Iain Nicholson casts an eye around the grotty upper floor of 463 Union Street which was once home to one of many closed bank branches Retail expert Iain is now heading up a panel working hard to identify new uses for these rows of empty spaces lining both sides of the Granite Mille They hope that their work will ultimately rejuvenate the struggling street And that’s why I find myself standing in the forlorn space This is exactly the sort of decaying space this specialist taskforce is determined to turn around Joining Iain on the high street crusade are designer Richard Tinto Ross Grant and Adrian Watson from Aberdeen Inspired chartered surveyor Shona Boyd and Aberdeen City Council officials I joined the crack team of experts on a visit to one of these empty units to find out how they plan to save the Granite Mile’s upper floors from disarray before its too late… Entering the former bank at the top of Union Street the first thing I clock is the stark barebone appearance of the unit The ground floor has been fully stripped back with the wooden frames on show and even some holes in the floor exposing the grimy basement below Ross begins to tell me about the group’s progress so far as we have a look around each nook and cranny This is the fourth derelict unit the group has visited that day with their exploratory journey taking them along the whole stretch of the Granite Mile But despite it looking like quite the challenge to my untrained eye the Aberdeen Inspired member is feeling positive about today’s boots on the ground operation Ross tells me: “The key takeaway from today for me is that each of the upper floor spaces has their own specific opportunities and barriers “I think the panel discussions so far has been really refreshing And before we head upstairs to the former offices of the bank – I begin chatting to one of the big guns Aberdeen Inspired have enlisted The city centre Bid (Business Improvement District) received £15,000 of government funding in 2024 to find the key to bringing the Granite Mile’s upper floors back to life Using this cash, they’ve drafted in Iain – who is the founder of the Vacant Shops Academy who has been working on boosting town and city centres since 2013 Amids the exposed steel beams and knocked down walls The 66-year-old explains: “We’re starting off by thinking about what could go in these in these spaces “We want to get away from this situation where agents and landlords are left with really challenging buildings where maybe the finances don’t stack up in terms of commercially sorting it out “We want to look at the opportunities and the ways Union Street and Aberdeen can help with tackling some of those places.” As the panel inspect the bare interior of the upper floors and begin to gather their thoughts on the building I grab a word with one of the biggest names in Aberdeen’s architecture game is another who has been showing his passion throughout the afternoon for turning around Union Street’s upper floors His firm are currently overseeing the revamp of the former John Lewis into a go-karting mecca along with the much-anticipated return of the Belmont Cinema The Aberdeen-based designer also has previous experience in bringing Union Street’s upper floors back to life Plans drawn up by Richard are currently in place to turn the empty space above the Tag Heuer showroom into fancy apartments the group’s main goal shares similarities with one of the Beatles’ many hits As we huddle around in what is a quite tight office he tells me: “If someone has a desire to move into Union Street one of the great wins for the group would be to make that as easy as possible for them “Right now it’s a little bit siloed and disjointed and it needs a few different moving parts to come together “If we can be that ‘come together’ then that’s it.” This is the first step of a lengthy process for the team of experts with it likely being years before units like this one are fully given a new lease of life the group’s goals are to get their ideas together on what the units could be used for This would then be sent back to the building’s owners – offering advice and solutions on how to overcome the current hurdles which have discouraged any revival efforts yet And the panel’s crusade doesn’t stop there They tell me they’re planning on pushing Holyrood to change some of the more frustrating planning policies that have stopped developers and dreamers alike in the past But whilst the group’s work has only just begun the Granite Mile already has a vast array of plans in the pipeline for reviving some of its upper floors The firm are keeping tight lipped on their plans for now but say it will include a top of the range simulator The Edinburgh-based Optimal Student firm are also in the mix for reviving the Granite Mile’s upper floors – with £2.7 million plans to revamp the floors above So..NYC The former offices at Braemar house will become 25 student flats with plans to join the two complexes together So with our visit over we descend back down the pitch black staircases Shaking hands with the group and saying goodbye it’s clear that the panel of experts will stop at nothing until Union Street’s upper floors are brought back to life The different members making up the crack team all come from different backgrounds within the same industry – making it the perfect melting pot of ideas and perspectives as the condition of 463 Union Street proved the only way seems up for the Granite Mile Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments Failure to secure manufacturing jobs in new green industries could see Aberdeen repeat mistakes that led Glasgow to become one of Europe’s most underperforming cities The warning follows analysis of average income paid across regions of Scotland which shows north-east constituencies comfortably out-performing much of the country – for now warns the oil-rich region risks squandering skills and knowledge – and therefore income – built up over decades by failing to win contracts that could provide high-paying jobs for generations Prof Bender, who is part of the Just Transition Lab at Aberdeen University said some pockets of the city benefitf rom high-level renewables work but the effect is greatly reduced from earlier oil and gas booms Wealth is not being spread out to other communities and appears to be reducing steadily over time Prof Bender believes the region is now facing a “perfect storm” with echoes of how Glasgow suffered from de-industrialisation He said: “There is a lot of activity around renewables at least the research and development part of it “But the challenge is that unlike an oil rig where you still need to maintain it and pay good wages for people offshore wind doesn’t have that same maintenance cost and requirements.” Prof Bender added: “We haven’t done a very good job of thinking about why we aren’t building wind turbines and solar panels here and utilising the high skills base that is in Aberdeen and around the north-east of Scotland “The challenge I think the area really has is that the skills that Aberdeen has now had for a very long time are extremely mobile “If people don’t see what the plan B really is they can take their skills anywhere – both within the UK or abroad.” Analysis published in the Sunday Post revealed seven of the top 10 UK Parliament constituencies in Scotland for average income tax paid are in Edinburgh or the north-east while no Glasgow constituency made the grade Edinburgh South is top of all 57 constituencies on £12,900 followed by Edinburgh West on £9,840 then West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine on £9,740 After another Edinburgh area sits in fourth while Aberdeen South is fifth with £8,820 Research from the Centre for Cities thinktank found Glasgow is missing out on an economic boom the size of Scotland’s entire oil and gas industry and is one of Europe’s most underperforming cities the £656 million collected in Edinburgh South – the highest paying area in Scotland – is dwarfed by the £4.2 billion paid by London’s Kensington and Bayswater Listen to our Stooshie politics podcast for more on the challenge to secure valuable jobs after oil and gas Police charged a 26-year-old man found riding and illegal e-bike in Aberdeen. Plain-clothed officers were on patrol in the north of the city on May 1 when they stopped a man on an e-bike who was also concealing his identity. The 26-year-old man was allegedly found to be in possession of Class A drugs, a knife and a four-figure sum of cash. Police, who had been targeting the illegal use of the bikes and associated criminality, seized the bike and a van which was being used to store illegal e-bikes and was uninsured. The man was arrested and charged and was due to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Friday. Sergeant Mark Rennie said: “Using unregistered electric vehicles on public roads, or other land without permission from the landowner, is illegal and dangerous. It can also be linked to other associated criminality.” “Anyone found riding a vehicle illegally will likely have it seized.” “Our proactive work will continue across the city to target such criminality. The public can help us by reporting any instances to us via 101.” STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" Home » Sports » Brown County Speedway gets early start to 2025 It was the earliest start to a season ever on the dirt Friday and the 1990 Langford High School graduate sped to the top of the drag racing…… The Northern State University football team will wrap spring camp with an intrasquad scrimmage at 10 a.m Timber Lake native Tucker Kraft has been named the state’s 2024 sports celebrity by the South Dakota Sportswriters Association That was how Mike Schmidt described his Northern State football team’s win in the final game of the season…… The first time Geoff Aberdein made the headlines he wasn’t advising First Ministers or CEOs – he was nine years old standing in the smoking wreckage of his childhood home in Aberdeen giving a statement to the Press and Journal after a freak electrical storm burned it to the ground “I remember the fire brigade told us not to talk to the media,” Geoff says “But someone needed to speak for the family quoted in the paper as the ‘family spokesperson’ “Our house was obliterated,” Geoff recalls My dad gave my brother £1,000 and sent him out to buy clothes for the family.” That early brush with crisis communication was just a warm-up for Geoff Geoff’s journey from class clown at Cults Academy to the corridors of power in Westminster and Holyrood – and later high finance – is extraordinary He went onto become head of press for the SNP at Westminster at 22 chief of staff to the First Minister Alex Salmond and then head of global of public affairs for UK financial heavyweight But the founder of strategic advisory firm True North isn’t in the business of writing his own legend He says: “One teacher described me as ‘intellectually challenging’ which was their polite way of saying I was a cheeky little blighter.” intervened that he was even allowed to sit credit-level exams “She demanded they let me try,” Geoff says Geoff grew up between two very different worlds His dad’s side were passionate nationalists while his mum’s family were traditional Buchan farmers with more conservative views “Family get-togethers were… lively,” he says with a laugh “But the biggest thing I learned was to respect an opposing view.” His interest in politics deepened during school where he rallied classmates during mock elections and engaged in spirited debates about Scottish independence provided the perfect backdrop for Geoff’s burgeoning political aspirations This passion led him to study politics and international relations at Aberdeen University a chance encounter with Alex Salmond at an airport further propelled his political journey Geoff struck up a conversation with Salmond offered him an unpaid position in his Peterhead constituency office Geoff worked his way up from pot scrubber to waiter at Kippie Lodge where he met Aberdeen billionaire Sir Ian Wood “Sir Ian and Lady Helen would come in every Friday night and I would serve him an omelette and chips and tea and toast,” says Geoff Geoff was all set to head to the US to join a New York Times graduate programme when Alex Salmond intervened “I told him about the job and he said you’re coming to Westminster with me’ I graduated and a week later I found myself in London “I became the head of press for the SNP and I hadn’t even written a press release “I didn’t even have a pass for Westminster because it takes a while to come through.” Geoff admits he was flying by the seat of his pants with Salmond talking him through everything It was a tumultuous time in UK politics – marked by events like the Iraq War and the cash for honours scandal – and the SNP was grabbing a lot of headlines walking the floors of Millbank where all the studios are and people saying can you get me Alex Salmond because the biggest challenge is to get profile so we were punching way above our weight.” Then Salmond invited him to be part of the leadership team for the next campaign in 2007 which they won and Geoff became chief of staff to the First Minister “We thought we were going to be there three months and we lasted the whole four years “I look back and think my biggest asset was the fact that I had nothing to compare it to,” says Geoff “I can’t adequately explain how exhilarating it was Geoff felt a gap in his understanding of the economy “One of my biggest inadequacies throughout my time in government was I didn’t know how this economy truly operated,” he admits “I was always nervous talking about economic issues because I hadn’t experienced it This realization led him to a new opportunity: joining Aberdeen Asset Management where he worked closely with CEO Martin Gilbert as global head of public affairs “I took the opportunity with both hands and had a fabulous seven years working with Martin,” says Geoff “He was the longest-serving chief executive in the FTSE 100 and I was basically getting to speak to this guy every day “Between Alex Salmond’s political strategic mind and Martin Gilbert’s business mind I learned a lot.” The merger of Aberdeen Asset Management and Standard Life prompted Geoff to consider his next move In 2022, he co-founded True North Advisors in Aberdeen with Fergus Mutch named after Geoff’s late father’s fish merchant business offers strategic advisory services in public policy “I could tell there were challenges coming down the line for this city and region and I’m just a small spoke in the wheel but I want to do my bit,” says Geoff Now it is turning over £2 million a year with a 14-strong workforce of specialist advisers working in PR “We are a business that supports clients in the north-east of Scotland but the passion will always be for the betterment of this city and region,” he says “That’s what motivates me in the morning I want to see this city which has contributed so much to the UK’s economic and energy security continue to do so.” Outside of work, Geoff stays connected