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JOHN MCMASTER RECKONS ABERDEEN'S HAMPDEN SUCCESS OVER CELTIC HAS LIFTED THE ENTIRE GRANITE CITY. 06:00, 01 Jun 2025 His own place in Aberdeen immortality has been secure for over four

decades. But last weekend John McMaster stood with fellow Gothenburg Great Neil Simpson among their people at Hampden as a new group of heroes strode into Pittodrie folklore. And, according

to McMaster, Jimmy Thelin and his players now deserve to join them as Dons LEGENDS. The sight of the iconic duo losing it in the national stadium said more than words could about the

enormity of Aberdeen’s Scottish Cup Final victory over Celtic. McMaster, a key man in the side that beat Real Madrid in the 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final and who won three Scottish

titles and as many Scottish Cups for the club, says the current side have lifted an entire city. He just hopes their efforts aren’t wasted. The dust may be settling after a week of partying

that followed the dramatic penalty shoot out victory. But the 70-year-old, who spent 15 years at Pittodrie and the most of those under Sir Alex Ferguson, hopes there’ll be no resting on

laurels. Article continues below He knows the glory days of the 80s are locked away in the history books. But he still feels there’s an opportunity for growth. McMaster said: “It’s just

remarkable the way the past week or so has turned out. A whole city's been lifted from doom and gloom. “Union Street was chock a block for the first time in years for the bus parade and

this team did that. It was one of the best days I can ever remember being on the other side, as a fan. “For my sons as well. It’s been 35 years since we won that trophy. When Mitov saved

that last penalty there was an explosion of celebrations, joy, everyone hugging.. and then all of a sudden Neil Simpson came over two rows of seats and joins in! “Simmy had tears in his eyes

and then I turned around and there's my oldest boy, John, blubbering away. He said, ‘Dad, I can't handle this!’ “John’s 45, my other son Steven's 44, they were quite

emotional. And my other son Scott was watching at home. “They are all born and bred Aberdeen. John has the club crest tattooed on his chest. It was grannies and grandads, young kids,

everybody. Fantastic. That was the best support I've ever seen. It was bloody brilliant. "Those players are now legends. And they deserve to be legends. That's them winners.

If managers win trophies, they're remembered. And players are remembered too. You’re not remembered for being runners-up. “They got over that line because they were determined to show

they weren’t there to get beat. Everybody outside the club had them beat. But they believed.” The result has propelled Aberdeen into the Europa League play-off spot and guarantees Conference

League group stage participation at the very minimum - worth upwards of £5million. McMaster said: “They've got to build on this now. They’ve got to strengthen. They need to improve in

certain places, it's obvious to me, but Aberdeen can only go one way now in my opinion and that's get stronger. “I think the chairman knows, he’s put money in, but it’s been paid

back in spades with that trophy. “They need to push on again and have a crack at Europe. The good thing about it is they’ve got a wee break because the campaign won’t start until August now.

“So, they’ve got a wee bit of rest there, more time to build and prepare. "They've just got to keep improving. Jimmy too. Tactically I think he got it right in the final and he

will have learned from that.” Thelin had his doubters going into the final. Four straight defeats to finish the league campaign and having conceded 19 goals to Celtic in their previous five

meetings this season had the critics sharpening their knives. Some predicted a bloodbath. He was accused of sticking stubbornly to his 4/2/3/1 gameplan. But the Swede surprised everyone with

a radical change in shape. And it worked a treat. McMaster said: “I was really pleased for Jimmy in the manner Aberdeen went about the game. “I was at the football writers’ awards the

previous weekend and I never knew til I got there that Jimmy was on the same table. He told me he’d read my book - maybe that was the inspiration for what happened a few days later! “He

pulled off a masterstroke with the game plan. I was worried in case we would play out again, be too open. Celtic are great at pouncing and probably did all their team talks on that, getting

in about us. “But it was reversed, our boys did the business on them. “Jimmy came right over to the fans at the end and thrust the trophy into the air three times. He was like a different

man. “All season there's been no emotion. No emotion whatsoever. “But he deserves this moment. He also knows the hard work starts now to build on it. Not just in transfers. “I’d love to

see a couple of young boys coming through. Lads like Jack Milne and Fletcher Boyd. “Big Jack was outstanding in the final and deserves a run in the team next season. I saw him when he was

walking about after the game and he was straightening his leg because he had cramp. He put so much into it. “If the young ones are good enough then give them the chance. The Boss, Sir Alex,

did it in our team in the 80s. “Boys like Simmy, John Hewitt, Neale Cooper, Eric Black, Bryan Gunn, all these boys were growing up and winning silverware together. Article continues below

“They were 18 or 19 and winning trophies. It became the norm.”