Latest news with #GraniteCity
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Benjamin Nygren delivers a Celtic masterclass as Aberdeen swept aside to continue perfect start
The Red Shed's pre-match Scottish Cup banner said There's a Light that Never Goes out. But it was another Smiths lyric that came to mind after the Dons failed to recreate their Hampden heroics against Celtic. Heaven knows I'm miserable now… READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers gives up on Celtic transfer gripe as Kris Boyd fires back Rangers truth bomb READ MORE: Aberdeen vs Celtic LIVE reaction as Nygren and Hatate send the Hoops top Hoops fans haven't exactly been a happy lot of late with growing frustration over summer signings. But a couple of moments of quality in the Granite City a day after Rangers' latest stumble put smiles on faces again. Benjamin Nygren slotted a smart opener inside half an hour to undo a decent Dons start and then Reo Hatate slammed a second half stunner in off the underside of the bar to make it two wins out of two for the champions. It was a frustrating day for Jimmy Thelin and his side. Aberdeen unsettled Celts with a high-paced start. But they lacked a real cutting edge in the final third and eventually Brendan Rodgers' men got to grips and provided a lesson in lethal finishing. But the Dons' cup shine is starting to wear off. Here are our five talking points from Pittodrie... Will to win It wasn't a vintage performance from Celtic by any stretch but if there's one thing this Hoops side knows what to do is win. Aberdeen shook them out of their comfort zone early on but they refused to panic and kept their patience. Make no mistake, this was a massive victory and it piles even more pressure on their old pals across the city. Celtic dug in and waited for the chance to pounce and once they did there only looked like one winner. There's been a lot made of what Celts don't have right now – and it's true, there are areas of the squad that need bolstered. They also still have quality all over the pitch but there isn't quite the fluency yet that was witnessed in the first half of last season. Rodgers wants new faces but the countdown is on to the Champions League play-off first leg just over a week away. Celtic are getting the job done right now but the manager will want to see more of a spark in the coming weeks as they'll need to be firing on all cylinders to be sure of getting back to the big time. KT back in the groove The Celtic hero loves playing at Pittodrie. He scored twice here in his first spell and was bang on it again here, with a brilliant assist for the opener. Tierney is still building his fitness but he's already looking top notch. There is more to come though – especially with his relationship with Daizen Maeda. The pair are linking up well but there are times when they both occupy the same spaces up the touchline. Tierney would move inside at times to allow Maeda to remain wide and on other occasions they'd switch it, and it gave Aberdeen problems. The player of the year was a bit quieter than usual but the more these two play together, the stronger the understanding will become. Will Arne be back? Nygren got the nod ahead of £11m man Arne Engels for the second game on the spin – and showed what he can bring to the Celtic side. Rodgers has not hid his desperate need for more goal threat in his squad and that's what Nygren brings, perhaps more than Engels. The Belgian has plenty of his own attributes but the new man does play in a more advanced role and is constantly looking to burst into the box - like he did for his goal. He teed up the second as well and after a low key display against St Mirren, this was much more like it and it now seems he's cemented his place as the main man for that midfield role. Engels will still have a huge part to play over a long season, but you don't spend record money for a guy to sit on the bench. The shop is ticking Rodgers may be fed up talking about signings but it's difficult to ignore the giant elephant in the room. Celtic are days away from having to register their squad for the Champions League play-off clash against Slovan Bratislava or Kairat – although they can add a couple up to 24 hours before kick-off – yet they are obviously lacking in several key areas. And the late rush has again highlighted some of the issues the club has when it comes to bringing in players. It's not even about quantity. Celtic have brought in 27 players since Rodgers returned to the club in 2023 but, after five transfer windows, only four of those recruits started at Pittodrie. Parkhead chiefs can – rightly – point to the cash in the bank and the success of sales. But there have been too many misses in the market in recent times and they have to get it right this time or it will eventually catch up with them. Dons need to get creative Thelin must have been tempted to roll out his Hampden formation again after his back five frustrated the life out of Celts in the Final. So the Dons boss reverting back to his preferred line up might have been a bit of a curveball for the Hoops. It was safety first back in May but this time Thelin was much more offensive. His side pressed Celtic all over the pitch, there was an intensity and a desire to cause damage down the flanks. The plan worked a treat – until the opening goal seemed to pull the rug out from under them. Aberdeen lost belief – and they simply couldn't find a cutting edge in the final third. Striker Kusini Yengi had another day to forget and he even managed to block an effort from his own teammate before being hooked. The Dons kept plugging away and once again Nicolas Milanovic and Adil Aouchiche showed promising signs, but there is a real need for creativity or it'll be a slog this season.