to politics through Holyrood Sources a Scottish politics podcast he co-hosts with Calum McDonald and Andy Maciver “That podcast gives me my political fix and I love doing it,” he says “But what I love most is that it helps me understand people across the political spectrum And when he’s not leading campaigns or podcasting “My dad took me to my first Aberdeen match when I was nine It’s one of the few places I can just turn off.” “Raising a family with my fiance Kasia while building a business But it’s the best thing I’ve done in my life.” Police Scotland said it had been made aware of a video of hate crime incident during the match on Saturday, May 3. The force said it had been made aware of a video taken at St Mirren Park on Saturday, which shows football fans chanting at the opposite side. They say the incident is being treated as a hate crime and are appealing for anyone with information on those involved to get in touch. Inspector Megan Logan, Paisley police office, said: “This was a despicable action and we are keen to trace the individuals involved. “Anyone with information on those involved is asked to call Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 2164.” Police have hit out at a “despicable” hate crime involving Aberdeen fans during their game away to St Mirren A video showing Dons fans chanting abuse at a disabled St Mirren supporter was shared on social media Posters on social media branded the chants “sick” and “unacceptable” Police say they are treating it as a hate crime and are hunting for those responsible A statement from Police Scotland confirmed officers are aware of a video showing fans “chanting at the opposing side” Inspector Megan Logan of Paisley police office said: “This was a despicable action and we are keen to trace the individuals involved “Anyone with information on those involved is asked to call Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 2164.” The game ended 1-0 to St Mirren with a Mikael Mandron strike enough to dent the Dons’ hopes of a third-place finish With the World Snooker Championship coming to an end today we have dipped into our archives to find the best pictures of the snooker scene in Aberdeen and the north of Scotland The Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre played host to the Scottish Open from 1998 to 2003 with Stephen Hendry Ronnie O’Sullivan and Peter Ebdon among those to triumph in the Granite City Here are some of the best images from the DC Thomson archives of snooker in Aberdeen through the years Other galleries you may enjoy from our ‘Through the years’ series: Hundreds turned out at this year’s May Day event in Aberdeen City Centre on Sunday A strong turnout brought people together for good music Many bars and clubs participated in the celebrations such as Ivy Lodge, Revolution and Revolution De Cuba who put on entertainment and DJs P&J photographer Darrell Benns was there to capture all the fun Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin says he will sign the right balance of experienced players and emerging talent in the summer transfer window Thelin is working with head of recruitment Nuno de Almeida on sourcing signings to further strengthen the squad for next season Aberdeen are battling to secure European qualification and will need a squad to cope with balancing continental and domestic demands The Dons have already agreed a deal to sign Australian winger Nicolas Milanovic from A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers It is understood Aberdeen will pay a fee of around £400,000 to secure the 23-year-old Milanovic has scored 12 times and pitched in with six assists in 24 appearances this season the highly-rated winger is tipped to break into the Socceroos squad Thelin is focused on securing further signings in the summer who can help secure long-term success for the club He said: “We are going to bring in the right players in the summer and balance the squad “We have to build the squad for the long-term “It is always about having a balance in the squad “Bringing in some core players and also some players with potential “We need to do everything so that it will be the best for Aberdeen in the future.” Thelin has been busy in two transfer windows The Swede secured six permanent signings and one loan addition in the summer 2024 transfer window he further bolstered the squad with three permanent signings and three loan captures Aberdeen have an option to buy on the loan deals for January additions Jeppe Okkels (Preston North End) and Oday Dabbagh (Charleroi) Belgian club Charleroi recently triggered a clause to extend Palestinian international striker Dabbagh’s contract until summer 2026 It is understood Preston would seek a fee of around £1million for Okkels in the summer Thelin recently confirmed decisions on the futures of players with options to buy and also those set to go out of contract will be made before the end of the season Calls on players’ futures will be made between the last Premiership game on May 17 and the Scottish Cup final against Celtic on May 24 Asked if he anticipated a busy summer transfer window Thelin replied: “You always try to control the window “There are some departments where you work in the future but we have to take things in the right order – we still have important games to play “And we need to concentrate on those games right now.” The Scottish transfer window runs for two-and-a-half months during the summer opening on June 12 and closing on August 29 Before Thelin enters his third window as Aberdeen manager The Dons have three games left in the battle to finish third in the Premiership They then host Premiership champions Celtic at Pittodrie before an away clash at Dundee United Thelin will then bid to end Aberdeen’s 35-year wait to lift the Scottish Cup Aberdeen face Celtic in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden on Saturday Thelin insists the club’s supporters will play a key role in the bid to secure a third placed finish and silverware A near 1,500 strong travelling Red Army cheered on the Dons in the 1-0 loss to St Mirren in Paisley Aberdeen fans snapped up more than 12,000 tickets for the Scottish Cup final on Monday morning when they first went on sale Thelin said: “We are so thankful the fans are travelling they gave energy to the players in a challenging time after a tough result “They were there to push us in a tight game and now we move on to the next match “It (battle for third) is not over until it is over “So we have to keep fighting now and keep this togetherness until the end of the season.” Aberdeen firm TMM Recruitment has joined the growing ranks of employee-owned firms play a bigger role in deciding its future direction was launched by Karen Molloy and Judith Thorpe Chief executive Amanda McCulloch said the decision to become a Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) showed “commitment” to the future of the team Its team of 32 employees specialises in placements across accountancy who first joined the business in 1999 as a graduate trainee consultant said: “We’ve always been a people business built by the incredible talent and dedication of our team “This Employee Ownership Trust is our way of recognising and rewarding the people who have been instrumental in making TMM Recruitment what it is today “It’s not just a business transaction; it’s a commitment to our team’s future and a testament to the collaborative spirit that defines us.” employee ownership has grown by 90% and there are now more than 1,800 employee-owned businesses in the UK The Scottish Government has set a target of 500 employee-owned businesses by 2030 the shares of the business are now held in trust on behalf of its employees giving them a collective stake in the company’s success while preserving its independence and values Amanda said: “We believe this move reinforces our commitment to staying true to our foundations and values-led “It’s a structure that strengthens the business for the long term and empowers our team to play an even greater role in shaping our future.” TMM Recruitment was advised on the transaction by Baxendale Employee Ownership and Hall Morrice When people talk about the magic of the movies I doubt they have in mind a deserted Gallowgate in Aberdeen at 6am on a chilly Sunday morning outside the Blue Lamp pub clutching a lukewarm coffee and wondering if I’ve misunderstood my call time for my very first gig as a film extra A quick scan of my emails reveals a note from co-director Marcus Brabban saying to arrive at the Blue Lamp the P&J office is just around the corner make a coffee and give some thought to what exactly I’ve exchanged my Sunday lie-in for. I’ve signed up to be an extra in the debut short film from Plague Dorm a new Aberdeen production company hoping to turn the Granite City into a small but serious hub for filmmaking Background pub punter in a scene where one of the main characters performs a song a background artist – so to make sure I don’t ruin the scene by tripping over a boom mic I call veteran local actor Angela Duguid for advice is also in the movie — a sign of how compact Aberdeen’s film scene is She’s playing a corrupt cop in what I learn will be a horror movie based on the north-east myth of a female spirit Angela’s advice is to keep it natural and understated “Don’t draw attention to yourself — unless directed otherwise,” she says “And be ready for a lot of waiting around.” I head to the Blue Lamp at the proper time and meet Samana Tiwari a recent Aberdeen University graduate who’s also going to be an extra “I thought it would be an interesting way to spend a free Sunday,” she tells me We’re soon joined by more extras including Kristina Nimmo from Banff and Liz Grosche from Germany instant coffee with no milk and a general sense of “we’re all in this together.” A young woman named Phoebe reminds us to keep quiet Angela arrives in character as the bent copper “This could be useful on a night out,” she jokes buzzing with energy despite having had barely any sleep He begins explaining the plot of the movie provisionally titled In the Court of the Queen of Shadows but is almost immediately whisked away by a crew member It’s an early indication of how the day will go: us extras sitting around waiting for something to happen while the directors and crew race around with barely enough time to chat The other factor is the film’s budget — or In Aberdeen’s still-fledgling film industry so the extras shuffle into the snug next door For the next hour or so we happily sit and chat Samana fills us in on the latest in Scottish Water’s purification methods while Liz talks about her time in the accelerator programme run by Aberdeen’s more established film production company, Crow House Projects, which last year released the locally-shot film Roast in Peace the film we’re making is a product of that programme — Marcus and the other director Liz hopes she’ll also help expand Aberdeen’s film slate once she joins their ranks beginning the litany of checks heard on film sets everywhere The room that seconds earlier echoed with noise falls into a funereal hush The loose-limbed energy of waiting is transformed into something sharp and focused The actors do their thing while I sit as still as possible on my chair It lasts all of five seconds — but in that concentrated space there really is something special The brains behind In the Court of the Queen of Shadows are directors Dan and Marcus — two history PhD students-turned-filmmakers who met in a pub bonded over horror movies and decided to write one That meeting eventually led to the creation of Plague Dorm and their debut short film As graduates of the Crow House accelerator programme they are passionate about building a sustainable local film industry so people don’t have to move south to make movies “There’s very fertile ground here,” says Dan “It just hasn’t had the investment to sprout.” consistent cloud cover ideal for filming and talented people What it lacks is infrastructure — but Plague Dorm is trying to change that giving up their time for free because they believe in the potential of a homegrown film scene The pair are already thinking about their next project and hope the success of this one will attract more attention to the city’s potential They plan to submit In the Court of the Queen of Shadows to festivals later this year and continue working with the Crow House network to support new filmmakers I’m not quitting journalism for a life on set just yet And in case you were wondering — I nailed that pint-nursing background role Look out for me at a film festival near you I’ll be the blurry one behind the corrupt cop Keeper Dimitar Mitov fears Aberdeen will have to win the remaining three Premiership games of the season to keep alive their bid to finish third And the Bulgaria international admits even that may not be enough after a 1-0 loss at St Mirren damaged hopes of a third placed finish Mitov says the Dons squad know how important securing third is to the club and the supporters – and they will fight to the end in the bid to deliver Aberdeen now trail third-placed Hibs by three points with the Easter Road club also holding a superior goal advantage said: “Now it’s pretty much not in our hands “We need to win every single game and Hibs need to slip up “But what we can control is our performance in the remaining games of the season “This group has bounced back really quickly before and I’m positive we can do it again “Finishing third has been the aim all season and we are going to do absolutely everything we can to do that.” Aberdeen suffered defeat at St Mirren courtesy of a Mikael Mandron goal in the second half Next up for the Reds is an away clash against second-placed Rangers on Sunday Mitov insists they will travel to Ibrox with no fear The keeper said: “We need to be absolutely at it in every single remaining game of the season and not just because it is Ibrox “We want to be third because we know how much it means to us how much it means to the club and to our supporters “We’re trying to do the things we do well and play our football “I’m sure when we stick to the basics and things we do well “The loss at St Mirren is one of those afternoons we need to forget as quick as possible “We need to clear our heads and go into the next game with a positive mindset.” Aberdeen have now suffered three straight defeats to St Mirren for the first time since 2011 The Reds are now 10 games without a victory against the Buddies in Paisley with the last win under Derek McInnes in December 2018 Mitov was clearly frustrated at a loss that ended Aberdeen’s eight game unbeaten run in all competitions On conceding the Mandron goal Mitov said: “It’s a very very frustrating one because they have a specific style of play “They play with long balls and play with second balls “I generally felt we dealt with them quite well all game “But there was a double deflection off Mats’ (Knoester) head and it lands in front of the striker’s feet “And he just puts it in the bottom corner “We were really unfortunate to be on the back of one.” Aberdeen failed to register a single shot on target against St Mirren despite boss Jimmy Thelin’s starting XI containing pace and attacking threat Thelin started with wingers Jeppe Okkels, Topi Keskinen and Shayden Morris in behind striker Kevin Nisbet in a 4-2-3-1 Mitov accepts the Dons must sharpen their attacking edge for the clash with Rangers He said: “It just didn’t happen for us going forward against St Mirren ‘How many saves did the other goalkeeper make today?’ “We need to look at how we can improve because we had a lot of possession of the ball “I felt like in transition we were creating much but we were not testing the goalkeeper “That’s something for us we’re definitely going to have to analyse and see where we can improve “St Mirren are very good at defending crosses “We just didn’t find that gap maybe between the defence and midfield where we like to “There’s definitely a lesson to be learned from this game going forward.” As the Scottish league programme winds down and holidays draw near there may have been many supporters across the nation this weekend witnessing performances more aimless and insipid than they might otherwise expect would not have anticipated being among them With the stakes high and the margin for error negligible this should have been a day for the Dons to come out fighting and attempt to seize control of their destiny Instead they left Paisley having failed to register not only a point but even so much as a shot on target putting their European entry stage for next season back into the melting pot Dundee United will have a chance to turn up the heat before the Reds are next in action with the final day meeting at Tannadice looking ever more like a winner-takes-all battle Despite Saturday’s loss it remains, surely, a question of when Aberdeen secure one of the five European tickets rather than if such is the sequence of compounding results which it would take to place them beneath St Mirren But it now seems likely it will take Hampden heroics for it to be the one for the box seat; instead they face the prospect of a restricted view of the league phase for even when they have been on lengthy spurts of success these pedestrian unthreatening afternoons have always been lurking around the corner Teams have simply not found it frightening or uncomfortable enough to face Aberdeen for large parts of the season Too often they have failed to take the initiative in matches particularly those in which they would have been favoured to make the running having installed a relatively sound foundation will be the challenge for year two of the Jimmy Thelin project Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. 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Nicolas Milanovic is expected to join Aberdeen Aberdeen are close to finalising a deal to sign Australian forward Nicolas Milanovic from Western Sydney Wanderers The 23-year-old has scored 12 goals in the A-League this season and set up a further six who is primarily a right winger but can play along the front line has a year left on his contract in his homeland meaning the Dons will have to spend a fee of just under £500,000 The attacker is part of former Rangers defender Tony Vidmar's Australian Under-23 side The clubs are well down the line with an agreement and Milanovic is likely to become manager Jimmy Thelin's first signing of the summer window who are fifth in the Scottish Premiership with five games to play with the visitors three points in front of both Dundee United and the Dons Visit our Aberdeen page for all the latest news Get Aberdeen news notifications in the BBC Sport app Top storiesStunning stats and 'Ronaldo behaviour' - is Yamal cut out to rival Messi 'Calamity keeper' or 'human wall' - which Donnarumma will Arsenal face Arsenal in Champions League training before crucial semi-final with PSG - latest The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived John Simm stars in the provocative 90s drama Warm-hearted comedy with Ben Miller and Sally Phillips Follow two ambitious river restoration projects What is still to be decided as season reaches climax Scotland men's internationals to be shown live on BBC Commonwealth Games: Why is it so special to be part of Team Scotland From titles to tinpottery - rank Scotland's top 10 clubs Stunning stats and 'Ronaldo behaviour' - is Yamal cut out to rival Messi Who has made Troy's Premier League team of the week Is the risk that Mercedes took with Antonelli paying off Trailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China Zhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights VideoZhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights Alexander-Arnold leaves as modern Liverpool great - but fans will feel hurt 'Scheffler and DeChambeau wins further raise US PGA excitement levels' Match-fixing scandal to Crucible champion - fall and rise of Zhao 'We need to take a look at ourselves' - Arsenal stalling at wrong time Europa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney VideoEuropa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney Ask Me Anything the new BBC Sport service designed to serve you Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Nine bolters with a shot of making the Lions squad How 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool VideoHow 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool Solskjaer on Besiktas Saints 'punch' favourites Leinster in game for the ages VideoVardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer Poppy's tears Elton John & Happy Gilmore - McIlroy on Jimmy Fallon show Copyright © 2025 BBC. 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Thousands of revellers flocked to Aberdeen city centre today for May Day celebrations events and parties starting as early as 12pm got under way across the Granite City’s bars and clubs One of the most highly anticipated days in the north-east calendar tickets were sold out weeks ago – with prices reaching up to £54 Sunday May 4 was the perfect time for a celebrations to get started – with the party expected to continue well into the wee hours of the morning Bars and clubs have been putting on extra staff and ordering extra staff for the occasion youngsters are gearing up for an all-night affair We asked revellers what they thought of the holiday We also asked bar workers about how they were preparing for the big event The first crowd we ran into were students Amy Hannah and Ella – who are all 18 years old They have tickets for Vodka Revolution and Soul and have waited patiently for this day since booking it in January Amy told The Press and Journal: “These two go to Glasgow and Edinburgh Uni so they came home specifically for this night “We were asking people in Glasgow if people had heard of it and literally no-one had – it was strange “It’s just the night out you can rely on everyone comes out for today – everyone has a bit of a drink and it’s really good fun.” Ella answered: “For as long as possible!” Also speaking to The P&J on a lads’ night out were a group six Zane and Layton – also all 18 – and they revealed their plans for the night ahead We’ve been waiting for this for months “This is our biggest day of the year “No-one has heard of it outside of here but honestly its the best night – it’s the only time you’ll see everyone out.” Zane added: “I had someone offer me £90 for one of my tickets a few days ago We also spoke to group of four Owen Duncan Owen joked : “It’s an all day event we planned but we are not sure we are going to make it until the end!” He continued: You can’t beat May Day especially when the weather is good Lee added: “I’m from Inverurie and we all look forward to it there as well is the deputy manager for Slain’s on Belmont Street and she was preparing for one of the pub’s “biggest days.” She said: “Us based on Belmont Street is huge the street is going to be packed end to end “This is probably one of our biggest days for sure – other than Christmas – it will be our most crazy.” She revealed that her and her staff have been stocking up for the big day She said: “It’s mostly the main spirits as well as Strongbow Dark Fruits that we have more of “We also have Saturday-level staffing on here it’s all hands on deck – but we have an experienced team and they all know how it goes has worked in Aberdeen’s bars for over 40 years and told us of how big a day it is in the Granite City She said: “It’s strange how May Day seems to be the biggest night out in Aberdeen it isn’t quite like that in other places.” She added: “We have been excited for this day “I have such great memories of working on this day – and also going out and getting a bit drunk on this day “We used to march from pub to pub back in the glory days of May Day and they are some of my favourite memories.” John Wymess, new owner of The Old King’s Highway also said that May Day is like “a second Christmas” for Aberdeen He said: “May Day is really crucial for us “If we were not busy on May Day – and the whole weekend to be honest – then I might start to worry!” Check out all the best pictures from May Day 2025: In photos: Aberdeen City Centre comes alive with May Day fun Home » Sports » Central girls golf sets new mark in Hub City Invitational The Aberdeen Central girls golf team won its annual Hub City Invitational Thursday Central combined for an 11-over par 295 setting a new school record for a team score Mitchell was second with a 312 while Aberdeen Roncalli took third with a 337 “We may have to reset our goal,” said Central had coach Kim Zimmerman after his team’s round “Normally each year we have that early goal of anything under 320 is really good but this result is a little different.” All four of Central’s tallied scorers shot in the 70s “We always talk about what they’re capable of and this clearly reaffirms that You don’t shoot a score like we did today without the group doing it collectively They had a few bumps in the road they had to manage on the back nine but they handled things better than I could have hoped for.” The Golden Eagles were led by medalist Olivia Braun who shot a one-under par 70 “I kind of struggled with my putting if I’m being honest,” Braun said everyone has something they struggle with on a few holes during a round but I was happy with how I played through it.” Aberdeen Central’s Kyley Wirebaugh hits her tee sheet on the par-four 14th hole during the Hub City Invitational Thursday Braun cited her game off the tee as being key for her medalist win “I gave myself a lot of opportunities today because I did hit a lot of greens so that’s always going to help you round,” Braun said “It was a little up and down in the beginning of the round but I was definitely more consistent toward the end of the day.” Central’s Kyley Wirebaugh was a major contributor to Central’s record-setting score Wirebaugh carded three birdies in her round to shoot a two-over 73 “The greens were changing as the round went on just rolling a little different when the wind picked up so you kind of needed that golf IQ to know if the pin is in the back of the green you don’t want to be behind it,” Wirebaugh said “With this being our home course I knew where I wanted to be and I think that helped my score today.” Wirebaugh tied her lowest round of the year Aberdeen Central’s Emma Dohrer chips onto the par-four 13th hole during the Hub City Invitational Thursday “It just reminds us that we can put up a really good score,” she said “We know we won’t shoot (295) every week but our goal is to keep getting better each time we go out ‘Zim’ told us to cherish a round like this but our work is not done.” Emma Dohrer found her game on the back nine at the invitational Dohrer was three-over after her first nine holes but went even par on her final nine to finish with a 74 “My front nine was definitely a bit of a struggle,” Dohrer said “When I started I was like ‘OK’ it’s my home course and then everything just started to get to me after my first few holes I kind of had to reset and just take each hole shot by shot and not think of the end result and that helped me on the way in.” Dohrer echoed her coach’s comments about what the team is capable of “We’re going to carry this on to our next meet Monday in Pierre but most importantly to carry it into ESD and state,” she said Central totaled a 316 to finish in second place Monday May 5 at the Warrior Invite hosted by Sioux Falls Washington Dohrer carded the low round for the Golden Eagles with a one-over par 73 Braun had a pair of double bogeys in her round to finish at five over par Wirebaugh was eight over and Vikander 16-over to round out the top four scores Carli Withers (+19) and Genevieve Golz (+26) rounded out Central’s golfers Aberdeen Roncalli’s Mackenzie Wegehaupt watches her birdie putt fall on the par-four 13th hole during the Hub City Invitational Roncalli head coach John Murdy said “it’s been a little while” since his team played in the Hub City Invitational He and Zimmerman had discussed it and schedules just worked out to where the Cavaliers were available The Cavaliers went up against six Class AA schools and took third place with their score of 337 “The way I’ve said it is one day they’re going to wake up and realize how good they can be and today was maybe a day where they noticed,” Murdy said a light bulb has to go off at some point and they have to realize I’m not lying to them when I say that.” Aberdeen Roncalli’s Claire Crawford watches her approach shot from the fourth fairway to the 18th green during the Hub City Invitational Thursday Murdy said the team managed the course focusing more on par-bogey than trying to birdie every hole but they made great bogeys today instead of doubles and triples,” he said there were a couple holes where mentally they weren’t there but there were more holes when that wasn’t case they need to realize it but Roncalli golf is in a really good position right now.” The Cavs were led by eighth-grader Mackenzie Wegehaupt who shot a five-over 76 for a sixth-place finish “I hit my driver really well today and my putting was really good I was sinking putts that I never sink,” Wegehaupt said “I was just really proud of myself and had fun playing out there.” Wegehaupt said after her round her driver is making things a little more manageable “My drives have been going way further than last year,” she said “I gained a lot of distance and that’s been really helpful because instead of hitting a fairway wood I can be hitting an iron and that can take a lot of strokes off.” Claire Crawford managed her way around the course to a 78 and a ninth-place finish “I didn’t end my round all that well but I competed pretty good and never gave up on a hole and it wasn’t really that bad of a round,” Crawford said Crawford bogeyed the final four holes of her round including 18 where her tee shot wound up on the adjacent No “I wish I was in the right fairway but at least I was in a fairway,” she joked I knew I could clear the tree and had a pretty good angle at the green but two of the girls who hit it dead-center of the fairway also made bogey Sometimes