Aberdeen University F.C.

Aberdeen University

SJFA North Championship , 13th of 16

Home colours Away colours

Aberdeen University Football Club is an association football team representing the University of Aberdeen.

History

Early years

The University Club was formed in 1872 and became members of the

, Aberdeen University lost 3–0.

For

to a replay.

In season 1963–64, the University clinched the prestigious local amateur knockout competition, the Bowie Cup, for the very first time. The following season saw the University enter the Scottish Amateur Cup for the very first time only to suffer defeat in the first Round at the hands of Doune Castle. Their defence of the Bowie Cup came to an end against Cove Rangers. At this time a great rivalry existed between the University and, at that time, fellow amateurs Cove Rangers.

The 1960s were a prolific time for the University led by coach Tudar Hale who later left to take up an appointment in England. In 1969 Dr Eric Farr took over as Coach and led the University to further success at SUSF and Amateur level. Key players of the era were captain John McGrory, vice-captain Dave McWilliam, Alex Ingram, Phil Williams, Roy Pilgrim, Norrie Stuart and Robin Mitchell, all of whom were University internationalists. In 1969, the club was also awarded the Allender Memorial Trophy as the most outstanding Club within the Athletic Association.

Aberdeen came close to regaining the

leading the line. There was some success at Universities level with the Uni second team claiming the Paterson Trophy for the first time in 1982-83.

In 1987–88, an Aberdeen side led by Club Captain Rab Adams and coached by former players, Craig Graham and Mark Stewart, finally reclaimed the Queen's Park Shield as SUSF Champions. Four Aberdeen players – Mark Thomson, Dave Lewis, Ali Bryce and Gavin Dennis went on to represent Scottish Universities with Bryce and Dennis picking up caps for the British Uni's team as well. The following season Steve Laing was picked as a member of the SUSF team.

Mixed successes

The final decade of the 20th century saw mixed fortunes for the Club. Although the Club finally regained its rightful place in Amateur League Division 1 with promotion in 1996–97, it failed to win the SUSF Title and was almost relegated to Merit League 2. The best year was certainly season 1996–97 when the 2nd XI won the Paterson Trophy as well as promotion to Division 4, whilst the firsts also gained promotion and saw their hopes of winning the SUSF Title scupper by a dodgy goal-difference rule. These feats were recognised when the Club was awarded the Allender Trophy as best Club in the AA for only the second time.

January 2000 saw a memorable day for the University F.C. when a strong Aberdeen side were held to a 0–0 draw in a friendly fixture held at

Millennium era

Season 1999–2000 provided the club with the pinnacle of its achievements in living memory. After finishing third in the Scottish Universities Championship, the University side went on a momentous BUSA Shield run which culminated in the defeat of De Montfort University 2–1 in Warwick in the Final of the British Universities' Shield Competition. As first Scottish University ever to do so, it illustrates just what a landmark achievement it was for the club. Coached by Mike Ross and captained by Andrew "Taz" Johnson, the team included Scottish Universities representatives such as Kasper Neilson, Duncan Fisher, Ross Logie, Dougie McConnachie, American Brendan Hanke, and Scotland Amateur Internationalist Ross Preston. American Student Brendan Hanke scored both goals in the final, leading to the 2-1 win over de Montfort.

As of 2012, the University competed concurrently in BUCS 1A University League,^[2] The Premier Division of Aberdeen Amateur League^[3] and the Aberdeenshire & District League^[4]

In June 2014, the club were accepted as members of the Scottish Junior Football Association and join the SJFA North Region from the 2014–15 season.

Ground

The first team matches are played at the Hillhead Centre in the north of the city of Aberdeen, close to the historic campus at

.

Teams

The club's first team competes in the

Honours

Senior

• Aberdeenshire Cup
  • Winners 1920–21

Amateur

• Aberdeenshire AFA Division Two
  • Champions 1976–77
• Aberdeenshire AFA Division Two (East)
  • Champions 2003–04
• North of Scotland Amateur Cup
  • Winners: 1950–51, 1958–59, 1967–68
• Aberdeen F.C. Trophy
  • Winners: 1966–67, 2008–09
• Aberdeenshire AFA Premier Trophy
  • Winners: 2003–04

University

• BUCS Scottish Division 2A
  • Champions 2011–12, 2018-19
• BUSA Shield
  • Winners
    1999–00
• Queen's Park Shield
  • Winners 1921–22, 1922–23, 1927–28, 1929–30, 1932–33, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1940–41, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1987–88, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1962–63, 1965–66, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1987–88

Conference Cup

Winners 2018-19

References