Aberdeen Celtic semi final 17th April 12.45ko

[Jute]

Think Coopers is opening early, station bar in Edinburgh?

 

It was shut at 9 am on a Sunday when I got train from there a couple of weeks ago.

[tsr]

What about the weeg, any chance of a bar being open there before 12:30 at all?

[Guest ally s]

What about the weeg, any chance of a bar being open there before 12:30 at all?

 

I think you'll have to settle for coke bottles on the train.

[Kowalski]

Diamond eyes Dons final fling

DEFENDER ZANDER IS DESPERATE TO WIN SUNDAY’S SEMI-FINAL AS HIS TIME AT THE CLUB APPROACHES AN END

 

By Michael Gannon

 

Published: 15/04/2011

 

Aberdeen defender Zander Diamond cannot believe he has spent almost a decade at Pittodrie and does not have a cup final appearance on his CV.

 

Even an appearance in the Aberdeenshire Shield has eluded the 26-year-old.

 

It is a damning statistic the centre back is determined to address as his time at the club approaches an end.

 

Diamond is almost certain to depart in the summer, with SPL rivals Hearts his likely destination.

 

Before then he is desperate to take the Dons to a Hamp-den showpiece before signing off in style.

 

“The only cup final during my time was the Aberdeenshire Cup final – and I did not even get to play in it,” Diamond said.

 

“A cup final is long overdue, not just for myself but for a lot of the players here and, more importantly, for the club.

 

“It has been far to long for a club such as Aberdeen.

 

“We know we let ourselves down badly against Celtic in the League Cup semi- final.

 

“These chances do not come around very often, but fortunately we have another opportunity against them in the Scottish Cup.

 

“This time we want to grab it with both hands.

 

“It is the chance to get to a major final in front of 50,000 supporters at Hampden in the showpiece event in Scottish football.”

 

Diamond knows the Dons can ill-afford a repeat of their League Cup debacle.

 

Celtic were a goal up inside five minutes at Hampden in January and four to the good after barely half an hour.

 

The sight of Dons supporters streaming for the exits before half-time was a painful one for the players on the pitch.

 

Semi-finals have not been kind to Aberdeen in recent years.

 

No matter who has worn the red shirt, they have routinely shifted goals by the barrel-load in last four encounters.

 

Dundee United thumped Jimmy Calderwood’s side 4-1 in February 2008 and Queen of the South twisted the knife in the incredible 4-3 Scottish Cup defeat in April of the same season.

 

Celtic’s 4-1 League Cup win this term made it the third consecutive semi-final where the Dons conceded four.

 

“We cannot afford to lose four goals every time we get to a semi-final, that is for sure,” Diamond said.

 

“A clean sheet would be a good start, but I could not care less if we won 9-8 as long as we got to the final.”

 

Celtic have been Aberdeen’s tormentors this term, racking up 17 goals in four matches, including the horrific 9-0 hammering at Parkhead last November, which all but sounded the death knell on Mark McGhee’s failed tenure as manager.

 

Diamond insists there will be no fear in facing the Glasgow side again, however.

 

And there is no way he is going to let an abdominal strain keep him out of this one.

 

Diamond suffered the injury at St Mirren last Wednesday, but there is no doubt the self-confessed Celtic supporter has the stomach for Sunday after making a surprise return in the unfortunate 1-0 defeat against Rangers on Wednesday.

 

He said: “The League Cup game was really disappointing. People harp on about it being a Celtic hoodoo, but it was not like that.

 

“They got the breaks early on and we did not turn up on the day.

 

“The best teams in the world fail to turn up in semi-finals and finals sometimes.

 

“We got severely punished, but we are champing at the bit to put it right this time.”

 

Is it any wonder he's never seen a final after his disgraceful performance against Queen of the South?

[BobbyBiscuit]

What about the weeg, any chance of a bar being open there before 12:30 at all?

 

nope, it's a country wide law.