bogey isn’t a bad score if you’re able to just keep it as one lost stroke.” Aberdeen Central topped the field at the Huron Triangular high school girls golf meet Tuesday expectations for the Aberdeen Central girls golf team have been state championship level Aberdeen Roncalli returns its top five performers from last year’s squad that placed sixth at the Class A girls state… Home » Elections » Bengs declares candidacy in 2026 Senate race Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Brian Bengs has declared his candidacy in the 2026 election for South Dakota’s.. 2025 will pack a considerable punch within the scope of South Dakota… The Republican rampage that propelled Donald Trump to the White House with majorities in the U.S Two decades after John Thune ignited his political brand by knocking off Democratic Senate Leader Tom Daschle in South Dakota’s…… Toby Doeden was in Sioux Falls on April 9 when the Brown County Republicans posted on Facebook about their Lincoln…… The busy bosses at James Dun say they’ve decided to “go out and meet their customers” as they prepare to open their latest salon in Cults Dean Walker and Duncan Wiseman sat down with The Press and Journal to talk about their new location on North Deeside Road It will open its doors in a matter of weeks and excitement has been building since the duo announced initial plans over social media last month undertaking the renovation of a retail unit on North Deeside Road but the pair nonetheless hope to be welcoming customers in “around 12 weeks time” It’s just one part of a business plan that they hope will take them into even more north east communities in the coming years The Cults unit will be a little smaller than their flagship location in The Academy in Aberdeen but aims to offer easy access to those outwith the city centre The thriving business already incorporates Mr Dun Barber Shops in Belmont Street Duncan told us: “We feel the clientele there will be quite similar to the people we see here in the city centre “We also see a lot of our customers don’t really want to come all the way in to the city centre just for a haircut “So instead of them coming out to us we thought we’d go out to meet them where they are it’s also got lovely surroundings and a great thriving location.” Dean added: “It’s not necessarily that people don’t want to come to the city centre “It’s just that people say its’s quite a journey if they are only coming in for their hair “It made us wonder how many more people are a bit like them – and how we can serve them.” The team at James Dun Salon are also hoping the new expansion can help the next generation of north east stylists find their feet They hope graduates of their hair school on Belmont Street together with existing members of the team and newcomers will all be able to ply their trade in Cults Dean told the P&J: “We are training a lot of people and we were thinking ‘where are all these people going to go?'” “We want to help them find a home to go to when they become a stylist “This kind of training is so important because without these guys there would be no expansion Duncan and Dean say there are no plans to “conquer the world” with their salon brand – but they do hope there are more north east locations on the horizon “We have identified several areas that we would like to move into,” Duncan said making sure we are set up properly and that we have the people in place “We can’t just do things overnight and open tonnes of shops “But over the next five years I think you will see a lot more James and Mr Dun shops.” Dean added: “Aberdeenshire is as far as we want to go “We are a local business – we are not going to take over the world “We are from here and these are the people we know and want to serve.” Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin has challenged Scotland international right-back Nicky Devlin to continue fighting for a starting slot Devlin was a near ever-present in the starting XI in his first 18 months at Pittodrie following his arrival in summer 2023 Last season Devlin started 51 games for the Dons Devlin’s form earlier this season earned him a first call-up to the Scotland squad and a debut cap in a 0-0 Nations League draw with Portugal in October the 31-year has lost the Aberdeen right-back slot to January transfer window signing Alexander Jensen in recent months Jensen was was secured from Swedish Allsvenskan club Brommapojkarna for £545,000 in a fee which could rise to £839,000 (€1million) with add-ons Danish defender Jensen had started 15 straight games for the Dons – but was ruled out of the 1-0 loss to St Mirren on Saturday with a quad muscle injury Devlin returned to the starting line-up for the first time since a 2-0 loss at Hibs on February 1 Thelin praised Devlin for a solid shift and urged him to keep scrapping for a regular start again He said: “Nicky has played an important role over the season “Nicky has had problems for different reasons: injury “He was good against St Mirren and Nicky was really important for us at the beginning of the season otherwise it is impossible to be up at the top end of the table “Everyone has to compete and keep pushing each other.” Aberdeen’s bid to finish third in the Premiership suffered a blow with the damaging loss at St Mirren Third-placed Hibs capitalised by winning 2-1 against Dundee United to move three points clear of the Dons. The Easter Road club also hold a superior goal difference over Thelin’s Reds with only three league games remaining Thelin was left frustrated at the lack of cutting edge in attack from his side in Paisley Aberdeen failed to register a single shot on target against St Mirren as an eight game unbeaten run in all competitions ended Next up for the Dons is a trip to second-placed Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday Thelin will demand his attack sharpen up for the must-win trip to Govan He said: “We need to improve some parts when we play away “Against St Mirren we were close sometimes when we arrived in the right spaces there was some miscommunication inside the box but they didn’t find each other – as the last pass wasn’t there “That can happen sometimes and that is why it was looking like a typical 0-0 game “We have to do more to create more chances as the timing in the box was not there against St Mirren but it didn’t happen against a team that defended well “It was a game where someone had to do something extra to get the winning goal or get something from a set-play “Also we didn’t arrive the way we wanted with crosses “We need to improve with the way we attack we have done a lot of things really well for more or less the last month.” Aberdeen travel to Glasgow on Sunday to face a Rangers side suffering a crisis in home form Rangers‘ 1-1 draw with Celtic at the weekend extended a winless slump at Ibrox to seven games It is the longest run without victory at home in the club’s history Thelin said: “We have to take the challenge and focus on the next game against Rangers – to get better away from home and try to get the three points.” Aberdeen’s Premiership third-place chances may have disappeared into the Paisley air on Saturday but how did referee Ross Hardie and the other officials perform in the 1-0 defeat to St Mirren The man in the middle was assisted on VAR by Steven McLean The Dons thought they had taken the lead at the SMISA Stadium through Jeppe Okkels At the time I had no idea what VAR was checking or why the goal had been disallowed he disallowed the goal due to handball by Kevin Nisbet in the build-up Nisbet was nudged in the back while he was in the air causing his arm to go up and make slight contact with the ball It was unfortunate for Aberdeen the nudge was probably not quite enough for a foul – meaning they were double-losers in the situation And the frustration did not end there for Aberdeen as they conceded on the hour mark after a set-piece – a free-kick St Mirren should not have been awarded by the referee Just moments before the Buddies were awarded their foul Aberdeen’s Graeme Shinnie was clearly fouled while breaking forward The incident was almost identical to the one ref Hardie awarded St Mirren their free-kick for just seconds later there was no recourse under the rules for VAR to intervene and help Hardie correct his mistake/inconsistency Aberdeen needed to defend better and deal with the free-kick… but they should not have been in the position in the first place Hardie also failed, once again, to control time wasting tactics in Paisley – something I previously criticised the whistler for in the Motherwell game at Pittodrie recently. instead of just booking St Mirren goalkeeper Zach Hemming He also failed to punish the goalkeeper holding on to the ball for too long On one occasion Hemming held on to the ball for 18 seconds – three times the time allowed and it is not the first time I have said it this season It is not a surprise Scotland hasn’t had a match official at a major international event since Euro 2016 if this is the standard and he is always so rash with his yellow cards There were genuinely some baffling decisions for both teams which just completely lacked any footballing common sense Finlay Elder was a registered referee for six years and a category 5 official from 2019 we can't find the page that you are looking for Use the search box below to continue, or return to the homepage An Aberdeen attraction has been named as one of the big winners at a major industry awards ceremony Codona’s amusement park at Aberdeen beach was named the Best Day Out at the Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality Awards It was one of 12 businesses from across the north and north-east to win or be highly commended at the awards Among the other winners were Aberdeen bars The Craftsman Company and St Machar Bar The awards are decided by a combination of public nominations and voting Awards director Warren Paul said: “It is a very tough time for everyone right now but it does seem the hospitality industry is really feeling the heat – people simply don’t have the money to go out as often as they did or they’re scared to spend the money they do have escape all the day-to-day worries – and that’s what our friends in hospitality provide it’s important to recognise those who go above and beyond to give the public that chance to zone out “That’s what these awards are for – it’s a nod and a thank you from the public to the place and people they appreciate those who do it better than the rest or just offer something really special.” The full list of businesses from the north and north-east that won or were highly commended at the awards is as follows: Defiant boss Jimmy Thelin insists Aberdeen will “keep believing” they can win the battle to finish third in the Premiership The Dons’ eight game unbeaten run in all competitions ground to a halt with a 1-0 loss to St Mirren in Paisley Aberdeen failed to register a single shot on target with St Mirren’s Mikael Mandron netting the decisive goal with a volley in the 60th minute The defeat is a hammer blow to Aberdeen’s bid to finish third in the Premiership Third-placed Hibs capitalised to move three points clear of the Dons with a 2-1 win against Dundee United With Rangers away and Celtic at home the next two games for Thelin’s side this was a fixture Aberdeen could not afford to lose in the hunt for third Thelin said: “We have to improve and move on “We have three more difficult games to play and you have to keep believing until the end of the season and keep going “I don’ t think we did enough to deserve to win but I’m not sure we were so bad as to deserve to lose “It was one of those games where you needed to do something special to win it “We did a lot of good things and were almost there sometimes but not quite enough to deserve to win.” Paisley continues to be a nightmare venue for the Reds who have not won in the league away against St Mirren since December 2018 In the last 10 Premiership away games at St Mirren the Reds have taken only three points from a possible 30 The Buddies have now won three consecutive league games against the Dons for the first time since 2011 Aberdeen had a goal by Jeppe Okkels chalked off for offside following a VAR review in the first half Thelin said: “It looked like a goal at first but then it went to VAR and we have to trust the referee “I will have another look at it then and have a think about it then “Now we have to improve some areas in our away games to deserve to win “Today it was not there but also credit to St Mirren for the way we played.” Scotland international right-back Nicky Devlin returned to the starting line-up in one of two changes from the team that won 1-0 against Hibs A regular first team-starter in the first 18 months since signing for the Dons in summer 2023 Devlin has had limited game recently a £545,000 capture from  Swedish Allsvenskan club Brommapojkarna has been preferred in the right-back position Devlin came in for his first start since a 2-0 loss away at Hibs on February 1 Thelin said: “Alexander has some small issues so let’s see if he is ready for the next game “Or maybe a little bit later because he has some issue in the quads so let’s see.” Asked if Jensen would be fit for the Scottish Cup final against Celtic on May 24 Thelin said: “I think he can be back earlier than that but today was too early.” In the other change Okkels, on loan from Preston North End came in to replace Pape Gueye who dropped to the bench In his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation Thelin started a trio of wingers in the attacking three behind striker Kevin Nisbet Finland international Topi Keskinen played through the middle with Shayden Morris on the right and Okkels on the left Aberdeen created the first opportunity in the seventh minute when Leighton Clarkson flashed a low 22-yard drive inches wide The Dons had a goal disallowed in the 25th minute when Okkels volleyed in from 10 yards at the back post Following a lengthy VAR review where referee Ross Hardie went to the pitchside monitor the goal was chalked off for handball by Kevin Nisbet in the build up Nisbet appeared to be impeded by Alex Gogic in the penalty area in a coming together that led to any handball On the half-hour mark Aberdeen keeper Dimitar Mitov blocked a low 15-yard drive by Mark O’Hara St Mirren went ahead in the 60th minute when Mikael Mandron controlled a delivery from O’Hara with his chest Mandron then volleyed into the corner to punish slack defending as the attacker was given far too much time and space in the box In the 70th minute Mats Knoester met a Graeme Shinnie corner but his glancing header flew wide of the far post Man of the match: Mark O’Hara (St Mirren) know that several other places around the world share the name Aberdeen I was fortunate enough to travel recently to the former British colony of Hong Kong where the fishing town of Aberdeen is thriving Considering the two places are thousands of miles apart Scotland’s Aberdeen has always had a strong relationship with the sea A coastal city that serves as the base for many