Dons heroes honour outgoing AFC Supporters Group president
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
DIEHARD Don Neil Mellis was greeted by two familiar faces as he formally retired as president of the Inverurie AFC Supporters Club after serving in the role for 33 years.
New Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack and assistant manager Tony Docherty made a surprise appearance at the Hopeville Club last night to congratulate Neil and present him with a decanter set and cake.
Neil has been on the supporters group’s committee since 1976, also serving as secretary and vice-chair in that time.
Famous figures from the Dons' past, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Brian Irvine and Alex McLeish, also thanked Neil for backing to the Pittodrie side and for his work for the supporters' group in a pre-recorded video message.
Around 150 members, past and present were in attendance, along with the 'original seven' whom he travelled to games with as a teenager.
The Inverurie native was president throughout Aberdeen's trophy-laden years of the 1980s, which included an infamous four-day round bus trip to Munich on the run to the 1983 Cup-Winners Cup Final!
Commenting, Neil said: "Going to games and organising all the events we did was a huge part of my social life growing up.
"The man who took me to my first game in 1970 was there last night - so I got to tell him it was his fault for all these years of suffering!
"It was a really nice evening with lots of faces from over the years there."
He will continue as vice-chairman of the Supporters Club and has been awarded an honorary life membership for his long service.
