Latest news with #AlfieDorrington
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Doohan set for Celtic return & Spurs stars cheer on Dorrington
Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan has agreed a pre-contract agreement to return to former club Celtic this summer. (Press & Journal), externalOn-loan Aberdeen defender Alfie Dorrington has revealed that several of his Tottenham Hotspur teammates tuned in to watch the Dons' Scottish Cup triumph. (Daily Record), external
North Wales Chronicle
26-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Liam Scales: Celtic to return stronger next term after domestic treble bid fails
It looked like the Hoops would go on to complete a sixth clean sweep in nine years when they took the lead at Hampden Park on Saturday in the 39th minute through an Alfie Dorrington own goal. However, that advantage was cancelled out in the 83rd minute by a blunder from Hoops keeper Kasper Schmeichel, and the Pittodrie side went on to win on penalties with keeper Dimitar Mitov saving from Celtic skipper Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston to take the cup back to the Granite City for the first time in 35 years. Defender Scales reflected on a league and League Cup double and a Champions League campaign which saw Celtic reach the knockout stages of the reformatted competition before being knocked out by German giants Bayern Munich and looked forward to next season. The 26-year-old said: 'We didn't hit the heights we wanted to and then the longer it went on, it could have gone either way and that's what happened with the penalties. Defeat at Hampden.#CELABE | #ScottishCup | #CelticFC🍀 — Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) May 24, 2025 'But credit to Aberdeen, congratulations to them but we'll be back stronger next season. 'We probably didn't create as much as we wanted to, but we still had enough to win the game, but we didn't take our chances. 'Both goals were a bit scrappy with a bit of luck. 'It is disappointing but we know now what we have to do next year. It's not nice to see them lifting the cup. 'We are full of hunger and drive but when something like that happens it sort of kicks you up the backside and so I am looking forward to getting in next season and going again. 'I think everyone needs a rest and just recover over the summer. The winning moment. #ScottishCup | @AberdeenFC — Scottish Gas Scottish Cup (@ScottishCup) May 24, 2025 'The next few days will probably be tough, but we had a good season overall. 'We came so close to winning the treble, a penalty shoot-out. 'Our league campaign was brilliant, our Champions League campaign was brilliant and we won the League Cup so there is a lot of positives to take. 'We dominated in the league, we showed in the Champions League more so than in previous years, we improved a lot so we are going in the right direction. 'It is tough because the last game of the season ends on a sour note but we will have a few days to sort of feel sorry for ourselves, enjoy our summer then get back in for next season.' It was an emotional afternoon for McGregor, who stepped up to take Celtic's first penalty and saw it saved by Mitov. The midfielder, who has won 24 major honours with Celtic, was in tears at the end and Scales believes that was a sign of the hunger and winning mentality of the former Scotland player, who described his penalty as 'the worst moment I have ever had in football'. The Republic of Ireland international said: 'He leads by example and he puts his heart on the line every week. 'He plays every game like it's his last and he was obviously disappointed he missed the penalty but we wouldn't put any blame on him at all. 'He was brave enough to step up and take the first one. 'He's a top player and it happens to everyone, it's football and he'll bounce back. 'That's just the way he is, he is non-stop, he just wants to win all the time and the reaction you've seen, that's why, he's just top class.'
