The first victory is an obvious one - Aberdeen defeated Man Utd 2-1 thanks to goals from Johnny Hayes and Joe Shaughnessy, but as is the way in these testimonials the result was of little importance. However, you can read the match review here on RedWeb.
The second victory belongs to Neil Simpson - a bona fide Aberdeen FC legend who finally received the recognition that the Dons support have been crying out to bestow upon him for decades.
Which brings us on to the third victory, and that one is the fans'. Last night was the culmination of years of pressure put on the club that was reignited by a post on this very website by aurora_borealis last October, proving that fans do indeed have the power to influence clubs.
And finally this is a victory for Aberdeen FC, who by listening to the wishes of their supporters and acting upon them have given a huge middle finger to the Glasgow-based mainstream media and a certain now non-existent club who have used intimidation, propaganda and deception in an attempt to stop us from celebrating a decorated Aberdeen hero.
That's enough of my soapboxing - here is a selection of quotes, photos, and video from Dons fans relating not only to last night's unforgettable occasion but to what Simmie means to the supporters. Enjoy.
Every Don will have a treasured memory of Neil Simpson I'm sure and like them I have several, but one sticks in my mind from a very long time ago.
It was in the late 70s (can't recall the exact year) and I was a kid under 10. I was on holiday in Aberdeen with my parents, my grandparents (mother's side) and my uncle. My dad spent most of his life in Aberdeen as his mother and relations were all from or in the city and until my brother and me were teenagers we thought EVERYONE went on holiday to Aberdeen as that's where we always went.
Anyhow my father took me, my uncle and grandfather to Pittodrie to ask if we could have a tour. We were amazed when we were told yes, and two young players who were on S forms at the time were asked to show us round. Yes you guessed it, Neil Simpson was one and the other I think was Steve Morrison?
The gave us the full tour and Simmie took us into the games room where a giant of a guy, Bobby Clark, was being interviewed. I remember Bobby saying to this reporter: "Just wait, fans are here - they come first," whilst coming over and greeting us.
But the best part I remember is when Simmie caught sight of me tugging at my dad's jacket saying, "look look dad, see who's just came in!". Simmie said to me, "is that your hero?", I said, "oh yes", so he looked up and said, "Joe, come over here and meet your fan!", and he did exactly that. Joe Harper rubbed my head and gave me his autograph which I still have to this day.
Simmie walked us back to the main entrance, shook my family by the hand and was and still is a perfect gent! As they say, nice one Simmie. You're one of my heroes for that day alone!
- aurora_borealis
I witnessed Simmy playing in an 'old Enemy' clash when he was up against what must have been one of the best midfielders in the world - Bryan Robson - who didn't get a kick all game.
- SMsW
Leaving the pub just before kick off 1995 Hampden. My pal and I were late as usual and as we were approaching the stairs to get into our turnstile we saw 2 gents dressed in obvious corporate gear. As we got a closer look one of them was The very man himself. The two of us dropped to our knees and began shouting: "Simmie, Simmie, Simmie...", and wafting our arms towards him. He started to giggle and the dude he was with was like what the fok is going on here.
A thumbs up from Neil and off we went, not another soul about as kick off was quickly approaching.
I've always been extremely proud of the way Aberdeen fans have held Simmie in such high esteem, loved, worshipped, protected and now finally recognised as a proper legend.
- aldo1903
Simmie was in the first batch of kids that I saw coming through back in 1980. The one thing that you could say about Neil was that he would give you a MINIMUM 7/10 in every game.
I've mentioned it before,but it's worth saying again,in the 3 most important games EVER played at Pittodrie,Simmie scored in them all.
Neil is rightly down in history as one of the most important players ever to pull on a Dons shirt,his haul of winners medals prove that.
If I had to pick out one memory,it wouldn't be Simmie the Aberdeen player though. He had signed for Motherwell,and on his first game for them back at Pittodrie,I made the effort to get my arse out of the bar early to come down and shake his hand as he got off the team bus. It seemed that I wasn't the only Dons fan who had the same idea,and as the Motherwell players entered the ground,Simmie stood outside the main entrance shaking hands and signing autographs with the crowd that had gathered.
A colossus in the midfield for the Dons,and absolutely deserving of tonights match.
Any player who played in Gothenburg on that night in 1983 is deserving of the freedom of the city if you ask me...Simmie of course was one of those select few.
Well deserved Neil,enjoy your night,and thanks for the memories,and thanks for the help in getting the two stars.
- CalumGilhooly
Scottish Cup Semi Final replay 1982, St Mirren, pissin rain, Simmie fired a low shot that went under Billy Thomson and that sent us on our way not only to the Cup, but the ECWC in 1983.
- SneldersSaves
I'm fortunate enough to be old enough to have seen him play - the description 'would run through a brick wall' will never suit a player better, however my abiding memory is from the Irish Pub in Berlin in October 2002.
We'd flown in late to Berlin on the Monday night, ditched our stuff at the hotel and headed out into the city. We were hoping to sample some proper German bier halls so to be told that the majority of the Dons support was in an Irish pub was a bit of a let down, but we thought we'd pop our heads in and sample the atmosphere at least.
