GOTHENBURG, 1983: the time and the place, like the memories they evoke,
are etched on the consciousness of a city, written through its recent
history as though they were the message on a stick of granite rock.
Aberdeen, a band of upstarts from the north-east of Scotland, had come,
seen and conquered no lesser a name than the incomparable Real Madrid in
the final of the European Cup-Winners' Cup. Had anyone been fool enough
to sleep through the drama, they wouldn't dare to have dreamt it.

The surviving images, resistant to the rub of time, are an indelible
tribute to what was a momentous triumph. John Hewitt's extra-time
winner, Alex Ferguson's stumble and fall as the coaching staff burst
from the dugout, and Willie Miller's pose with the cup, an emperor
before his people. All have run through the years like the ink from a
tear-stained postcard.

They won't forget that night in Sweden, when the Gods smiled down on
13,000 Aberdonians, and grown men cried in the rain. Not this week the
24th anniversary of an achievement they will never repeat. While details
are blurred by the years, the most memorable moments have new
definition.

The world has changed since May 11, 1983, when 12 home-grown players and
a shipyard worker's son from Govan had the audacity to mess with the
cognoscenti. Aberdeen are a shadow of their former selves, the
Cup-Winners' Cup is defunct and Ferguson has long since departed the
Scottish scene, knighted for his services to football, a behemoth to
rank alongside the legends of Busby, Shankly and Stein.

Leighton, Rougvie, McMaster, Cooper, McLeish, Miller, Strachan, Simpson,
McGhee, Black, Weir and Hewitt. Their contact may be limited now, but in
those days they were friends, their relationship strengthened by a
shared adventure. Their other victims in 1983 were Sion, Dinamo Tirane,
Lech Poznan, Bayern Munich and Waterschei.

The team left no-one in any doubt as to the extent of their abilities.
In a thrilling demonstration of guts and guile, they set about their
opponents from the start, Eric Black striking the bar with a portentous
volley in the opening exchanges before putting Aberdeen ahead in the
18th minute.

Although Juanito equalised from the spot 10 minutes later, Alex
McLeish's short passback having forced Jim Leighton into a foul, the
advancement of Peter Weir into a more dangerous position subjected Real
to an uneasy second half. Their survival into extra time was merely
delaying the inevitable.

Substitute John Hewitt's header, a bent-kneed collapse at the ball, was
followed by the most helpless of celebrations, drenched as he was by
rain, sweat and tears. When Real were awarded a free-kick in injury
time, reserve goalkeeper Bryan Gunn, sitting next to Ferguson in the
dugout, sunk to his knees and said: "Dear God, please let them miss it."
Which, of course, they did.

After the unthinkable euphoria of the final whistle, the trophy
presentation and the parade of honour, the players retired to the
dressing-room. While the team were living it up in one section of the
changing area, there was another room for the staff, where Ferguson was
joined by backroom colleagues and club directors, including chairman
Dick Donald.

"I will always remember what it was like. When Dick came down, it was
almost eerie, everything was so quiet. He was crying. He hugged me, and
he was not the type of person to be demonstrative like that. He was the
old school. He would usually just come up to me and say, 'well done Mr Ferguson,
your Boys were good'. But he loved that club. That night ... it was his
greatest moment."

There are those who insist that the quarter-final defeat of Bayern
Munich was a greater achievement. After a scoreless first leg in
Germany, Aberdeen found themselves 2-1 down with half an hour left.
Ferguson controversially replaced Neil Simpson with Hewitt and Stuart
Kennedy with John McMaster, a gamble that turned out to be a
master

Look at your Bebo Friends and then take the names of the first 12, and answer the questions about them!

1. ! Tina
2. ! Face
3. ! Stu
4. ! Adamski
5. ! Jamie
6. ! Dog
7. Lauren
8. Donald
9. Sweeney
10. Fiona
11. Scott
12. Amy

Now answer these questions:

Q: Have you ever kissed 7?
A: Only in a siblingly way!

Q: What's the best memory you have of 9?
A: " I don't like comprende pas"

Q: When's the next time you're gonna see number 4?
A: That's a good (goos) question - probably randomly in the street at some point

Q: Is number 8 pretty?
A: I think I'd still say no even if I was a woman!

Q: What was your first impression of number 10?
A: It was a long time ago so I really can't remember.

Q: How did you meet 3?
A: As Stu, probably at Flaws's football in the vic, as ! Stu it would've been drunkenly after the pubs one night.

Q: Is 11 your best friend?
A: He's my best goalkeeper who lives in Glasgow friend if that counts?

Q: Have you seen 5 in the last month?
A: Yes

Q: Do you think 2 has a crush on you?
A: I sincerely hope not.

Q: When was the last time you saw 12?
A: She was staggering across the esplanade on Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Q: Have you ever been to 1's house?
A: Yes I have. Never when I've been sober tho.

Q: When's the next time you'll see 10?
A: Who knows?!

Q: Are you really close to 3?
A: Stewarton is a long way from Kilkenzie.

Q: Have you ever been to the movies with 4?
A: No, I have not.

Q: Have you ever gotten in trouble with 2?
A: I would imagine so. Not as much trouble as 2 can get into all by himself tho

Q: Would you ever go out with number 7?
A: She's still my sister!!!!

Q: What do you and number 3 talk about the most?
A: ! Face and how bad Chelsea are.

Q: Do you even know 9?
A: Yes. I know him well, even better after his drunken spilling the beans on Saturday night.