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
'At the end of the day, it came down to who wanted it more,' says emotional Dons hero Alfie Dorrington
As the Aberdeen team bus began the hour-long trip back north after a defeat at Tannadice on the final weekend of the Premiership season, there were many who wondered if there was much point in it doing the journey in reverse a week later en route to the Scottish Cup final. That loss was the fourth Jimmy Thelin's side had suffered on the spin, their woeful run after the split seeing them tumble down the league table to finish in fifth place. They'd shipped 12 goals in the process, scoring just twice. With Celtic accounting for five of those in the recent midweek game at Pittodrie, the aggregate score across five games to date with the Parkhead men this season stood at 19-4. Constructing an argument for Thelin's side somehow pulling a rabbit out the hat was an arduous task, to say the least. Truth be told, it wasn't just pundits, ex-players and luminaries phoning radio call-ins who had Celtic as nailed-on favourites at Hampden. Most of the vast Dons support which travelled to Glasgow did so more in hope than expectation. None of this noise was lost on Thelin's players. They might well have been tempted to put fingers in their ears to avoid it all in case it further eroded their confidence. Instead, they listened intently and soaked it all in. It was fuel for the fire. 'There's always a chance in a game of football,' said defender Alfie Dorrington. 'They're Celtic. We had to respect them, but I don't think we ever feared them. 'Maybe the people not giving us a chance gave us a bit more motivation to win and prove them wrong.' When Dorrington inadvertently knocked the ball beyond Dimitar Mitov late in the first half, any slim hope Aberdeen had of causing an upset seemed to go up in smoke. By common consent, Thelin's side could only win the match if they scored first. You sensed there was a real danger that the floodgates could open. It had happened before. Yet, despite playing with a back-five for the first time in living memory, this time, the Dons didn't go to pieces. They held their shape, kept their nerve, stayed in the game and awaited their moment. 'I was marking my man and looking at him,' Dorrington recalled of his own goal. 'At the last minute, I think it took the nick off someone, I can't really remember. 'But I thought we were comfortable even though we were one-nil down. They dominated the ball and got a lot of crosses in. It may have seemed a bit hectic, but we felt comfortable all the time and trusted what the gaffer said.' Although Celtic were poor, they were still a constant threat. Had Arne Engels' strike gone in rather than hit the post, it would surely have been game over. You had to hand it to Thelin's players, though. Playing a system that they'd only worked on for the first time last week, they earned their breaks and refused to roll over. 'You can think of systems and formations and tactics,' offered Dorrington. 'But I think it's just who wants it more, to be honest. 'Some of the boys were putting their bodies on the line, cramping and still playing on. It just shows how much it meant to us.' Dorrington could only put his mind over matter for so long. When he finally succumbed with 11 minutes of normal time remaining, the enormity of what was at stake suddenly hit him. 'When you're in the game, obviously you feel it, but you don't really recognise how big of an occasion it is,' he said. 'Maybe being from down south, it took me a while to realise that this is the Scottish version of the FA Cup. It's probably the same in size. How many people there were on Saturday — 50,000? 'When I came off, looking around, I'm thinking, wow, I played in this. I'm just grateful for the opportunity.' A slow burner of a game eventually became captivating. Mitov prevented Daizen Maeda winning it for Celtic in 90 minutes. Dante Polvara and Jeffrey Schlupp came within inches of doing likewise in extra time. Thelin will be eternally grateful that Mitov still had two acts of heroism to come. First, he denied Callum McGregor from 12 yards then he dived to his right to thwart Alistair Johnston and win the cup. Dorrington's loan move from Tottenham meant he wasn't part of the Europa League victory parade in North London. He might just live with that. 'I know it's been a long time since we've won this competition and hopefully we've given back to the fans and the city,' said the defender. 'Obviously, I watched the Tottenham one the other day. A few of my mates were there, they said it was crazy. 'They've kept in touch the whole time. Especially on Friday night and before the game, they were just messaging me good luck. I think some of them watched the game. 'It's just nice to know that I have the support from Tottenham and nice to know that I have the support from Aberdeen as well. 'It would have been nice to experience that bus parade, but the Aberdeen one was just crazy too. It more than made up for it. There were so many people there — it was packed.' He is unsure whether the final was his last game in a red shirt. If that's the way it transpires, it will be a memory to treasure all his days. And you suspect the many doubters won't forget it in a hurry either. 'Obviously, I knew this was the last game of my loan. I tried to go out with a bang,' said Dorrington. At just 20, and with a further four years to run on his contract, Tottenham may see the value in him continuing his footballing development at Aberdeen. 'There was a lot of emotions in the game, but you have to stay emotionless. You've got a job to do. When you do your job, it gives you a chance. One per cent is still a chance. Anything can happen in the game of football. 'Obviously, I love the city, I love the club, the staff, the players. I love Tottenham as well. They're kind of in charge of what I do.
