Clubs must also find ways of improving the product on the park by increasing variety, competition and entertainment, thus providing better value for money.
DST will continue to monitor events and will be collecting comments from members soon.
Dons Supporters Together had a meeting with representatives from Aberdeen Football Club last week. The club gave us nearly 3 hours of their time in what was a positive discussion on a range of topics. Summary notes on what was discussed are shown below.
Minutes for the meeting with Aberdeen Football Club Representatives on Wednesday 7th March 2012 at 4pm, Pittodrie Stadium
Present:
DST: Bill Ellis, Mike Rennie, Jennifer Moffat, Ross Moffat
AFC: Duncan Fraser, Dave Macdermid, Chris Gavin
DST Update
DST provided an update to the club on their current situation post-launch. DST launched on 4th February 2012 and membership has increased 400% with sign up sessions organised for the next two home games. Gordon Duncan of DST attended the Ellon Roadshow to promote the launch. It was agreed with DF that leaflets could go out with season ticket renewals for next season. DST will work with AFC to be the vehicle to provide communication between the supporters and the club.
Bank Facilities
Good working relationship with the bank. Facilities were renewed with the long term aim around the stadium.
The bank debt will not increase from current levels going forward.
Stadium Move
Offers are in for Pittodrie and the club is considering these.
The club are working hard on negotiating contracts/funding for the new Stadium and the start of 2013/14 season remains the target.
DST asked how they could help with the stadium move. Nearer the time of the move DST could help get messages out to the fans on pricing etc. At the moment we can provide feedback on what fans want for a match day experience.
The club recognise that the move will require them to make a more unique and inviting match day experience and are looking at what other clubs are doing.
Safe Standing
DST’s survey showed fans were overwhelmingly in favour of the introduction of Safe Standing and provided the club with an outline of pros and cons.
AFC stressed they are open to Safe Standing area. However the SPL have only agreed to a “trial” of safe standing. AFC would like to see a club trial next season and see if it works which could pave the way for a proper introduction into the SPL.
There was the suggestion of funding aid from central funding for this trial. This will be followed up by DST through Supporters Direct and the club will discuss with the SPL. Club’s still need police and local authorities’ onside.AFC have very good relationships with the police authorities at Grampian. Club agreed that after the architects had fed back to them on practicalities, and they had discussed implications with Barr, they would feedback to DST.
Communications
DST showed DF the Roy MacGregor article and discussed Ross County’s high profile in the community and as a model that AFC could learn from. The club highlighted the various community projects they undertake but agreed it is perhaps under publicised. DST offered to help and stressed that these sorts of messages need to be better communicated. The club handed DST its community brochure which DST agreed to put onto its website which shows the AFC programme extends beyond that of Ross County.
AFC Vision and Friends of the Club
DST raised the fact there was still no vision statement for the club. DF quoted the aim from the strategic plan which was about rebuilding a successful club in Scottish football and the local community. The aim was very good and DST stressed the need to communicate this message to the fans. The club agreed and at a suitable time will make this public. DST stressed the importance of doing this sooner rather than later.
The club acknowledged the amount of work gone in to creating the Friends of the Club document but felt that a lot of the content was being covered by the four AFC Board sub groups who are working with other individuals out with the club to drive the clubs aim.
Reds Direct and Funding
DST asked the club to resurrect the idea of giving shares in return for monies raised. It was suggested 10,000 shares for every £10,000 raised and donated to the club for youth development/community programmes. DF was positive in regards to this and would get back to us on it.
Rangers FC
The situation at Rangers was discussed and it was agreed that this was a chance to change Scottish football for the better in terms of making it a more competitive league. Aberdeen FC emphasised that they would do all they can to ensure that the sporting integrity of the SPL is maintained and that overall competition is fair for all clubs.
February 29, 2012 AFCRoss
DST News,News
The Original Artwork for the Pittodrie Years print by Dod Dow can now be purchased from Dod’s website here
The painting commemorates Pittodrie Stadium and would make a tremendous souvenir and have great kudos for any Dons fan especially given our impending move.
The painting is £1750 with 10% of the price generously donated to Dons Supporters Together
You can also still purchase print copies of the artwork for £30 here
February 11, 2012 AFCRoss
DST News,News
The Safe Standing Survey has closed and the results of the survey are shown below. Thank you all for taking part.
- Close to 500 responses
- 40% season ticket holders
- 60% non season ticket holders
- 92% of season ticket holders and 95% of non ST holders in favour of spl proposals to introduce safe standing
- 62% of ST holders would buy a season ticket in the standing area – 38% in the seated area
- 93% of non ST holders would use safe standing area at least from time to time with 70% using it regularly
- 20% of non ST holders would buy a season ticket for the standing area if they were installed
- 25% of non ST holders would attend significantly more games
- Over 80% of fans thought between 10 and 25% of the stadium capacity would be sufficient for safe standing with 20% being most popular option
- 97% of all fans polled would expect the cost of a ticket in safe standing area to be the same or less than seated
- 55% of all fans in favour of offering safe standing to away fans
- 25% of all fans would attend significantly more away games if offered safe standing area
A selection of the comments given as part of the survey are shown below
It has been proved abroad that it works and helps create a much better atmosphere. Something that is severely lacking at Pittodrie. Something has to be done to help attract the fans back to football.
I attend less matches now a days due to stadia being all seated and have friends who think this way also, football and sitting just dont work for me. BRING BACK STANDING!!!
I think this is an amazing opportunity for Aberdeen to once again be at the forefront of stadium design in the uk. The fans want these areas, I don’t see how the club could fail to use this opportunity to give fans something that they clearly want. COYR
I personally wouldnt use the standing areas but they should definately be installed asap as there is a demand.
Standing areas are dangerous and are not a good idea. Full stop.
PLEASE DO NOT underestimate how passionate we, the fans feel about this issue. The extra expense to install safe standing will be well worth it and increase attendances without a doubt.
Scottish football, especially AFC, needs to do all it can to attract fans back into the stadia. I prefer standing at a game and I believe safe standing will improve the atmosphere and attract more fans back to games.
My preference is for standing areas but I was unaware there would be significant cost to bring this into reality. I just enjoy standing at a game 
In favour of offering choice but would not use safe standing area myself
The proposal is stupid and is a retrograde step. In my opinion it would risk safety and a return to some of the more unpleasant violent scenes of the past. We want to try and encourage a more family friendly environment at football, this proposal leads us in the opposite direction.
I can only hope that this proposal gets the thumbs down, i have seen a few games over the years where tragic circumstances have befallen people attending games in this manner, ludicrous to say the least.
The time has come to install safe standing, the argument regarding Hillsborough is laughable and should not be a valid point against safe standing
Many fans obviously prefer to stand despite the occasional stewarding hassles. Why on earth not cater for them? Would also be better for those who prefer to sit.
Safe standing would also mean you would not get any more grief from those OTT stewards.
Safe standing areas in my view would bring back the atmosphere that terraced stands used to have bringing back a feeling that you were part of a club standing shoulder to shoulder with fellow fans with a sense of comradeship.
A report on the Safe Standing Roadshow on Friday by DST Board Member Bill Stephen can be found here: http://www.aberdeen-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/exclusive_report_from_the_safe_standing_roadshow_in_aberdeen_727699/index.shtml