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Celtic v Aberdeen live on Celtic TV
Celtic return to action this weekend with a trip to the Granite City, and with a Celtic TV subscription, you'll get unrivalled access to all the build-up, action and analysis from Aberdeen v Celtic at Pittodrie – as well as every other big game this season. Celtic TV goes on air from 12:15pm, with Gerry McCulloch and Simon Donnelly on commentary duty at Pittodrie. Ahead of kick-off, we'll bring you extended highlights from last weekend's 1-0 Flag Day victory over St Mirren at Paradise, and Brendan Rodgers will join Matthew Campbell pitchside to share his thoughts on the starting line-up and approach to the match. And for those who can't tune in live, subscribers can watch the full 90 minutes of every domestic game later that same day – a feature available throughout the season. August is a busy month for the Champions, and you can be there for every moment. That includes two massive away league fixtures against Aberdeen and Rangers, a League Cup clash with Falkirk, and a crucial home and away tie in the UEFA Champions League Play-off Round. It's a month that could shape the early narrative of the season – and Celtic TV is the only place to follow it all. SUBSCRIBE TO CELTIC TV EXCELLENT VALUE SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS Overseas subscribers can watch all SPFL League Championship, League Cup and Scottish Cup matches LIVE home AND away meaning you can keep up with the Bhoys' every move. With prices starting from just £14.99 per month or £149.99 per year it's a must for any international Celtic fan who can't make it to Celtic Park. Supporters in the UK & Ireland will receive live audio coverage of competitive match, and you can then watch the full 90 minutes of action later that same day. EVEN MORE CONTENT ON CELTIC TV As well as live football, a Celtic TV subscription gets you access to a whole host of on-demand content: Lennoxtown Unfiltered gives you behind-the-scenes access to training at the Celtic FC Training Centre. Inside Lennoxtown, launching later this month, lifts the lid on what goes into building a Championship-winning football operation – from the dressing room to the analysis suite. If You Know Your History takes you on a nostalgic journey through some of the club's most iconic moments, featuring rare archive footage and legendary names. The games, the access, the characters. They're all on Celtic TV. SUBSCRIBE NOW Fixtures Aberdeen Vs. Celtic - Sun, Aug 10th 2025, 12:30
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Tall Ships Aberdeen: 'Party city' event gets under sail
The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen - labelled the biggest tourist event in Scotland this year - gets fully under sail on of thousands of people are expected to attend, to see dozens of impressive vessels from around the band Deacon Blue played a harbourside gig on Friday night as part of the warm-up for the four days before things get officially under way at the there is a Met Office Yellow warning for heavy rain in Aberdeen from Saturday afternoon until Sunday. The city council said it would issue updates if there was any impact on the event as a will be turned into a "party city", according to the runs until Tuesday, when the ships will then sail on to Norway. The Granite City previously hosted the tall ships in 1991 and and Lerwick are among other Scottish towns to have featured in the event's history, which dates back to the 1970s. The event is billed as Europe's largest free family 50 ships have been confirmed as taking part in will be