oil rigs out in the North Sea Industries such as fishing and later oil and gas have injected wealth into the city the place of the same name also has an affinity with the water as a major fishing harbour with nearby seafood restaurants offering the freshest catch It is also home to a large floating village The area is a well-known local tourist attraction I saw hundreds of small fishing boats moored along the promenade Hong Kong’s Aberdeen has long had a lively market presence in the city centre with residents visiting almost daily for the freshest of produce The market is divided into dozens of areas and outlets with raw meat butchered on the spot and live seafood swimming in large tanks waiting to be picked out by hungry Hongkongers seeds and spices are on display – and vendors are open to haggling where experienced fishermen bring in their catch to be sold Back in Scotland, the 181ft-tall tower blocks in Tillydrone might seem imposing But they pale in comparison to the towering high rises in Hong Kong The city is one of the most densely populated places in the world so planners have built skywards to address overcrowding Hong Kong has more than 4,000 residential buildings taller than 328ft Dozens of these overlook the waterfront in the city’s Aberdeen area where they are home to thousands of people Both Aberdeen’s offer ferry services but it isn’t really a fair comparison—they are worlds apart ferries connect to the Northern Isles and offer modern amenities you could probably hold your breath as you make the quick two-minute or so journey aboard a rickety wooden boat but it reliably carries dozens of people across the bay every day ferrying passengers to Lamma Island—a brilliant hiking spot I was lucky enough to visit Hong Kong on a March day when temperatures reached 25C—a heat only dreamed of by Aberdonians Aberdeen is famously known as the Granite City granite is used mainly in Kowloon and the northern part of Hong Kong Island Fun fact: Skyscrapers in Hong Kong are still scaffolded using bamboo instead of metal due to its durability Yet it also feels slightly detached from the rest of Hong Kong being located on the south side of Hong Kong Island The city’s main commercial centres are concentrated to the north of the island and across Victoria Harbour in Kowloon In this way, it mirrors its Scottish namesake, which lies somewhat apart from the Central Belt It’s striking how two places—so different in size and climate—can still connect through geography People across the north and north-east of Scotland awoke with a smile on their face on the morning of May 8 As the Press and Journal reported the news of how Germany had surrendered and the Prime Minister Winston Churchill was poised to address the nation at 3pm the feeling of exhilaration and relief was overwhelming our headline – which simply read V-Day – reflected the reality that the conflict still wasn’t over in many parts of the world and particularly the Far East A small paragraph on the front page of the edition pointed out: “The war lasted 2,094 days – 526 days longer than World War I” But the paper also reported that allied diplomats were continuing their efforts to broker a peace deal with the Japanese which dragged on until the end of the summer that didn’t cast a veil over the celebrations which were held everywhere from Aberdeen and Inverness to Oban and Orkney and across the Mearns whether in large communities or tiny hamlets there were street parties throughout the city while thousands of people flocked to Union Street and the Castlegate As the late Aberdeen veteran Eric Johnston who fought on the beaches of Normandy in 1944 recalled: “There never was a day where so many strangers walked together and where everybody shook hands and enjoyed the fact we had won a war which was a just war “Many people went to church in the morning and I heard from my friends that it was the same all across Scotland the pubs were open and plenty of folk enjoyed a beer and a dram but my main memory of that day was of people coming together as one big community.” The festivities were grander in some places than others not everywhere could stretch to staging big events yet there was no shortage of wood for the bonfires which burned effigies of Adolf Hitler as the day progressed The trams which ran in Aberdeen often resembled something from a Hollywood musical with passengers breaking into spontaneous renditions of songs ranging from The Northern Lights to the National Anthem and We’ll Meet Again there were positive developments for those who lived around the coast and had become wearily accustomed to life under blackout regulations As the P&J reported: “The Secretary of the Admiralty has announced that lighting restrictions in the coastal areas are no longer necessary for defence purposes and they are now removed for the whole country “The news will be hailed with delight in Aberdeen and other north-east areas where the blackout has been in force since the beginning of the war.” It wasn’t just adults who were allowed to let their hair down and join the party Youngsters were given time off to join in the celebrations and enjoyed their real-life experiences as much as their comic strip counterpart who was depicted in rambunctious flag-waving form in The Sunday Post fun section As the Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives related: “At last Germany surrendered to the Allies in Europe and Victory in Europe Day was marked at school with two days of holiday the headteacher wrote: ‘Two days holiday was granted to celebrate the cessation of hostilities The children made their own bonfire and lit it at night’ a small committee was appointed to make arrangements for the children A religious service was held at 2.30pm and the children marched to the Gordon Arms Hotel where they were entertained to tea and games sports were also held in the pleasure park and money prizes given The proceedings were brought to a close by the lighting of a bonfire in the evening.” Ena Strachan was one of the pupils who joined her mother But as she said: “Some of us were luckier than others We felt sorry for the boys and girls whose dads had been killed or were still fighting.” it wasn’t only Scots who were involved in the festivities who had flocked to the Moray Firth when their homelands fell under enemy occupation settled in Buckie and made such an impact on their new surroundings the town became known as Little Norway These men and women helped establish a Norwegian Consulate during the conflict while a Sjomannskirken – a seaman’s church – opened in the Main Street in 1942 and King Haakon VII visited Scotland and met his compatriots the following summer investigated the many ties which were forged between the refugees and the locals He said: “People from both countries celebrated on May 8 back in 1945 and the links between them have never been forgotten “My grandmother married one of the Danish exiles and they went to live in Esbjerg after the war there is the grave of a little six-year-old Norwegian girl because she was buried near to my own family’s graves And there’s a letter which sums up all the feelings of one north-east couple who were married The correspondence was sent by Mary Ann (Molly) McKenzie from her Aberdeen home on VE Day itself to her husband who was in charge of a group of Russian prisoners of war in Holland but also a sense of frustration that the pair could not be together to enjoy the occasion And that was allied to a tinge of apprehension lest any harm befell the man she called her “darling” spoke about how the letter was precious in capturing the atmosphere as Aberdeen and other cities broke out the bunting Molly wrote about the scenes she and her family witnessed in the Granite City both on the streets and at a church service before they went home to listen to a BBC radio broadcast by the Prime Minister She said: “The whole town has gone gay with decorations and flags it was grand to see all the flags fluttering and even the trams had flags on them to say nothing of the children who were wearing a lot of red “I have never seen so many people in Union Street It was a moving mass between Market Street and the Castlegate We took the tram to George Street and when we got to the church at 11 I offered my prayers and thankfulness for your safe deliverance “We went up to your mother’s after we came back from the church and your Ma gave me a glass of stout and impressed on me it would do no harm “[In the afternoon] we all gathered for the Prime Minister’s speech at 3.00 and I wondered if you were listening to it it MUST have been for even Ma made us all stand up in a circle and sing God Save the King “We had a bottle of port and we had a toast – first to Charlie and last to those who shall not return [from the war] I have the feeling it won’t be very long before you are home Amid the exultant scenes which marked VE Day Scottish troops cherished the end of the war in Europe and the Gordon Highlanders were those who could attend ceremonies in Britain on May 8 were all too conscious that so many of their comrades had either fallen in the conflict or remained incarcerated in prisoner of war camps thousands of miles away Ruth Cox, curator of the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen explained how the regiment reacted as the world was changing around them She said: “Victory in Europe was marked by the Gordon Highlanders with celebrations and parades with the sounds of pipe music and many dinners being held “The cessation of hostilities would have been welcome for the PoWs in Europe and North Africa who experienced a wide range of treatment at the hands of their captors “But the same could not be said of those who were held in the Far East who continued to suffer as prisoners of war until Japan surrendered in August the Gordon Highlanders fought in a conflict that eventually ended in victory but at the cost of the lives of 2,400 members of the regiment who were killed in action or died of their wounds.” the peace which followed VE Day was a brief chance to toast the outcome as an editorial in the Press and Journal on May 9 made clear it was also a time to remember the immense sacrifices which had been necessary to ensure success It urged the region to “honour those who fought for democracy” which had been made by so many And it spoke of the need for the country to pull together Torry Raac campaigners made heartfelt pleas to the SNP housing minister in a face-to-face meeting as they argued residents are caught in the middle of a blame game Paul McLennan met members of the Torry Community Raac Campaign in Balnagask on Friday for the first time since the crisis unfolded more than a year ago Affected homeowners handed him around 40 letters penned by local residents and shared their stories in emotional testimony during the one-hour meeting The potentially dangerous Raac material was discovered in 500 council and private homes in the Balnagask area said she felt the minister did listen to their concerns even if it did take him too long to visit But she said homeowners are caught in the middle of a blame game taking place between the city council Scottish Government and UK Government over funding Aberdeen City Council plans to demolish the affected properties by 2028 – despite an ongoing wrangle where some owners are refusing to sell. The Balnagask resident would like to see the Scottish Government set up a fund to ensure homeowners are compensated for the full value of their home Currently the city council is offering only current market value with residents facing losses of between £35,000 and £55,000 on average She said: “In the middle of all this is human beings here whose lives are being affected morning but they all need to finally come together and sort the problem out.” chair of the Torry Community Raac Campaign said campaigners are being “pushed from pillar to post” in their fight for funding He received the valuation from the council for his house in the week leading up to Christmas and looks set to lose about £50,000 The campaigner said: “There doesn’t seem to be any urgency in trying to get a solution for us It’s still very much ‘ah we’ll see’.” He added: “What we’ve always said is give us full value for our houses and you can have our keys tomorrow.” The P&J asked Mr McLennan why it had taken him so long to visit the community when it was well documented that hundreds of families were in crisis he said he had “engaged extensively” with the local council holding around eight to 10 meetings with officials in the past year The housing minister said building safety is the responsibility of local authorities and said it is for the UK Government to set up a UK-wide fund But the UK Government claims it is for devolved administrations – such as Holyrood – and relevant local councils He said Aberdeen City Council had yet to submit any “detailed proposals” on funding Aberdeen City Council co-leader Christian Allard said the council has pushed for funding and funding flexibility “from the outset” The SNP councillor added: “We do need to have a plan from both governments about how we can support local authorities to better support our own tenants and owner occupiers as well.” The P&J last week launched its Trapped by Raac campaign It builds on our continuing work to highlight the plight of ordinary people facing ruin through no fault of their own Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin confirmed he will make decisions on players’ futures in the week between the league ending and the Scottish Cup final The future for a number of players is up in the air with contracts set to expire at the end of the season and the Dons having an option to buy on some loan deals Aberdeen’s final league game of the season is against Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday They then face Celtic in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday Thelin will deliver clarity to players on their future during the week before the final in a bid to be “fair to everyone involved” Full-back Jack MacKenzie and keepers Ross Doohan and Tom Ritchie are all out of contract at the end of the season Aberdeen were in talks with MacKenzie regarding a new contract but there has been no resolution The Dons have right to buy options on loan players Oday Dabbagh and Jeppe Okkels who were both secured in the January transfer window Belgian club Charleroi recently triggered a clause to extend striker Dabbagh’s contract Dabbagh’s deal was set to expire this summer but Charleroi have extended that to the summer of 2026 Palestine international Dabbagh has scored four goals during his loan spell The 26-year-old netted the winner in the 2-1 Scottish Cup semi-final triumph against Hearts Winger Okkels is on loan from English Championship club Preston North End It is understood Preston would look for a £1million fee for Okkels in the summer Thelin said: “There is work going on but we also respect that it’s big decisions for everyone to take regarding their future “We’re going to talk about that after the league is played when