2001: After a 2-0 defeat at Parkhead the day before, the Sunday newspapers were cock-a-hoop with Ebbie Skovdhal's classic quote about the game: "the operation went well, but the patient died."

1998: In a move that mystified many Dons' supporters, manager Alex Miller brought Robbie Winters to Pittodrie with not only Billy Dodds going the other way, but a cash settlement of £500,000 as well. Winters makes an instant debut against Rangers on this same day.

1998: Aberdeen's first ever foray into live commentary via the internet was untertaken for a home match against Rangers. The venture is well received by many, unlike the result which was a 1-1 draw.

1901: THE FORTIFICATION OF ABERDEEN. GUNS TO BE MOUNTED AT TORRY BATTERY. 

Citizens of Aberdeen have of late been much interested as to the future of Torry Fort, which has for so long been discarded or, at all events, been left dismantled and unoccupied. For years no soldiers have been quartered at the fort, with the exception of last year, when a few men of the Fife and Forfar Artillery came to Aberdeen for the purpose of mounting a big 10-in. R.M.L gun at the Beach Battery for the 1st Aberdeen Volunteer Artillery. With that exception the battery, with its ample accommodation, has remained empty except for the fact that a master gunner looks after the premises. The fort was dismantled a year or two since, and the general opinion then was that the War Office authorities were evidently not to be too liberal in the fortification of Aberdeen. It was then attempted to have at least a cruiser stationed at the port, in substitution for H.M.S. Clyde. The War Office has now taken a practical interest in Aberdeen, and are, it is stated, to supply guns for Torry Battery, while, as mentioned in our columns the other day, they have supplied new guns for the lst Aberdeen Volunteer Artillery. With reference to these guns, Lieutenant-Colonel Milligan on Friday night stated at the presentation of corps prizes that it was of much importance that the volunteers should be armed with as effective, up-to-date weapons as the regulars. Three 6-in. quick-firing guns were to be fitted up at Torry, which would give the volunters an opportunity of practising and earning the special grant. In addition to these, two 6-in. B.L. guns for drill purposes were to be mounted at headquarters. It would, therefore, be implied that the volunteers were to be drilled with the guns at headquarters, while, in order to practise shooting, they would have to go to Torry. 

It would seem, however, that there is something more in the fact that guns have or are about to be sent to Torry, and that the War Office have an elaborate scheme view with regard to the battery. This supposition is strengthened by the fact that important alterations and improvements have been going on at the fort, and tradesmen have been employed there for no inconsiderable period. A wonderful and pleasant change has been effected, and the commodious apartments have been redecorated and furnished, all being in readiness for the reception of troops. Of course it may be that the War Office authorities are only making preparations for some scheme be put into force at the conclusion of the war in South Africa. The men, who would be stationed at Torry, will be artillerymen, but where they will be drawn from is not as yet known.

 With regard to the battery itself, the visitor from an outside view can have no idea of the "little town" within its walls. The fort bears the date of 1860 above the doorway, and access can obtained only by crossing a drawbridge,which is worked from inside the massive gate. Passing the sentry box on the right and the guardroom on the left, one is confronted with a long row of buildings, consisting of men's quarters, while the officers have special apartments. The rooms look ready for immediate occupation, and it seems to be beyond doubt that the fort is be garrisoned, hence the reason for the extensive operations that have been going on lately. There are stores and all sorts of requirements, and the fort could comfortably accommodate about a hundred men. It may be mentioned that there is inside the fort a splendid supply of spring water. The belief that fort will shortly be occupied is strengthened by the fact that bedsteads have been placed in the rooms and new cupboards put in. The sanitary arrangements are perfect in every way. Combined with these facilities, the situation is very healthy, and should prove an ideal spot for the garrisoning of men. It is understood that accommodation can found at Torry for 100 men, and the rooms are far superior to many barrack rooms. The citizens will no doubt watch with interest any development that may now take place with regard to Torry Battery; for, if only to help recruiting in this district, more soldiers ought to be stationed at Aberdeen. Amongst the recent additions to the Beach Battery was the 10-inch R.M.L. gun, while, as has already been stated, apparatus has been fixed for finding the range and position of vessels at sea.