[BobbyBiscuit]

Looks like Hartley will be playing on Sunday, according to the EE anyway.

[Harcus]

Yeah, I was in some pub in Aberdeen at 11am on the Sunday after the League Cup final - the Spirit Level? The Ferry Inn in Stromness is open at 9am every day of the week, depends on your licence I think.

[tsr]

nope - revised licensing laws mean that bars who get permission can open from 11am onwards on a Sunday 

 

And do any of these bars exist in glasgow?

[BobbyBiscuit]

nope - revised licensing laws mean that bars who get permission can open from 11am onwards on a Sunday 

 

you'll be hard pushed to find one down here that's selling booze earlier than 12.30 on Sunday. The Iron Horse or The Lee would probably be your best shout.

[Harcus]

some geezer on Hat saying there will be a 'special' train on Sunday. Bit shit arranging it two days before the game. Probably a load of shite anyway.

 

http://www.afc-chat.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=24956

[tsr]

Confirmed on National Rail website.

[jmo]

Oh well, not going for a quick pint before the game then. Another problem with the kick off time. 

[Harcus]

Use Mizer's patented fool-proof fun times guaranteed plan for the train. All you need is one camera -

 

 

one table of booze -

 

 

and some Globe Reds -

 

 

BOOM. PARTY TRAIN.

[BigAl]

Neil Lennon going mental for any reason would suit me 

 

He already is in my opinion

[glasgow sheep]

 

Aberdeen and Celtic are certainly heavyweights in Scottish Cup football. Having contested six finals and four semi finals in the past, there have been many decisive cup matches between both clubs down the years.

 

Arguably the most controversial Scottish Cup tie between Aberdeen and Celtic came in their very first meeting at Pittodrie in 1908. Before the days of neutral venues semi finals were played at which ever side was fortunate to come out first in the draw. The record books show that Celtic won to make the final, denying Aberdeen a first ever appearance on the national stage. The game was an eventful one with Celtic's 'rough house' tactics causing mayhem amongst the record crowd. Throw in some debatable refereeing decisions and the Celtic players and referee had to be escorted from the field and ground at the end of the game. 1954

 

Indeed that result began a period of Celtic dominance as they knocked the Dons out of the cup on six occasions before Aberdeen finally laid their Celtic bogey to rest in style in 1935. A huge Pittodrie crowd turned out to see all those fantastic Black & Gold traditions at their best as a slick Aberdeen outclassed Celtic in a memorable 3-1 win. Two years later hopes were high Aberdeen would lift the cup for the first time in the 1937 final against Celtic, but on the day the Dons 'froze' they were bitterly disappointed to go down 2-1 before an all-time British record attendance of 146,433.

 

Despite losing all three previous finals against Celtic, Aberdeen certainly turned it around in 1970. Although Celtic were hot favourites and on the threshold of European success, it was Aberdeen that prevailed on the day in a sensational 3-1 win. The Dons had given an indication of their approach to 1967facing Celtic when they won 2-1 at Parkhead two weeks before the final. As rank outsiders not many outside of Pittodrie gave the Dons much chance, but a memorable day ended with young Martin Buchan lifting the cup after a 3-1 win with goals from Joe Harper and 'cup-tie' Derek MacKay. That final win was in stark contrast to what Aberdeen had suffered against Celtic in the past and further final wins against the Parkhead side in 1984 and 1990 made it three cup final wins each in their six final meetings. Aberdeen needed extra time in the 1984 final despite Celtic being down to ten men for most of the game when captain Roy Aitken was sent off. Aberdeen won the final with a Mark McGhee goal in extra time. Six years later Aberdeen were again favourites to win but even extra time could not bring a goal. The game was decided by a first ever penalty shoot out and Aberdeen prevailed in a 9-8 win with Brian Irvine scoring the decisive penalty after Theo Snelders saved Anton Rogan's effort. 1990

 

In the four previous semi final meetings, three came before 1926 and were all won by Celtic. The last one came in the midst of Aberdeen finest season in 1983. With Aberdeen going for a unique treble at home and abroad the games and injuries were mounting and a tough semi final against Celtic at Hampden was decided by a Peter Weir header to set Aberdeen on their way to another final.