we have a week before the Scottish Cup final “That’s when we will focus on the squad and what’s going to happen with the players “Because we have to be fair to everyone involved “Right now we are focusing on this interesting period in the league then  let’s see what happens.” Aberdeen will bid to maintain the momentum in their fight to finish third in the Premiership when facing St Mirren away on Saturday Winger Shayden Morris will go into the clash in Paisley on a high having scooped the player of the year gong at the club’s awards ceremony on Thursday Morris struggled to get game time last season under Barry Robson and then interim boss Neil Warnock The 23-year-old winger has reignited his Pittodrie career under Thelin’s guidance Thelin said: “I see how much effort Shayden puts in as part of his journey “Sometimes he was struggling but he came back even stronger and that is his mentality “That’s the thing of a footballer as a career is never straightforward “Hopefully the trend line for Shayden will continue to be higher and higher “He wants to improve and learn even more and is talking when we have meetings “He’s also a nice character and it was great to see him with all the emotions he showed when receiving his prize “We are all really happy for him.” Aberdeen are in the midst of a resurgence in form having lost only once in 12 games in all competitions To maintain the recent form the Reds must end a win drought in Paisley stretching back seven years. Aberdeen are winless in their last nine league visits to St Mirren having drawn three and lost six The Reds’ last won in Paisley in December 2018 (2-1) under Derek McInnes St Mirren have also won both of their last two matches against Aberdeen The Paisley club last won three in a row against the Reds in July 2011 Thelin said: “The team is really ready for this game and we know what we have to do “We have to try everything we can to take the points and then go to the next game and do it again “We try to be better because we want to bring a higher level of performance all the time “Everybody knows what is in front of us and what we need to do “Of course we have an opponent on the other side and St Mirren are confident and have skills “To be a top team we have to take points in a lot of  grounds during the season “I think the team is ready for taking these steps in the last games.” The £23 million Britoil fraud took place 37 years ago and much has happened in the lives of the key figures in the case – so where are they now Alison Anders served 20 months behind bars and Roy Allen served a little more Having begun their relationship when Allen cheated on his wife Anders and Allen were to prove that their romance was not just a short-lived affair They often wrote to each other from their cells at Saughton and Cornton Vale and the couple got married at Peterhead Registry Office on April 23 1993 There was a reception for family and friends at the Waterside Hotel in Peterhead Anders listed her profession as ‘horticulturalist’ – a nod to her time when she went on the run from the police and FBI and worked under a fake name at Jacobsen’s florist in Oregon The couple bought a house from a retired farmer in Maud and lived a peaceful life together – with one or two bumps in the road Anders took a job as a £12,000-a-year tutor with Rehab Scotland but was sacked because she did not tell bosses about the fraud the couple were popular and had several friends in and around Aberdeenshire One friend told us that Anders and Allen got a pair of Rottweilers to dissuade tabloid journalists from arriving on the doorstep added: “The fraud was never going to be a success for them it was a good thing that the fraud failed as an effort “There were too many people along the money chain that they were relying upon “Those people would have done away with them at some point instead of simply passing the money on “I do remember Roy confiding in me that he and Alison Roy Allen was thought of highly by those around him in his later years The friend said: “He was one of these people that “Roy would phone and say ‘if you’re not doing anything I’ve got a bottle of malt – we can see what we can do with that’.” After graduating from Aberdeen University with a psychology degree he became a lecturer at the same university and would always start lectures by showing students a picture of his dog Roy Allen died after a short illness on October 2014 oil companies had become a subject of annoyance for some young people and one student publication paid tribute to Allen after his death The Tab’s article began: “As if we needed another reason to admire him Roy Allen has been unmasked as a criminal mastermind.” It added that Allen was “loved by many of his students” and “regardless of his past this lecturer and local icon will be sorely missed by both staff and students” Hajdin Sejdija is still offering tips on how to become rich through property dealings He could not be located despite extensive efforts Jill Ruddell and Omar Hammoud did not wish to be interviewed for this series One person known to them told us: “In many ways Jill and Omar were collateral damage in this story they could have just stayed well and truly out of it – but all they wanted was for justice to be done “And their ‘reward’ for helping and doing the right thing was having their names mentioned in court Alison Anders is working in the field of education in Aberdeenshire and still lives in Maud We made several attempts to contact her over a period of several months and she did not return our messages who cracked the case after several years of police work with his colleagues Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin has confirmed midfielder Sivert Heltne Nilsen is ruled out for the rest of the season with an eye injury The Norwegian has been sidelined for two months with the injury suffered during a training session the 33-year-old has been a key player for Thelin this season he will miss the climax of the battle for third place and the Scottish Cup final against Celtic at Hampden on Saturday Thelin hopes the influential midfielder will recover in time to start pre-season training with the Dons after the summer break He said: “Sivert is going to be ruled out for the rest of the season and then let’s see for how long a time “I think it’s going quite well so it’s not going to be ready for the last games – not even the final “But hopefully he is ready for the pre-season “Everything is going as well as it could be “When players get injuries you know how much it means for them as they contribute to the team “Their life is having to push in training every day “You get some problems you need to solve and sometimes you can grow with that also and we have to support each other.” Thelin granted Heltne Nilsen permission to return to Norway while he focused on  recovery from the injury. The midfielder is now back in the Granite City Thelin said: “He arrived back on Monday centre-back Kristers Tobers has ramped up his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury that has ruled him out for two months A £600,000 signing from Swiss club Grasshoppers in the January window Tobers last featured for the Dons in a 2-2 draw with Dundee United on March 2 The 24-year-old will miss Saturday’s clash at St Mirren but could be in contention for the trip to Rangers the following weekend Thelin said: “Kristers is in full training this week but he needs some more time so he doesn’t get any setbacks “At least he’s training full with the team now.” It is shocking Aberdeen had to fight to get additional tickets for the Scottish Cup final against Celtic at Hampden The Pittodrie hierarchy must be applauded for battling to get more than 20,000 briefs for the club’s first Scottish Cup final since 2017 Aberdeen were initially faced with only 16,800 guaranteed tickets with the potential of an additional 2,000 – but they were not guaranteed The increased allocation of more than 20,000 was only secured after the Dons agreed to underwrite the cost of any unsold tickets. It is farcical a club should have to scrap for a fair share of tickets for a national final That is a major flaw and imbalance in the Scottish game which needs to be addressed There should always be a 50-50 split of tickets regardless of the teams in the final – with no exception for Celtic and Rangers as the club requested a 50-50 split of tickets for the League Cup final against Rangers in 2023 However, their request was rejected by the SPFL as Aberdeen received 19,500 tickets for that final and Rangers got 25,000 Why should Celtic and Rangers automatically get a larger ticket allocation The fair way would be to deliver a clear 50-50 split There could then be a definitive deadline for tickets to be returned if they are not sold then they can be made available to the other club But there must be that opportunity to sell a 50% split of tickets It is so frustrating because Celtic already have an advantage with a far superior budget and the final being played in their home city And Scottish football authorities hand them a further edge by giving them more tickets It is time for a rule change to ensure there is an initial 50-50 allocation for all semi-finals and finals at Hampden The English FA allocate an equal 50-50 ticket share to clubs for FA Cup finals Underdogs Crystal Palace will get the same amount of tickets as Manchester City for the final this month By successfully pushing for more tickets for the May 24 final the Aberdeen board are showing their faith in the Red Army Let’s not forget 43,000 Aberdeen supporters were at the League Cup final win against Inverness Caley Thistle at Parkhead in 2014 That sensational attendance blows out the water any argument Aberdeen could not sell their share of a 50-50 allocation at Hampden Aberdeen’s supporters have been absolutely phenomenal throughout Jimmy Thelin’s first season in charge They have travelled in their thousands to every away game That was impressive during the record-breaking 16-game unbeaten start to the season in all competitions under Thelin the numbers in the travelling support also never dropped Even as the Dons endured a 14-game Premiership winless slump during the winter As their team failed to win game after game the Red Army still travelled across the country in their thousands to cheer on the Reds Now Thelin and his players have the opportunity to reward Aberdeen supporters as success this season is within touching distance Aberdeen blew open the race to finish third with a 1-0 win against Hibs at Pittodrie They are now level on points with third-placed Hibs And the season will close with the final against Celtic at Hampden I’m confident the Red Army will sell out the ticket allocation and make Hampden a sea of red to help the bid to lift silverware I applaud Kevin Nisbet for scoring an absolutely stunning goal in the 1-0 win against Hibs at Pittodrie It is a goal any striker would be proud of because it was so difficult to pull off When the ball came out to Nisbet at the edge of the box so didn’t have much options available to him Somehow he managed to control the ball on his chest and then unleash a sensational volley into the top far corner It was a strike of exquisite quality and a real contender for goal of the season Nisbet has hit form in recent months and will return to parent club Millwall in the summer I’m sure Millwall boss Alex Neil would like to have Nisbet in his side next season It would be great if Nisbet could lead the line for Aberdeen next season – but other clubs will want him as well A young Aberdeen thug has avoided jail after attacking two strangers outside McDonald’s on Union Street carried out his unprovoked attacks just over a week before another incident in which he pelted a couple with rocks and attacked a man Main told the couple: “Do you know who I am? I will kill you.” Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told that late in the evening of July 22 2023 Main had been outside McDonald’s with a group of youths. Fiscal depute Callum Gordon said Main approached his first victim and began arguing with him, claiming that someone had “started on him”. Mr Gordon said: “[The complainer] replied to the effect that he was unsure what the accused was referring to, as he had only just passed by. “Moments later, he was struck in the face, causing him to fall to the ground.” The court was told witnesses saw Main punching the man to the head and body – causing him to fall to the ground. Main then continued to punch and kick him. “He was rendered briefly unconscious,” Mr Gordon said. “CCTV footage shows he is being pushed onto the road by Main, where he is pulled to the ground. He attempts to stand and then falls again. “Main is seen delivering multiple punches and kicks to the man while he is both standing and lying on the ground.” A second man then tries to intervene to help his friend, but Main is also captured swinging a punch towards him – causing him to immediately fall to the ground unconscious. Footage then shows Main fleeing the scene, accompanied by another, unknown male. Both men were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after first receiving help from the Aberdeen Street Pastors. One Main’s victims suffered facial injuries, which needed internal and external stitches and have left him with various scars and permanent damage to his teeth. Using CCTV Main was traced two days later outside the Ibis Hotel on Shiprow. Mr Gordon said that during the resulting search, Main remarked that he had drugs in his right trouser pocket. He was found to have heroin valued at around £1,040 and £760 worth of crack cocaine, which he told police was his way of “making a living”. Main, of Tillydrone Court, pled guilty to assault to injury and permanent disfigurement, assault and possession of class A drugs. His defence solicitor, Neil McRobert, said his client had experienced “significant trauma” throughout his childhood and had been diagnosed with ADHD. “That affects how Mr Main deals with life situations and how he reacts to them,” Mr McRobert explained. “That is no excuse, but provides a background.” He asked for a community-based disposal and made mention of the previously ordered 160 hours of unpaid work that Main still had to complete. Sheriff Lesley Johnston said: “Your behaviour is obviously affected by consuming illegal substances. “I accept that you have a diagnosis and a mental health issue and have mild learning difficulties. “You are young and have young inconsequential thinking – that is born out in the assault charges. “But the drugs offences did involve planning – that easily meets the threshold for custody. “However, in view of the very detailed report, and you being a young person, I am going to impose an alternative to custody.” She imposed a further unpaid work order for 140 hours, taking Main to the maximum 300 hours and placed him under supervision for two years. But she warned: “If you do not make progress with this order, the court will have no hesitation in revoking it and imposing a custodial sentence in its place – even at your young age.” Main was ordered to return to court on May 20 for a review. That's all from us on another topsy turvy day in the Scottish Premiership - and the conclusion of the main season in Leagues 1 and 2 our feast of football continues with Sportscene's Premiership highlights show kicking off at 19:15 BST on the BBC Scotland channel which is repeated at 23:40 on BBC One Scotland 63Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThe battle for third...published at 18:00 British Summer Time 3 May18:00 BST 3 MayScottish Premiership with kick-off between Rangers and Celtic at high noon at Ibrox Only pride and city bragging rights are at stake for both the visiting champions and hosts already secure in second Hibs have the advantage but must visit Celtic next weekend as Dundee United host St Mirren and Aberdeen travel to face Rangers There could be more twists and turns to come in the race for those European qualification places 93Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'Officials contrived to disallow Portales goal' - Dochertypublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 3 May17:55 BST 3 MayFT: Dundee 1-2 Motherwell "The officials are killing the game." 224Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRobinson praises 'great finish'published at 17:54 British Summer Time 3 May17:54 BST 3 MayFT: St MIrren 1-0 Aberdeen St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "We struggled at the start we just couldn't get into a rhythm or get hold of the ball I don't remember too many clearcut chances from Aberdeen "We can play better than what we did today but it shows the character of the players and the quality when we've needed it It was a great finish from Mika [Mandron] - a set play we've worked on tirelessly." 176Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'Massive team performance'published at 17:51 British Summer Time 3 May17:51 BST 3 MayFT: Hibernian 3-1 Dundee United Hibernian head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "The result was the most important thing - the reaction from the players to the defeat last weekend "Everyone was looking to see how this Hibs team would bounce back and I got that today "Credit to Dundee United in the second half they got a bit of a foothold in the game and we lose a really poor goal "The players showed me massive character to make sure we saw the game out 304Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingMcDiarmid Park showdown at bottompublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 3 May17:48 BST 3 MayScottish Premiership Today's results set up a massive game at McDiarmid Park next Saturday St Johnstone host Ross County in a battle of the bottom two and anything less than a win will surely end the Perth side's hopes of avoiding automatic relegation who are now four points ahead and would end their own relegation fears with a victory 72Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingDons 'not good enough to deserve win'published at 17:41 British Summer Time 3 May17:41 BST 3 MayFT: St Mirren 1-0 Aberdeen Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin tells BBC Scotland: "We wanted more but they used the opportunity from the set play to score that goal "The final pass today didn't arrive in the right spaces - that's football sometimes "We need to improve some parts in the away games and do better because we now have three more important games in the league "We have to believe and try to do some things better in our away games." 87Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'We never felt we couldn't win the game' - Wimmerpublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 3 May17:38 BST 3 MayFT: Dundee 1-2 Motherwell Motherwell manager Michael Wimmer tells BBC Scotland: "I'm very happy especially in the second half - and the first half we lacked a little bit of energy and also the defence from the two throw-ins was not good enough 122Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'Hard to pick yourself up' - Valakaripublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 3 May17:35 BST 3 MayFT: St Johnstone 0-2 Kilmarnock St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari tells BBC Scotland: "The fight continues Other results give us a little lifeline and that's what we need to grab "We could not perform well enough today it will be difficult and I'm very disappointed in how we give away the first goal "We are very honest with ourselves - it was not good enough how we defended in crucial moments We have these three matches to grab something 38Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingEast Kilbride to face Bonnyriggpublished at 17:33 British Summer Time 3 May17:33 BST 3 MayFT: Brora Rangers 3-3 East Kilbride (agg 4-7) East Kilbride completed their passage into the Pyramid Play-off final after sharing a six-goal thriller with Brora The Lowland League champions' 4-1 first-leg win proved crucial against their Highland counterparts and they will face Bonnyrigg 50Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingBeaten County 'can't feel sorry for ourselves' - Cowiepublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 3 May17:30 BST 3 MayFT: Ross County 1-3 Heart of Midlothian Ross County manager Don Cowie tells BBC Scotland: "We get the first goal it's important we keep it at 1-0 going in to half-time but we are still in the game - then we make a mistake and are punished Ronan has a great opportunity at 1-1 and doesn't take it "There is no point feeling sorry for ourselves we have to get ready for a massive week next week "I've got belief in the group and myself but we've got to get act upon it." 17Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingKilmarnock 'didn't need to be brilliant' - McInnespublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 3 May17:29 BST 3 MayFT: St Johnstone 0-2 Kilmarnock Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes tells BBC Scotland: "The pitch is really difficult but that is really difficult for the players to try and connect We could have been more effective with our work We saw the importance of another midfielder arriving late in the box "Davie [Watson] has the quality to get on the road "We knew the second goal didn't need to come it put pressure on them and we stayed strong within our structure professional performance and the exact one that was needed we just need to be steady with our work." 192Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFULL-TIME RESULTSpublished at 17:28 British Summer Time 3 May17:28 BST 3 MayScottish League 2 The League 1 play-off semi-final line-ups have been decided with Edinburgh clinching third place despite losing their derby with Spartans That's because fourth-top Elgin also lost - to runners-up East Fife It means the Fifers will take on Edinburgh while Elgin face Annan who finished second bottom in the league above Bonnyrigg fall agonisingly short in their bid to avoid the Pyramid play-off to stay in League 2 A victory away to Stranraer was not enough as Forfar's draw with Stirling keeps the Angus side ahead on goal difference 41Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingShankland will 'score goals wherever he plays' - Foxpublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 3 May17:22 BST 3 MayFT: Ross County 1-3 Heart of Midlothian Interim Hearts head coach Liam Fox tells BBC Scotland: "We are delighted after a difficult week for the club "We had to fight through a period where we lost our way but stuck to what they were asked to do That shows the players' courage and we scored three really good goals "There's natural disappointment when County scored but we were asking them to be brave and pass the ball and "We did a lot of work this week on the structure of the team and how we want to create chances Lawrence Shankland will score goals wherever he plays I just felt we need him in and around the box to hopefully get him the chances he did today he usually hits the back of the net." Asked if Fox expects to be in charge against Motherwell next weekend Fox replies: "Unless I hear otherwise 174Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFULL-TIME SCORESpublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 3 May17:20 BST 3 MayScottish League 1 The Championship play-off semi-final line-up are complete Queen of the South and Stenhousemuir sealing their places Cove finish second after a convincing win over Annan and will face Queen of the South who finish third after drawing with champions Arbroath into fourth after a win over Dumbarton and will face Airdrieonians who finished second bottom of the Championship 40Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingHibs see daylight in third-top racepublished at 17:15 British Summer Time 3 May17:15 BST 3 MayScottish Premiership Hibs started the day in pole position to finish third and they end it with a three-point gap between themselves and Aberdeen - and six clear of Dundee United 3811Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 17:12 British Summer Time 3 May17:12 BST 3 MayStay with us for manager reaction from around the Premiership.. 20Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingAnd then there were three...published at 17:10 British Summer Time 3 May17:10 BST 3 MayScottish Premiership but it looks like this afternoon has shaken down the potential Hearts and Kilmarnock have healthy cushions with Dundee and Ross County in a head-to-head to avoid the play-off spot 133Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFULL-TIME Dundee 1-2 Motherwellpublished at 17:06 British Summer Time 3 May17:06 BST 3 MayA sensational second-half fightback from 10-man Motherwell and Michael Wimmer's side secure their Premiership safety After a largely dominant first 45 from Dundee in which Antonio Portales' scored two beautiful volleys - albeit one ruled offside - Motherwell came out fighting in the second half and Tom Sparrow rifled the ball into the roof of the net to draw them level They kept battling after Koutroumbis was shown a red card for a challenge on Ziyad Larkeche and Tawanda Maswanhise's late header sealed all three points are just two points off second bottom Ross County 5527Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingFULL-TIME St Mirren 1-0 Aberdeenpublished at 17:04 British Summer Time 3 May17:04 BST 3 MayIt's another excellent outcome for St Mirren who are loving life in the top six once again safe from danger with aspirations still to chase It's unlikely Mikael Mandron's winner will deliver a European place given they have to overall an eight-point deficit to Aberdeen in three games it's not impossible and the chase for fifth is now on with Dundee United next up They will point to Jeppe Okkels' strike being ruled out for an earlier handball Watch on iPlayerMartin DowdenBBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in PaisleySt Mirren retained their outside chance of attaining a European place with Mikael Mandron's second-half volley meaning Aberdeen fell three points adrift of Hibernian in the race to finish third. The home side had to win to preserve their Euro ambitions and did so thanks to striker Mandron, whose winner followed agreement on a contract extension for a further year. Jimmy Thelin's side thought they had netted a first-half opener when Jeppe Okkels pounced to net but the award was overturned for a debatable handball decision against Kevin Nisbet in the build-up. The Pittodrie side now lie three points adrift of Hibs with three games to play with Stephen Robinson's side still facing an eight-point deficit to Aberdeen to land a ticket to Europe. The visitors started brightly, forcing a series of corners before the Dons' Leighton Clarkson fired narrowly off target. As St Mirren grew into the game, it seemed the visitors had secured a crucial advantage when Okkels found incredible space to net from close range. Referee Ross Hardie awarded the goal but was brought for review with Nisbet judged to have handled with his arm in an unnatural position. The debate centred on whether that was the result of contact from Alex Gogic. The home side took heart from that let-off and had chances, with Jonah Ayunga and Mark O'Hara both going close. The breakthrough was an excellent finish from Mandron. He took the ball down with his chest and controlled his volley but, in truth, was afforded too much space in such a dangerous area. Aberdeen failed to respond with impact, with Zach Hemming rarely tested directly. They created pressure in the final third as the game wore on but could not get enough on target to take something. It was St Mirren on the break who ought to have sealed it in injury time but substitute Roland Idowu was superbly denied by Dimitar Mitov. You just can't keep this St Mirren side down. Achieving top six alievated any pressure and they have more than taken the chance to express themselves to great effect. This win backs up the point at home against Rangers. Four post-split points is a great return so far and a great platform to go further. They seem to be enjoying the challenge and are finishing the season on a real high. On the unveiling of an extra year for striker Mandron, he said there was more to come from him. It's instant payback and sets up Robinson's side for a genuine challenge for fifth place, with Europe remaining achievable. Aberdeen had taken on the fight for third with a bit of momentum building ahead of this fixture. Being unbeaten since the end of February until this defeat showed a level of consistency, but this outcome is a real blow. They've lost crucial ground on Hibs and face a trip to Ibrox next before hosting Celtic. Anything from those games in normal circumstances would be deemed a positive but may well be required now with games running out. The disallowed effort for handball against Nisbet will be a major talking point. It was given for his arm being in an unnatural position. However, was he nudged to cause that? There's little room for error now, although Hibernian face a testing trip to Celtic Park next weekend as they look to cement their position. St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "We can play better than what we did today, but it shows the character of the players and the quality when we've needed it. It was a great finish from Mika [Mandron] - a set play we've worked on tirelessly. "When the goal was disallowed, it gave us a bit of a kickstart. I don't remember too many clear-cut chances from Aberdeen. I thought we dealt with their threat well." Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "We wanted more. We were not good enough to deserve to win, but maybe we were not bad enough to lose. "The final pass didn't arrive in the right spaces - that's football sometimes. Today was not the perfect game, but also St Mirren did things well. We need to improve some parts in the away games and do better because we now have three more important games in the league." The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made Yellow Card at 47 minutesSubstituteshome team Yellow Card at 47 minutesSubstitutesNumber 15 substituted for Oday Dabbagh at 66 minutesNumber 20 Polvara Match OfficialsReferee: Ross HardieVideo Assistant Referee: Steven McLeanAssistant Referee 1: Alastair TaylorAssistant Referee 2: Ross NelsonFourth Official: Euan AndersonAssistant VAR Official: Duncan NicolsonMatch StatsKey MirrenKeyAberdeenOverall possessionSTM38.4%ABE61.6%St Mirren 4Aberdeen 040Total touches inside the boxSt Mirren 17Aberdeen 23STM1723ABEGoalkeeper savesSt Mirren 5Aberdeen 11511Advanced match statsAttackAttackShotsSt Mirren 2Aberdeen 121DefensiveDefensiveTotal tacklesSt Mirren 10Aberdeen 111011Total yellow cardsSt Mirren 32Aberdeen 273227Headed clearancesSt Mirren 48Aberdeen 544854DistributionDistributionTotal passesSt Mirren 276Aberdeen 432276432Accurate passesSt Mirren 193Aberdeen 361193361Backward passesSt Mirren 134Aberdeen 157134157Total long ballsSt Mirren 71Aberdeen 647164Successful final third passesSt Mirren 459Aberdeen 642459642Touches in the boxSt Mirren 5Aberdeen 10510GoalkeeperGoalkeeperGoalkeeper savesSt Mirren 0Aberdeen 303Saved shots from inside the boxSt Mirren 1Aberdeen 010Head to HeadSeason so farScottish Premiership Mirren have won both of their last two league games against Aberdeen Aberdeen are winless in their last nine league visits to St Mirren (D3 L6) since a 2-1 triumph in December 2018 under Derek McInnes Mirren have picked up as many points in their last three home league games (7 – W2 D1) as they had in their previous eight beforehand (W2 D1 L5) Aberdeen have won three of their last four league games (D1) more than their previous 19 beforehand (W2 D6 L11) Aberdeen’s Kevin Nisbet has scored 10+ goals in three of his last four seasons in the Scottish Premiership (14 in 2020-21 He is one of only four players to score 10+ goals in as many as three Scottish Premiership campaigns since 2020-21 The back page of the Scottish Daily Express on 030525 End of image galleryPublished3 May 2025Celtic target also interesting Frankfurt injury updates at Ibrox and Aberdeen and Dundee United players target Europe.. Celtic could face competition for Brondby striker Mathias Kvistgaarden, 23, from Frankfurt. (Glasgow Times), external Jimmy Thelin will make decisions about Aberdeen players' futures in the week running up to the Scottish Cup final with Celtic. (Press and Journal - subscription required), external Aberdeen's player of the year Shayden Morris, 23, has bigger prizes in mind with the Dons in contention to finish third in the Premiership and into the Scottish Cup final. (Record), external A knee injury on loan at Hannover may mean Wales winger Rabbi Matondo, 24, returns to parent club Rangers. (Sun), external Former Ibrox midfielder Scott Arfield does not believe Rangers' struggles this season will put off potential future recruits. (Record), external On-loan Feyenoord defender Neraysho Kasanwirjo, 23, hopes to get some minutes at Rangers before the end of the season after returning from a lengthy injury lay-off. (National), external Head coach David Gray reminds his Hibernian players "we've not done anything yet" as they aim to maintain their position of third in the league and qualify for the Europa League. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external Plymouth Argyle head of data Ross Goodwin is expected to join Dundee United as head of recruitment. (Courier - subscription required), external Ryan Strain, 28, is eager to secure European football with Dundee United after leaving St Mirren following their qualification for this season's Conference League. (Record), external Antonio Portales, 28, is "very, very happy" at Dundee as he nears the end of his contract. (Courier - subscription required), external Scotland right-back Aaron Hickey, 22, is set to return to first team action with Brentford after 18 months out. (Scotsman - subscription required), external Man Utd join race for defender Tah - Saturday's gossip Kilmarnock striker set for Swansea switch - gossip The Dons confirmed the news on Monday after releasing the remaining tickets to supporters earlier in the day with fans rushing to secure briefs for what will be the club’s first appearance in the final since Celtic beat them in 2017 Our (underwritten) allocation for the Scottish Cup Final has SOLD OUT in just a few hours 🔴 pic.twitter.com/ZUAoIMC0jc — Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) May 5, 2025 Aberdeen had taken around 12,500 fans to the national stadium for their semi-final victory over Hearts but the pull of a final against the champions—and the chance to spoil Celtic’s Treble hopes—has seen that figure rise significantly The Red Army will now be out in full force on May 24 as Jimmy Thelin’s side look to get their hands on the trophy for the first time since 1990 and deny Celtic a sixth domestic Treble in just nine years Celtic, meanwhile, are 90 minutes away from yet another clean sweep of Scottish football. With the Premiership title secured and the League Cup already in the trophy cabinet, Brendan Rodgers’ men will arrive at Hampden aiming to cap off another dominant campaign it’s a chance to make history of their own the backing of a full Red Army section and the unpredictability of a one-off final means all eyes will be on the Granite City club’s attempt to spring an upset Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Celts Are Here is a dedicated unofficial news blog for the famous Glasgow Celtic FC We have a team of dedicated authors who are Celtic daft and who have their fingers of the pulse of Celtic news © Celts Are Here 2015 - 2023 - Proudly By Dubsbhoy was named a winner in the awards programme by Sykes Holiday Cottages following outstanding guest feedback Sheila has been letting the stylish one-bedroom annex to holidaymakers since August 2021 It has been celebrated for its idyllic setting clean and tidy interiors and Sheila’s warm and friendly service making it a firm favourite amongst couples and solo travellers looking to explore the Cairngorms National Park and Scotland’s northeast coastline Join Aberdeen Live’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages The Sykes Stars programme – now in its third year - aims to recognise holiday homeowners from across the UK that have achieved excellent feedback scores from guests over the last 12 months Sheila was one of only three holiday let owners to be awarded four Perfect 10 certificates in 2024 owners must have at least six reviews from guests each quarter giving them 100% feedback said: "I’m so proud to be a Sykes Super Star I’ve spent so much time and effort making sure Garden Studio is a comfortable and relaxing holiday for the lovely guests that come to stay and it really means a lot to have that recognised "A huge thank you to everyone who has left such nice feedback – and to Sykes for supporting me throughout my holiday let journey." Get all the latest Aberdeen news and headlines sent straight to your inbox by signing up to our free newsletter From breaking news in and around the city, to traffic and travel and health The manually created newsletter arrives every day at around 4pm giving you a round up of the most important stories we've covered that day To sign up, simply click this link here And if you aren't already, make sure you join the conversation over on our Facebook Groups and Aberdeen Live Instagram Managing Director of Sykes Holiday Cottages said: "We love celebrating the incredible variety of holiday lets across the UK and our Sykes Stars represent some of the very best of what’s on offer "It’s a privilege to recognise owners like Sheila who go above and beyond to deliver unforgettable experiences for their guests Our winners play a vital role in shaping the UK holiday let market "With Aberdeenshire remaining a top choice for staycations we’re excited to see how owners in the region continue to set new standards and inspire others in the industry." To view the full list of Sykes Stars for 2025, visit the Sykes Cottages website A video appears to shows Aberdeen fans mocking a St Mirren fan. Police Scotland said it had been made aware of a video taken at the SMISA Stadium on Saturday which appears to show Aberdeen fans mocking a disabled St Mirren fan. Officers said the incident is being treated as a hate crime and are appealing for anyone with information on those involved to get in touch. Both clubs condemned the incident, with St Mirren branding the video “appalling” and Aberdeen calling the chant “totally unacceptable”. A St Mirren spokesperson said: “We are appalled by the contents of a video circulating on social media that shows a St Mirren fan with additional support needs being verbally abused by opposition supporters during Saturday’s match. “We condemn this in the strongest possible terms. “This behaviour is completely unacceptable and has no place at our stadium, in football or wider society. “Our ‘Everyone is Welcome, We’re All Buddies’ campaign promotes inclusivity at St Mirren Football Club and we want to make the matchday experience at The SMiSA Stadium an enjoyable one for everyone. “The club will work with Aberdeen FC and relevant authorities to identify the persons responsible.” An AFC spokesperson said: “We are aware of a clip that has circulated on social media from Saturday’s match at the SMISA Stadium. “The chant is totally unacceptable and not befitting the outstanding Aberdeen support that we experience from the vast majority, both at Pittodrie and on the road. “We would like to apologise to the St Mirren fan involved and will work with the relevant authorities to assist in their investigation.” Inspector Megan Logan, of Paisley police office, said: “This was a despicable action and we are keen to trace the individuals involved. “Anyone with information on those involved is asked to call Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 2164.” Win HappyPremiumSearch RayoclydelocalnewsPolice launch hate crime probe after video from St Mirren v Aberdeen matchFootage was shared online of Aberdeen fans appearing to mock a disabled St Mirren supporter Police are investigating a potential hate crime at Saturday’s match between St Mirren and Aberdeen in Paisley It comes after footage filmed at St Mirren Park of Aberdeen fans appearing to mock a disabled St Mirren fan was shared online The video is being investigated as a hate crime - and Police Scotland has branded the footage "despicable" urging users to identify the Aberdeen fans said: "This was a despicable action and we are keen to trace the individuals involved "Anyone with information on those involved is asked to call Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 2164." An Aberdeen Football Club spokesperson said: “We are aware of a clip that has circulated on social media from Saturday’s match at the SMISA Stadium “The chant is totally unacceptable and not befitting the outstanding Aberdeen support that we experience from the vast majority In a statement St Mirren FC said : "St Mirren Football Club is appalled by the contents of a video circulating on social media that shows a St Mirren fan with additional support needs being verbally abused by opposition supporters during Saturday’s match We condemn this in the strongest possible terms "This behaviour is completely unacceptable and has no place at our stadium We’re All Buddies' campaign promotes inclusivity at St Mirren Football Club and we want to make the matchday experience at The SMiSA Stadium an enjoyable one for everyone "The club will work with Aberdeen FC and relevant authorities to identify the persons responsible." Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app. Mirren are undefeated in their last three games in the Premiership their last joint longest unbeaten streak was from 14 December to 26 December 2024 Mikael Mandron attempted five shots in this game Mirren player in the Premiership this season L8 when conceding the opening goal away from home in the Premiership this season The Dons failed to attempt a shot on target in this game It's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the Premiership since facing Livingston on 5 August 2023 SNSJack HerrallBBC Sport ScotlandPublished3 May 2025Aberdeen winger Shayden Morris has described being named as Aberdeen's Player of the Season as "the biggest achievement" of his career so far and has vowed that the best is yet to come from him "It is a massive moment for me and my family," he said "'For it to be voted by the fans is a massive feeling because I know it hasn't always been easy times "I do feel like I have had to be patient this season at times and I have always trusted in myself in what the coaches say to me give everything I can every time I do step on the pitch and for it to be rewarded like that is such a massive achievement." Morris has been a key player for the Dons who are currently fourth in the Premiership and who also have a Scottish Cup final against Celtic to look forward to And he believes he has gone some way to showing he can make his mark from the start of games rather than as a super sub coming off the bench "I definitely do think I have shown I can do it from the start as well," Morris added I have had a lot of people watching closely game by game 'is he going to do it?' but as a footballer you can't do it every single game and that is one thing I have had to realise I get a bit down when I don't have an exciting game because that is the type of player I am "But I think as a starter or coming on as a sub players do go through games where they are not always at their 100% best and I feel like it is all about belief and if you can play one I am sure by the fourth one you can get that performance and I know I can do it if I am given a run." The Sunday TimesFalling property prices in elite Aberdeen school catchment areas have made the Granite City among the most affordable places to get a gold standard education in Scotland Aberdeen Grammar School climbed into the top ten of the Sunday Times Secondary School League Table this year as property prices in the catchment fell by a fifth A record 74 per cent of pupils at the school achieved the Scottish government’s “gold standard” of five Highers a 10 percentage point rise in a year and up more than 20 points since 2018-19 Average property prices in the catchment have gone the other way declining by 19 per cent from about £213,000 in 2019 to less than £173,000 Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. SNSPublished3 May 2025Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "We wanted more we were not good enough to deserve to win but maybe we were not bad enough to lose It was a classic 0-0 game but they used the opportunity from the set play to score that goal "The final pass today didn't arrive in the right spaces Today was not the perfect game but also St Mirren did things well Our performance was not what we had to do to deserve to win We need to improve some parts in the away games and do better because we now have three more important games in the league We have to do better in these games to deserve to win "We have to believe and try and do some things better in our away games."