We heard the place well before we saw it (it was in the basement of a shopping centre) - rammed with already well-lubricated reds. Monday night was obviously karaoke night, and they didn't want to let the invasion of a few thousand Scotsman stop this tradition so this was all going on the background. Then a commotion by the front door, Dons royalty had walked in, Simmie himself. Photos were taken with the great man and I'd be very surprised if he'd had to put his hand in his pocket all night.
Then came the highlight. Somebody had obviously had the foresight to take a CD of Dons songs with them. 'The European Song' was cued up on the karaoke and Simmie, shirt lost to the crowd some time earlier, took the stage. Bedlam ensued.
Hours later we took our leave of the bar to find our way back to our hotel (via a few other distractions) and on the way out we walk past Simmie tending to a very tired and emotional young lad for whom the occasion (and the vast quantity of German beer) had been too much - couldn't possibly be anybody on here could it Leon_Mike?
- eesh
Too many Simmie memories to remember. This guy was simply a great player for us. Drive, determination, skill and the ability to score goals. Him and Neale Cooper in the middle of the park together were awesome.
Best memory is him, on one of our famous nights steaming in right over Klaus Augenthaler to score against Bayern. Ten year old and still remember it like it was yesterday.
Met him at a few of our Player of the Year dos and a very humble guy who always had time for i fans whether it be for a photo or an autograph. Never achieved as much International Caps as he should have in my mind, but still one of my favourite Dons all-time players.
- MerklandMan
310 Appearances for Aberdeen FC
31 Goals for Aberdeen FC
Premier League x 2
Scottish Cup x 3
Scottish League Cup x 1
European Cup Winners Cup x 1
Super Cup x 1
That's a medal every 38.75 games...
- 2stars83
Have never had the pleasure of meeting the man, the goals against Bayern and Waterschei are typical of what he could do for the side. Other than that, love listening to him on the Pittodrie's Greatest Nights and Gotherburg Greats DVDs as he just sounds like one of us would do!
- Hewitt_Scores
My second favourite memory was that night (more of which in a mo). My FAVOURITE was the Waterschei game. His absolute, utter and total determination that night, his domination, his forceful hunger were one of the main reasons we won. That and his tremendous goal, as soon as that went in I was sure we were off to the final! Fucking yaaaas!
Now, to the 2nd favourite: I went to the Hertha game. I'd got in to Berlin a wee while after my pal. I phoned him from our hotel to ask where he was. As with eesh I was pretty hacked that we were gathering in an Irish Bar, but that was where I set off to.
Berlin seemed quiet (the street lights in Germany always seem duller than here) and I was trotting on myself, following the directions I'd been given. As I walked along I began to hear some indistinct singing. As I got closer to where I thought I should be going, it got louder, and louder. Soon I spied 3 folks standing on a bench, singing Aberdeen songs as loud as you like, on their own. I walked towards them and it suddenly dawned on me that one of them was Simmy FFS! Simmy, singing Dons' songs in Berlin. Yaaas.
Of course, I HAD to say hello and, after a sec was asked, where I was going, I answered 'The Irish Bar', to be told 'that's where we're going, but we canna find it, do you ken far it is'. I said I thought so, so off we set.
Next thing, I'm walking down a street in Berlin with a somewhat 'bubbly' Simmy, his arm round my shoulder, singing away as loud as you like. Simmy! The guy I'd watched, in the flesh, helping destroy some of Europe's best teams? Who'd helped Aberdeen dominate Scottish fitba! THAT Simmy. Yaaas!
Luckily we found the bar, which weirdly was downstairs in a shopping centre, think going through a deserted Trinity Centre and down an escalator whilst the noise from the bar got louder and louder. We walked towards the bar and swung open the Western Bar style doors and I swear, there was a silence for about 1-2 seconds as the presence of a hero registered on the stunned, drunken mass inside the bar. Then, mayhem ensued, utter bedlam. Simmy got passed over folks heads, lost his shirt, sang, drank, sang and generally acted like every other member of the Red Army, except, he's a fucking hero too! Yaas!
- pwlp
In another thread I gave an impression or overview of what it was like for a loon fae Newmachar to have Neil to look up to and I was a wee bit embarassed when young master Simpson said he'd send it on but to not tell the story is to damn someone with faint praise so here is my favourite Neil Simpson memory and it doesn't involve a goal against either the Germans or Belgians.
When I was 7 I made my debut for my school football team (pretty much the highlight of my life at that point). On the way home the car I was travelling in was involved in an accident. Myself and 2 other players were injured, fortunately for me I suffered the least of the injuries - just a cut head that required a few stitches and was out of hospital on the Monday.
On the Thursday afternoon, still off school obviously, and at home and feeling a bit down and well you know what it's like, there is a knock on the door. It's Neil Simpson. He'd came by to see how I was and to give me a get well soon card.
Not just any card. Neil had been on Under-21 duty in East Germany, my card was signed by everyone, and Dons players too that hadn't been on the trip. You can't imagine what that was like for me and he sat in my house and talked to me about football and made me feel a million
times better.
That card is still in my parents house and I'll always have it.
By the time he came to my house, he'd already been to the hospital to visit the other two boys, who were in much worse conditions than me.
So that's my favourite Neil Simpson memory.
The fact I can remember it like it was yesterday... at least my head isn't wrapped in bandages.
So young master Simpson in case you haven't realised from all the affection around these parts and the filled stadium tonight, your old fella is one of the good guys (but I'm sure you know that already).
- 05car