about 2,000 international crew members taking part, from as far afield as Uruguay and of volunteers have been recruited to help at the event, which is expected to attract about "400,000 visits" - an estimate which includes repeat races are designed to encourage international friendship and training for young people in the art of sailing. What ships are taking part? The vessels are divided into four classes, ranging from large sailing ships to smaller single-masted Mlodziezy, from Poland, is the tallest at 62.5m (205ft) in 1982, she made her Tall Ships debut in the same name means "the gift of youth". The BAP Union is the furthest travelled, having come to Aberdeen from Union's sailing distance from Callao to Aberdeen is about 7,500 nautical miles (13,890km). The skipper of Norwegian vessel Sorlandet, Captain Tore Skjelbred-Knudsen, is looking forward to the event."It's a gathering of these ships, it's a beautiful sight, it's maritime history, we can show that to the people of Aberdeen," he told BBC Scotland News."But most of all it's for the young people joining the ships, it's changing their lives."He added: "As a former student at the University of Aberdeen, I have been truly looking forward to visiting again. "Even if it is a couple of decades ago, I vividly remember the charm, the friendly people, the vast culture, and all the friends I made during my time there." Emma Wadee, Aberdeen City Council's Tall Ships Project Manager, said: "We hope people will turn out in their thousands again to enjoy everything on offer at The Tall Ships Races and help turn the Granite City into party city from morning to night. "We know how much the people of Aberdeen love to party - we saw that during the Dons' Scottish Cup victory parade." Where is the best place to view Tall Ships Aberdeen? The ships will be berthed in Waterloo Quay, Regent Quay, Trinity Quay, Upper Quay, Jamieson's Quay and Blaikies Quay. Full details of where each ship will be can be found here. The main entrance to the harbour area will be via Marischal Street. Many of the ships will be open to visitors during their time in Aberdeen. What other entertainment is there at Tall Ships Aberdeen? Following on from Deacon Blue on Friday night, other gigs will include Kaiser attractions will include free live music, and street food from the main names, other acts include Tide Lines, Calum Bowie, Glasvegas, Brooke Combe, Little Kicks, Capollos and Look Busy Collective. The event organisers say there will also be a "vibrant" line-up of live music, including Scottish trad, jazz, Afrobeat, hip hop, and Latin line-up also features local choirs as well as youth children will be catered for with attractions at a family zone at Blaikie's Quay, including a giant can also get their picture taken with Tall Ships Aberdeen mascot, Dorry the Dolphin, during the festival. What will Tall Ships Aberdeen travel be like? Aberdeen city centre is expected to be very busy with tens of thousands of spectators each day. The organisers are recommending that people use public transport or car share if coming into Aberdeen, and that those staying locally could walk or regular Park and Ride services will be in operation from Bridge of Don, Craibstone, P&J Live, and closures and parking restrictions will be place on streets around Aberdeen harbour during the course of the event. Castle Street, King Street, Marischal Street, Regent Quay, Blaikies Quay and Regent Road are among those affected. Pocra Quay and New Pier Road in Footdee are open to business and resident access only. You can keep up to date with the latest BBC weather forecast here.
