Welcome to legends club, lads

WITH his place in Aberdeen immortality secure for over four decades, John McMaster knows exactly what it means for a new group of heroes to stride into Pittodrie folklore.

- By Fraser Wilson

Emotion overcame him as he stood with fellow Gothenburg Great Neil Simpson at Hampden to witness Jimmy Thelin and his players beat Celtic to win the Scottish Cup and join them as Dons legends.

McMaster, a key man in the side that beat Real Madrid in the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup final, says the current side's success has lifted an entire city.

The dust may be settling after a week of partying that followed the dramatic penalty shoot-out victory.

But the 70-year-old, who spent most of his 15 years at Pittodrie playing under Sir Alex Ferguson, hopes there'll be no resting on laurels.

He knows the glory days of the 80s are locked away in the history books.

But he still feels there's an opportunity for growth.

McMaster said: "It's just remarkable the way the past week or so has turned out. A whole city's been lifted from doom and gloom.

"Union Street was chock-a-block for the first time in years for the bus parade and this team did that.

"It was one of the best days I can ever remember being on the other side, as a fan.