There’s a good history of our national stadium Hampden Park to be found over at Soccer Source.
I’ve been to Hampden on many occasions, watching either Aberdeen or Scotland, and have always found it to be a truly impressive stadium, but since the much-needed re-fit a few years ago, it’s lost a lot of its unique charm, not to mention capacity.
My first ever visit to Hampden was in 1986, when we beat Hearts 3-0. Alex Ferguson was still managing the Dons (in his last season before moving south to Manchester United), and we still had many of the players who won us leagues and European trophies in previous seasons: Hewitt, Weir, Miller, McLeish, Cooper and McMaster.
The Hearts team on the day, managed still by Alex McDonald featured a young Craig Levein, currently managing Dundee United, but tipped to be the next Scotland manager. Also in the squad where three more future managers of Hearts, Sandy Clarke, John Robertson and Sandy Jardine.
‘Supersub’ John Hewitt, making a starting appearance would open the scoring, eventually netting twice. A third from current Scotland U21 manager Billy Stark completed the 3-0 rout.
The last time I was there with Aberdeen was our last appearance at Hampden, May 2000, when goals from Van Bronckhorst, Vidmar, Dodds and Albertz saw Rangers lift the Cup.
The match was gash, as an Aberdeen fan; aside from losing heavily, we also lost keeper Jim Leighton after 3 minutes when he was injured in a challenge by Rod Wallace. Robbie Winters took over in goals, and the rest, as they say is history.
I always prefered the ’86 Hampden to the 2000 Hampden. The noise and the atmosphere where miles better, in my opinion. I also remember being very excited about finally seeing those deep, deep goals with the square posts they used to have there, and standing on those terraces, hanging on for dear life to a crush barrier after every goal for fear of being swept away in the crowd.