Telegraph
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
When it comes to travel, nostalgia is never a dirty word
It was the English writer L.P. Hartley who came up with the magnificent statement that 'the past is a foreign country; they do things differently there' – using those 11 clever words to open his best-known novel, The Go-Between. Said literary touchstone is itself a slice of nostalgia that, though published in 1953, peers back at the summer of 1900 with – before the narrative turns to tragedy and trauma – a reasonable amount of rose-tintedness. I was put in mind of Hartley's frequently quoted wisdom late last month, and then again this week, while researching and writing an article on Aberdeen and its hosting of the Tall Ships Races. This salute to the 'golden age of sailing' will breezily dominate Scotland's third biggest city over the next four days (July 19-22; filling the main harbour with almost 50 high-masted, wind-powered vessels from the (relatively) dim mists of the 19th and 20th centuries. As many as half a million visitors are expected. Reader responses to the piece have ranged from fond reminiscences about the 'Granite City' during the 1980s and 1990s, at the height of the North Sea oil boom ('an amazing vibrant place'), to further-flung recollections of childhood jaunts ('wonderful holiday memories of Aberdeen from when I was a lad. I used to love going down to the harbour to see the women filleting the fish. Showing my age. Simple times'), and a rather wearier realism. 'If the Aberdeen weather is kind, the Tall Ships ought to be a proper spectacle for a few days,' one particularly prescient comment ran. 'However, there may be minimal long-term benefits for the city.' You may well agree with that final assertion. And unfortunately, the suggestion – made by several readers – that Aberdeen is 'not what it was', citing the boarded-up shops and the empty bank buildings along the key drag of Union Street, may hold some truth. But then, such urban decline is hardly uncommon in a Britain where our addiction to the easy click of online retail has hollowed out our city centres. And while a long weekend of schooners, windjammers and barques at anchor will not bring back the ship-building industry of which Aberdeen was one of the global hubs for more than two centuries, there is no harm in celebrating what once was, or in revelling in the merry echoes of yesterday. We are often told that nostalgia is a fool's errand; a wilful misrepresentation of a past that may not have existed. But it is also a golden thread through the present, irresistible in its allure. Its power is currently visible in – to pick two examples – the rapturous scenes at the gigs being played this month by the reformed Oasis, to the reinvention of beloved TV shows and movies, safe in the knowledge that their ingrained appeal will attract viewers all over again (see I Know What You Did Last Summer, the 1997 horror film that has returned to cinemas this weekend with a whole new cast but, pretty much, the same plot). Nostalgia is also an excellent reason for travel. One of the best. And it is a factor in our holiday decisions more often than we may care to admit. Why else do we so often return to destinations we have enjoyed before, relishing the prospect of revisiting favourite bars and cherished restaurants? Why do we head back to honeymoon hotspots when a major anniversary rolls around? Why are companies such as Belmond and Orient Express, who specialise in a sophisticated, vintage style of rail travel, so successful in their endeavours? The past may well be a foreign country, but we are more than happy to take a break there. Besides, the Tall Ships are not just a nostalgic exercise. They keep the skill inherent in sailing – as well as the graceful beauty of the process – alive, bringing youthful participants into the racing crews, and letting them (quite literally) learn the ropes. I also disagree with the notion that such an event cannot bring broader benefits. If a visitor to the festival 'discovers' Royal Deeside, the Aberdeenshire coast or even the Granite City's superb art gallery over the coming days, tourism has – once again – been a force for good.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Scottish Cup success and European riches can propel Jimmy Thelin's Aberdeen to the next level
YOU may not be able to put a price on a winning feeling, but the financial benefit of success in football has never been easier to discern. As Aberdeen's open top bus weaved its way through an estimated 100,000 people in the Granite City on Sunday, no one associated with the club was minded doing anything other than drink in the moment. After a 35-year wait to see the Scottish Cup paraded along Union Street, and 11 years on from winning the League Cup, this was all about the sheer glory. Once the dust settles - and that may take some time - chairman Dave Cormack and chief executive Alan Burrows will plot the next chapter having already run some impressive numbers in their minds. Saturday's victory for the Dons wasn't just a blow for Celtic supporters who turned up anticipating seeing the third leg of a sixth treble in nine years knocked off. The unexpected outcome also adversely affected Hibs and Dundee United. David Gray's side were bumped down from the Europa League play-off to the second qualifying round. Despite finishing one place