Aberdeen

When Nicky Devlin pounced to nod in his side’s second with 20 minutes to go after Marko Lazetic’s spectacular effort was tipped onto the bar, the home fans matched their side’s energy levels on the park as they hoped for a grandstand finish.

“The positive thing was we were connecting with the fans, showing some desire, passion, and personality on the pitch and fighting for Aberdeen football club,” Thelin said.

“We have to build on this now and learn from this. We always have to go out on the pitch to show how hard we are fighting for them.

“We did that today, the fans pushed the players to the last minute. We have to have that mentality every game. Now we will see the strength of character we have as a team in another important game on Sunday.”

The swell of support inside Pittodrie as they watched their side drive forward in the final half hour will also serve as encouragement for the embattled Thelin, who can take solace from the support within the fan base.

Donetsk are a side that arrived with a reputation for dynamic attacking play, having scored 14 goals in seven domestic league appearances, but Aberdeen matched their drive and zeal when the game was at its most frenetic.

Matthew: We keep with the same formation that has failed us consistently since November. Five wins in 32 league games is the sort of form that doesn’t give you any leeway. You can change personnel but it’s the formation that needs to change. Which he’s shown he won’t. Thanks for the cup, Jimmy, but times up I’m afraid.

Graham: The message is simple now. Thelin is not good enough for AFC. Must go unfortunately.

Aldo: Thelin has to go. The tactics are terrible, a squad of supposedly creative players create no chances whatsoever. Beating a few lower division teams and a terrible Hearts, then a flukey win over Celtic on pens should not keep him in the job.

SPB: The rather bizarre Scottish Cup final gave him a stay of execution. He won’t see out the year I’m afraid. His purple patch last year – when he blew a fantastic start – is all he has achieved in his tenure. He’s not the only one who should be walking at the club.

Ally: Awful! Lazy and slow. No passion, no heart. I’m afraid the bell tolls for the Aberdeen manager. Faith in your shape has failed! Thanks for the cup, Jimmy, but fare thee well!

Denis: Board must act now. Give Leven a few games as he was up for it last year when acted as interim manager.

Neil: Can someone tell Thelin that performing the same experiment (formation) over and over again, and expecting different results, is the definition of insanity! Adapt, or go!

Andy: There’s something much more wrong at Aberdeen than managers. Changing again will solve nothing. These players need to get honest.

Miovski scored 44 goals in 98 appearances for Aberdeen in a two-year spell before being sold to Girona last August.

He signed a four-year contract with the La Liga club, but he made only 16 starts and six substitute appearances, scoring four goals, last season for the side who finished 16th in the Spanish top flight.

The striker, capped 31 times for his country, came off after 43 minutes of their opening 3-1 defeat by Rayo Vallecano and was not in their squad for the 5-0 thrashing by Villarreal that followed.

Rangers were looking for forward additions after selling Hamza Igamane to Lille this week and Martin said: “His movement, intelligence and ability to score goals make him a real asset.

“He knows all about the Scottish Premiership and has a strong track record of performing and contributing in the league, so I am excited to welcome him to our squad.”

Sporting director Kevin Thelwell revealed Miovski had been “tracked closely” by Rangers, has “proven himself as a consistent goalscorer” and that his “knowledge of the Scottish Premiership is a huge advantage”.

Scoring three minutes after coming on is a dream impact for any substitute, which is what the rangy Polvara did.

But it was not just the fact he scored but the quality of the goal itself which was so impressive. A cross was guided behind him by Adil Aouchiche, and he reacted brilliantly to get to the ball first.

His awareness and agility to swivel and hit it first time off his left foot was even better, with the ball kissing the inside of the post on its way in.

But Polvara did not stop there. Four minutes later, his pinpoint cross teed up Ester Sokler, whose header went narrowly wide.

At the death, Polvara’s sheer presence caused havoc in the box and, but for a good save, he might have won it for Aberdeen.

Overall, the American managed two shots, both on target, and created three chances, the joint most of any player.

According to Opta, he completed all 19 of his passes and won six of his eight duels, the joint most among Aberdeen players. He was everywhere.

“Polvara down that left-hand side was such an out ball,” Aberdeen legend Willie Miller said on BBC Scotland.

“He’s a big strong unit. And the goal – he shouldn’t be scoring from that position. Facing away from goal and he’s able to manoeuvre himself to strike it.

“That fired the crowd up and gave them the hope and optimism they could get something out of it.

“He made a huge difference. The aerial threat, the energy, the quality. He must be in the manager’s thoughts to start next week.”

SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL said: “Courage is rightly regarded as the foremost of the virtues, for upon it all the others depend.”

The truth of those words is highlighted by the heroics of RAF Flight Lieutenant John Cruickshank, who has died at the age 105.

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It was 81 years ago that he performed an extraordinary act of sustained bravery, as he defied the agony of multiple severe injuries to bring home his badly damaged plane after a lethal encounter with a U-boat off the coast of Norway.