Source : The Aberdeen Daily Journal Monday September 23rd, 1901

1933: Pleas for Football "Specials". POLICE CHIEF'S OPINION. The convenience of football "fans" in the matter of transport figured largely in applications which came before the Traffic Commissioners at Aberdeen yesterday. Mr H. Riches presided, and the other Commissioners present were Councillor Fraser Macintosh, Aberdeen, and Baillie Mackay, Nairn. The sitting was held in the Town House. Messrs Alexander and Son applied for permission to run excursion 'buses from Stonehaven to Aberdeen on Saturdays when Aberdeen Football Club was playing First League matches or Cup-ties, or when the Stonehaven Football Club was playing junior league matches at Aberdeen. Mr Currie, for the applicants, said the ordinary return fare between Stonehaven and Aberdeen was 2s, but for these excursions it was proposed to charge 1s 3d. The railway return fare on Saturdays was 1s. James Fotheringham, a 'bus inspector in the employment of Messrs Alexander, giving evidence, said that till about three years ago it was usually necessary when there was a football match in Aberdeen to duplicate, three or four times, the 12.30, one o'clock, and 1.30 'buses from Stonehaven. This had not been necessary since the railway company introduced a 1s return fare after twelve o'clock on Saturdays. Now the 1s fare was available all day on Saturdays. Numbers of people, he said, had made requests to him for special 'buses to be run and for fares to be reduced. Councillor Macintosh asked why special facilities should be provided for one class of people when things had been quite satisfactory since the 1s railway fare was introduced.

"Under-Cutting." Mr Currie said the 'bus fares were fixed largely on the representations made by the railway companies, who asked that the 'bus fares should be fixed at such a level that they would not be competitive. Then the railway company came along, in this instance, and reduced their fares, thus cutting the feet from Messrs Alexander. Mr Fotheringham, continuing, said the secretary of the Stonehaven Football Club had asked him if they could not get reduced rates for travelling to Aberdeen on Saturdays. They travelled by train since the railway fare was reduced. Cross-examined by Mr W Weir, for the L.M.S. Railway Co., Mr Fotheringham admitted that if excursion 'buses were run they would be used by people who were not going to football matches. Mr Weir informed the Commissioners that there were trains from Stonehaven to Aberdeen at 12.32, 1.32 and 1.55. These were just the ordinary trains, because it had never been found necessary to run excursion trains for football matches.

Police Opinion. Chief Constable McConnach objected to the proposed excursion 'buses on the ground of congestion. There was considerable congestion already at the terminal points, and if it increased much more it would be a public nuisance. It would have to be a question of keeping the 'buses out of the centre of the city altogether, and letting them unload and load at a point not farther into the city than Messrs Alexander's garage off Holburn Street. There were ample tram services that could take the passengers to the football ground. On the grounds of congestion, he did not think it would be in the interests of the public that these excursions should be allowed.

"Extraordinary Policy." Mr Currie asked if the Chief Constable could inform him where the extraordinary policy of keeping people out of the town was practised. The Chief Constable said it was practised in many towns in England. The practice had not come to Scotland yet, but it would come. Mr Currie said congestion was a comparative term. Traffic was increasing everywhere, and arrangements would have to be made to cope with it, but not by barring it. That was going back to the middle ages. The Chief Constable said the method he had referred to was the one advised by the London Advisory Board, as far as long distance services were concerned. 'Buses coming to Aberdeen could be put round the Ring Road, instead of coming to Union Street.

Rail Passengers. Mr Weir had meantime obtained statistics to show that last Saturday, by the three afternoon trains, 214 passengers travelled from Stonehaven to Aberdeen, while on the previous Saturday the number was 208. That showed that they had more passengers on a Saturday when there was no First League match in Aberdeen than when there was one. The Commissioners reserved their decision.

Peterhead Application. Messrs James Sutherland (Peterhead), Ltd., applied for permission to run excursion buses to various places in the district on the days when the Peterhead Football Club was playing away from home. Consideration of the application was deferred till Wednesday of next week. An application for leave to alter the time of a bus leaving Ballater for Aberdeen on Saturdays, also to suit the convenience of passengers wishing to attend football matches in Aberdeen during the winter months, was made Mr W. D. Connochie, solicitor, on behalf of the Deeside Omnibus Service, Ballater. Mr Gibson, for the London and North-Eastern Railway Company, said there was a train that Ballater at 12.30 and got into Aberdeen at 1.57. That left plenty of time to get to the football ground. The Commissioners granted the application, the new time to be observed only from the first Saturday in November to the last Saturday in March, and to apply only to days on which First League matches were played. Mr Connochie took that as a refusal of the application.

Source : Aberdeen Press and Journal Saturday September 23rd, 1933

1939: Petrol rush scenes last night were, in many places, a repetition of those of last Friday before the eleventh-hour postponement of the rationing scheme. In spite of last week's "reprieve" many motorists again left it until the last minute of the last day before they decided to fill up. Queues of motorists throughout the day caused traffic obstruction all over London and on the busy main roads. Drivers were waiting half or threequarters of an hour at filling stations in some cases. There was, however, no abnormal rush by motorists in Aberdeen to fill up petrol tanks before the introduction of ration cards to-day. Garages and petrol stations reported brisk business throughout the day and during the evening, but the demand was not so great as on the previous Friday when the rationing of petrol was postponed for a week. It is expected, however, that garage proprietors will be kept busy next week when many motorists will avail themselves of the opportunity to make full use of their month's ration of petrol before laying up their cars for the winter on September 30.

Source : Press & Journal Saturday September 23rd, 1939