above the Dons in the Premiership in fourth spot, United are now bound for the second qualifying round of the Conference League rather than the Europa. Not only will the European campaigns at Easter Road and Tannadice now start in late July, both teams have several hurdles to clear to be assured of group stage football until Christmas. Aberdeen no longer have to concern themselves with that. Now set to enter the Europa League at the play-off round, Jimmy Thelin's side are in enviable win/win territory. While their likely non-seeding will be a disadvantage, a kind draw against, say, the likes of Belgian side Genk, would give them a decent opportunity of going through. That gets you £3.6m without kicking a ball on top of the £252,000 for participating in the play-off. You're then guaranteed eight matches in the mono-group with the four home games almost certain to be sell-outs. At last check, the prize money for a win was £379,201 with £126,400 for a draw. Although it's evidently performance related, the Pittodrie coffers would be swollen by anything north of £6m. Were Thelin's men to lose the play-off and drop into the Conference League, the financial rewards would be less yet still considerable. There's an automatic £2.6m cheque in the post just for turning up in the group stage on top of the play-off cash. Then it's £337,067 a win and £112,075 a draw. The fact there are only six matches in the lesser competition means there's less scope for accruing prize money through ticket sales and hospitality. Nonetheless, with three home games, Aberdeen would still expect to be at least £5m better off for their trouble. In Scottish football's restricted financial environment, that's a lot of guaranteed income. The feel-good factor emanating from Saturday's historic win will also translate into more pounds and pence. After securing Thelin last summer, the Dons broke through the 10,000-mark for season ticket sales for the first time in their history. Before they'd even set foot in Hampden, the number for next season was already above 11,000. The sold-out signs were a regular feature of home matches as the Swede took the Premiership by storm last August. That would seem certain to continue on the back of the incredible scenes witnessed across the weekend. The club's marketing department also have an open goal to cash-in on the storied triumph. The till in the club shop should me merrily ringing as commemorative tee-shirts, flags, scarves and mugs are snapped up until hostilities resume. Spending all this welcome money is not the concern. It's spending it wisely. Although Aberdeen have backed Thelin in successive transfer windows, the squad needs strengthening. Jack MacKenzie is out of contract and is set to sign for League One Plymouth. Jamie McGrath is off to Hibs. Back-up keeper Ross Doohan is rejoining Celtic. Jeppe Okkels, top-scorer Kevin Nisbet and Alfie Dorrington and are due to return to Preston, Millwall and Tottenham, respectively, now their loan deals have expired. Each would command prohibitive transfer fees meaning a further loan deal is the most likely means of each player returning. Oday Dabbagh is set to go back to Charleroi although Aberdeen have secured an option to buy. Thelin will have Gavin Molloy, Sivert Heltne Nilsen and Ester Sokler back from injury at the start of pre-season. He'll also have to make a call on whether Slobodan Rubezic has any future at the club after his loan spell at Novi Pazar. Although Saturday's victory means the club has more time to weigh up such matters, it's hard to overstate the importance of the squad being properly equipped for what lies ahead. Two years ago, having stormed up the Premiership table to finish third, Barry Robson found European football to be as much a curse as a blessing. The Dons had eight European matches that season. They won just one of the bread-and-butter league games which came immediately after them, drawing only twice. With the club unable to make the top six, Robson paid with his job. It was the same story at Tynecastle in the season just gone. Hearts also had eight European matches. Their record in league games immediately following them? Won one, drew two, lost five. Both Steven Naismith and Neil Critchley will tell you what happened next. While Hibs and United might have similar concerns to deal with, St Mirren and Hearts, to name but two likely top six contenders, will not. Notwithstanding his side's arduous schedule, Thelin will be expected to challenge for third place. To do so, he'll need a larger squad filled with players who can cope with the mental challenge of playing Thursday-Sunday. Nicolas Milanovic, who's joining from Western Sydney Wanderers, needs to be just the first piece in the jigsaw. Although assembling it will be a challenge for all concerned, these are the kind of problems everyone in the game wants to have on their plates. It helps Thelin no end, of course, that he now has a major honour to fall back on. It was the steady improvement he oversaw at Elfsborg across six years that first caught Aberdeen's eye and ensured the backing of the fanbase never really wavered when he endured a 12-game winless run. Having come painfully close to winning the title in his homeland, he finally got on the winner's podium in his adopted home on Saturday. As the red half of Hampden will forever testify, there are some feelings which money cannot buy.