 

The last time the sides met was in 2008 and after a 1-1 draw at Pittodrie, Aberdeen once again confounded their critics when a Darren Mackie goal gave Aberdeen a sensational win; their third Scottish Cup win at Parkhead in ten previous ties.

 

Whole load of picks: http://www.afc.co.uk/articles/20110414/aberdeen-v-celtic_2212158_2338733

[CtS]

I think there are ways round the 1230 thing, for example if you're at a table eating breakfast you can also order alcohol. I had to do that in Glasgow once, at the Counting House on Saint Vincent Place.

 

 

[CtS]

Fuck me that picture of big Brian Irvine greetin' puts a lump in my throat, that's what it's all about.

[glasgow sheep]

I think there are ways round the 1230 thing, for example if you're at a table eating breakfast you can also order alcohol. I had to do that in Glasgow once, at the Counting House on Saint Vincent Place.

 

Tried that in the Crystal Palace before the St Mirren QF and was told they don't do that any more, it's also a Weatherspoons like the Counting House so not sure if their rules are the same.  We did however get a breakfast and beer in the Horseshoe 

[glasgow sheep]

some geezer on Hat saying there will be a 'special' train on Sunday. Bit shit arranging it two days before the game. Probably a load of shite anyway.

 

http://www.afc-chat.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=24956

 

Well I guess they'll have an empty train as it's only two days ahead and apparently about £60+ return (although cheaper if you split the journey up), fucking idiots.  No doubt use this as an excuse not organise anything like this in the future.

 

http://www.afc.co.uk/articles/20110415/train-going-to-hampden-on-sunday-_2212158_2339296

The club have just received the following information.

 

A special train will be leaving Aberdeen at 08.28 am on Sunday morning and will arrive at Mount Florida at 11:41am.

 

For more information visit www.scotrail.co.uk or www.nationalrail.co.uk

 

 

 

Train to Hampden

 

Leave 08:28 Aberdeen [ABD] to Mount Florida [MFL] 11:41 arrive - duration 3h 13m

 

Calling at :

 

Stonehaven @0844

 

Laurencekirk @0858

 

Montrose @0908

 

Arbroath @ 0923

 

Perth @ 1004

 

Cumbernauld @ 1053

 

Motherwell @ 1110

 

Arriving @ Mount Florida @ 1140

[BobbyBiscuit]

 

Whole load of picks: http://www.afc.co.uk/articles/20110414/aberdeen-v-celtic_2212158_2338733

 

Yaaas!! McKimmie and his Gola Specials!

[Kowalski]

Fuck me that picture of big Brian Irvine greetin' puts a lump in my throat, that's what it's all about.

 

He's just heard BB from the stand shouting "Yer pish Irvine!" 

[BobbyBiscuit]

He's just heard BB from the stand shouting "Yer pish Irvine!" 

 

Not at all... I was on the terracing that day... 

[CtS]

I was right behind the goals the penalties were taken at, a happy ending to a largely forgettable encounter. 

 

Anton Rogan, lol.

[Kowalski]

Not at all... I was on the terracing that day... 

 

[BobbyBiscuit]

I was right behind the goals the penalties were taken at, a happy ending to a largely forgettable encounter. 

 

Anton Rogan, lol.

 

Likewise. I will never, ever forget the bounce when Theo saved Rogan's penalty and then when Irvine scored.

 

Celtic probably had most of the ball but we had the best chances - Nicholas had one cleared off the line early on and Gillhaus had a header into the side netting and that was it really. Grant saved us though in the last minute, ran the length of park near enough to stop Joe Miller scoring after he skinned McLeish.