Rhyl Journal
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Liam Scales: Celtic to return stronger next term after domestic treble bid fails
It looked like the Hoops would go on to complete a sixth clean sweep in nine years when they took the lead at Hampden Park on Saturday in the 39th minute through an Alfie Dorrington own goal. However, that advantage was cancelled out in the 83rd minute by a blunder from Hoops keeper Kasper Schmeichel, and the Pittodrie side went on to win on penalties with keeper Dimitar Mitov saving from Celtic skipper Callum McGregor and Alistair Johnston to take the cup back to the Granite City for the first time in 35 years. Defender Scales reflected on a league and League Cup double and a Champions League campaign which saw Celtic reach the knockout stages of the reformatted competition before being knocked out by German giants Bayern Munich and looked forward to next season. The 26-year-old said: 'We didn't hit the heights we wanted to and then the longer it went on, it could have gone either way and that's what happened with the penalties. Defeat at Hampden.#CELABE | #ScottishCup | #CelticFC🍀 — Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) May 24, 2025 'But credit to Aberdeen, congratulations to them but we'll be back stronger next season. 'We probably didn't create as much as we wanted to, but we still had enough to win the game, but we didn't take our chances. 'Both goals were a bit scrappy with a bit of luck. 'It is disappointing but we know now what we have to do next year. It's not nice to see them lifting the cup. 'We are full of hunger and drive but when something like that happens it sort of kicks you up the backside and so I am looking forward to getting in next season and going again. 'I think everyone needs a rest and just recover over the summer. The winning moment. #ScottishCup | @AberdeenFC — Scottish Gas Scottish Cup (@ScottishCup) May 24, 2025 'The next few days will probably be tough, but we had a good season overall. 'We came so close to winning the treble, a penalty shoot-out. 'Our league campaign was brilliant, our Champions League campaign was brilliant and we won the League Cup so there is a lot of positives to take. 'We dominated in the league, we showed in the Champions League more so than in previous years, we improved a lot so we are going in the right direction. 'It is tough because the last game of the season ends on a sour note but we will have a few days to sort of feel sorry for ourselves, enjoy our summer then get back in for next season.' It was an emotional afternoon for McGregor, who stepped up to take Celtic's first penalty and saw it saved by Mitov. The midfielder, who has won 24 major honours with Celtic, was in tears at the end and Scales believes that was a sign of the hunger and winning mentality of the former Scotland player, who described his penalty as 'the worst moment I have ever had in football'. The Republic of Ireland international said: 'He leads by example and he puts his heart on the line every week. 'He plays every game like it's his last and he was obviously disappointed he missed the penalty but we wouldn't put any blame on him at all. 'He was brave enough to step up and take the first one. 'He's a top player and it happens to everyone, it's football and he'll bounce back. 'That's just the way he is, he is non-stop, he just wants to win all the time and the reaction you've seen, that's why, he's just top class.'
Scottish Sun
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Aberdeen parade Scottish Cup through the city on open top bus as tens of thousands of fans line the streets to party
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ABERDEEN'S returning Scottish Cup heroes have paraded the trophy through the city to thousands of buzzing fans. The Dons ended a 35-year wait to lift the iconic trophy after beating Celtic at Hampden. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 4 The Aberdeen stars made their way through Union Street 4 Thousands of fans were out to see their heroes 4 Fans packed the streets of the city Credit: Newsline 4 The fans were keen to celebrate the Dons' first Scottish Cup in 35 years Credit: PA It was a tense affair at the national stadium, with the Dons falling a goal behind after an Alfie Dorrington own goal. But a huge blunder from Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel gifted Aberdeen a leveller and sent the final to extra time. It remained 1-1 through the extra 30 minutes and it went to penalties. Dons keeper Dimitar Mitov was the hero, saving the Hoops' first kick from captain Callum McGregor. With Aberdeen perfect from the spot, Mitov's second save from Alistair Johnston proved decisive and the Dons etched their name into history. There were wild celebrations from players and fans alike and an almighty roar when skipper Graeme Shinnie lifted the trophy - the first Aberdeen captain to get his hands on it since 1990. The celebrations aren't likely to end any time soon and the triumphant heroes returned to the Granite City for an almighty party! On what would otherwise have been a quiet Sunday afternoon, thousands upon thousands of Aberdeen fans lined the streets at the heart of the city. That's because the team boarded an open top bus to celebrate their success in stunning style. There were huge roars as boss Jimmy Thelin showed-off the Scottish Cup as he made his way onto the bright red bus, emblazoned with "winners" emblazoned in big white letters on all side. Aberdeen fans react to historic Scottish Cup win The players looked to be absolutely loving it as they were met with huge cheers and chants throughout the city. The victorious Dons stars made their way down a packed Union Street before the bus came to a stop at the city's Town House where the squad went inside for a civic reception with Lord Provost David Cameron. Speaking ahead of the celebrations, the Lord Provost said: "On behalf of the city of Aberdeen, I offer my warmest congratulations to Aberdeen Football Club on their Scottish Cup Final triumph against Celtic. 'This is a fantastic achievement not only for the football club but for our entire city and it was great to see thousands of Aberdeen fans descend on Hampden Park to support the team and witness their winning performance, a day which I'm sure will live long in the memory of Dons fans." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