Q: Would you give number 6 a hug?
A: I like dogs, so yes.

Q: Are you in love with number 12?
A: This may come as a surprise to her, but no.

Q: Do you know a secret about number 8?
A: I think so.

Q: Describe the relationship between number 9 and number 5.
A: Drummer and fan worship maybe?

Q: What is the best thing about your friendship with number 10?
A: The Berta taxi service at her beck and call

Q: Have you ever danced with number 4?
A: Maybe at the Complete Stone Roses, but I can't really remember.

Q: How long have you known number 12?
A: Quite a while now.

Q: Have you ever been in a fight with number 1?
A: Nope. She's too wee to fight with.

Q: Would 2 and 4 make a good couple?
A: Naaa.

Q: Have you ever wanted to punch number 2 in the face?
A: Yes.

Q: Has number 1 ever met your mother?
A: I don't think so.

Q. How did you meet number 6?
A: I don't believe I've ever had the pleasure.

Q: What would happen if you put 10 and 11 in a room together?
A: I have no idea. Scott is worth keeping an eye on tho.

Q: Did you ever accidentally physically hurt number 5?
A: Nope.

Q: What is the best memory you have with number 1?
A: That's a tough question. I'm normally drunk so don't really remember all that much!

Q: Do you live close to 7?
A: When she's at home I live underneath her. When she's away no, it's not close.

Q: What is number 2's favourite food?
A: GIMME PIE. Or old chicken and mushroom slices.

Q: Out of your top 12, which one would you say is the funniest?
A: To laugh at, probably ! Face. To laugh with, maybe Amy.

Q: Who is the most flirtatious?
A: Sweeney. You should see him in action.

Q: If you could change one thing about number 3, what would it be?
A: Get him to support a real team.

Q: Say something nice about number 11.
A: He did a great job of hurdling his granny's fence that time.

Q: Which one lives the farthest.
A: Fiona or Lauren.

Q: The quietest?
A: Jamie?

Q: What kind of car does number 12 have?
A: She has no car.

Q: Have you traveled anywhere wit

1) 10p Mr Frosty Ice Pops on long summer days!
2) Gordon the Gopher!
3) You could do or tried to do the Prodigy step.'You're no good 4 me....'
4) You owned or longed for an Adidas three stripe tracksuit
5) You owned a compilation tape with TOP TUNES such as "Mr
Vain", What is love" and "Rhythm is a dancer" and 'How Bizarre,HowBizarre"
6) Girls thought Blue Mascara was cool!
7) Girls actually fancied Garry Barlow more than Robbie Williams
8 ) The Racoons! (nuff said)
9) You owned a pair of Nike Air Max, and wore them to death
10) Mr Motivator (What ever happened to him?)
11) Running on the spot dancing!
13) You owned a Bennetton, NafNaf, sweater shop jumper or
waistcoat
14) Girls owned scrunchies in an array of colours and tacky headbands with their names written on in thick glitter
15) You bought Smash Hits for the song lyrics and the immense amount of stickers that you would stick everywhere!
16) You had a pen pal
17) You could only watch the Simpson's on sky
18 ) On a Saturday afternoon you watched Catchphrase,Gladiators,Generation Game, Noels House Party and then Casualty
19) You taped the Pepsi Chartshow on radio one and tired invain to pause the tape before the annoying guy talked and ruined the whole thing.
20) Cans of Coke were 25p
21) 10p Space Raiders Crisps
22) A grey Fruit of the Loom jumper was a must have
23) Sharkie & George were the crimebusters of the sea
24) Puffa jackets
25) You used the line "it's a free country" everyday
26) The Sky Sports Blimp!
27) Impulse body spray for girls
28 ) Hooch Alcoholic Lemonade (where's it gone?!)
29) 'Don't forget your toothbrush', 'TFI' and Big Breakfast with Chris Evans
30) You had at least one troll
31) You know the dance to Macarena and Saturday Night.
You also tried to scat like Scatman John! Bi bat ba ba bo...
32) You watched Baywatch and longed for the day that Eddie
Sharni got together!
33) You watched Byker Grove 'ha ha ha whatcha laughin at!'the Theme song ending), and saw PJ get shot in the eye with a paintball!
34) PJ and Duncan not Ant and Dec! Dodgy Pop Not Dodgy Presenting!
35) Shellsuits & bumbags!
36) You longed to live in Beverley Hills 90210
37) Home and Away was a prime time ITV programe watched by millions
3 You owned a Spice Girls album
39) Fruit salads and black jacks!
40) Strike it lucky on a sunday night with Michael Barrymore When he was straight & married
41) Chain letters
42) You had fake ID
43) You remember Todd Landers in Neighbours
44) You religiously watched Saved by the Bell on a Saturday morning!
45) You more than likely lost/nearly lost a wobbly tooth on
a wham bar!!
46) CK one (probably the fake one from the market)
47) Going Live, then Live and Kicking was the place to be
On a Saturday Morning - you know you remember the number 0181 811 8181
48 ) You knew every word to the theme tune from Fresh prince of Bel Air
49) You collected Premier League Stickers and did swops at playtime
50) Girls wore crappy lipstick such as - coffee shimmer, Heather shimmer and birthday suit!
51) You wore kickers and wallaby's with the tags hanging from
them
52) You thought saying - "I know you are, you said you are but what am I" to every cuss that that came your way!
54) when you used to run away from some thing and shout 'leg iiiiiitt'
55) Every Girl had a perm