For this deed he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

He was one of four Coastal Command airmen to receive this award, but his case was unique.

The other three had died in action and were honoured posthumously.

He had survived but it was a mighty close-run thing.

It was appropriate that this Scotsman of rock-hard resilience should hail from Aberdeen, long known as “the Granite City”.

He had left school in 1938 to become an apprentice in banking.

But the drumbeat of war was echoing across Europe so he volunteered for the Territorial Army, enlisting in the Royal Artillery.

Called up for service with this regiment in 1939, he transferred to the RAF two years later then went through initial flight instruction in Canada and the US.

Back in Britain, having won his wings as a pilot, he continued his training until March 1943 when he was assigned to 210 Squadron in Coastal Command, based at Sullom Voe in the Shetland Islands.

Man of modesty

His squadron’s main duty was to protect Allied ships from U-boats and they were equipped with the rugged and reliable American-built twin-engine Catalina flying boat.

It was on July 17, 1944, soon after D-Day, that the incident occurred which lifted John Cruickshank into the record book, but almost killed him.

He was piloting an anti- submarine patrol off Norway when his radio operator John Appleton picked up a blip on the Catalina’s equipment.

John began to home in on the target, whose status as a U-boat was confirmed by fire from its 37 mm gun.

Appleton wrote in his memoir: “The skipper manoeuvred into a perfect attacking position astern of the submarine, just out of range of the enemy gunfire. He gave a blast on the klaxon and started the attack run-in from about two miles.”

As the plane got closer, flak from the U-boat intensified and was reinforced as its two pairs of 20mm cannon opened up.

The skipper manoeuvred into a perfect attacking position astern of the submarine, just out of range of the enemy gunfire. He gave a blast on the klaxon and started the attack run-in from about two miles

John Appleton

John flew on and appeared to have released the depth charges at the right moment.

But the bombs had hung up, so he then took the plane out of range of the U-boat, while his crew rearmed their own guns and checked the bomb-release mechanism.

“Everyone ready! Here we go again,” said John over the intercom.

Of the second attack, Appleton recalled: “This time all the flak was bursting much closer to us and I was surprised at how thick it could be.

“We seemed to be flying into a wall of black explosions.”

But again, John descended upon the target without hesitation.

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This time the depth charges hit their target with deadly accuracy. Seconds later, the U-boat began to sink. None of the 52 men on board had a chance of survival.

But by now John’s plane, caught by more enemy fire, was in serious trouble.

Flames and smoke began to fill the aircraft. The radar was wrecked and the nose canopy shattered.

One crewman was dead and four others were badly wounded, including John, who had been hit in his chest and legs and was bleeding heavily.

But all was not lost. With the use of extinguishers, some of the uninjured crewmen put out the fire.

As the co-pilot took over the controls, John was carried to the back of the plane.

Throughout, he set an example of determination, fortitude and devotion to duty in keeping with the highest traditions of the service

Citation from Victoria Cross ceremony

Lapsing in and out of consciousness, he was in tremendous pain but refused any morphine from the emergency safety kit because he wanted to keep alert so he could help bring the Catalina boat plane home to Sullom Voe.

With almost superhuman fortitude, he returned to the cockpit to oversee the final descent just as dawn was breaking.

After landing successfully on the water, he ran the shattered plane on to the beach.

He had to be given an emergency blood transfusion before being taken to Lerwick Hospital, where he was found to have suffered 72 wounds.

Yet, by September, he was fit enough to receive the Victoria Cross from King George VI in Edinburgh, the first time Holyrood House had been used for an investiture since the reign of Queen Victoria.

His citation read: “Throughout, he set an example of determination, fortitude and devotion to duty in keeping with the highest traditions of the service.”

From a generation that never sought the spotlight

Barney Crockett

But he was a man of profound modesty who hated talking about his exploits.

Even at his investiture, he crept out of a side door afterwards to avoid the attention of the press and public.

In the same vein, when he had regained consciousness in the stricken Catalina, the first thing he said was: “How are my crew?”

Though he had recuperated imp-ressively in hospital, the legacy of his injuries was too severe to allow him to return to flying duties, so for the rest of the war he held a staff job at Coastal Command HQ.

Later, on demobilisation at the end of the war, he resumed his career in banking, eventually working in international finance before he retired in 1977.

Happily married, he lost his beloved wife Marion in 1985.

In his final years, in sheltered accommodation, he disliked any fuss, whether about his VC or his birthdays.

Barney Crockett, the former Lord Provost of his native Aberdeen, once said John was “from a generation that never sought the spotlight”.

But it was also the generation that saved the world from tyranny.

“All three clubs have been found to have breached SPFL rules in failing to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that their supporters did not engage in “unacceptable conduct” at those matches,” the league said in a statement.

“The clubs were also found to have failed to identify or take proportionate disciplinary measures against the supporters responsible for the pyrotechnic displays and, in Partick Thistle’s case, also against those who carried out the pitch invasion.”

The invasion led to a two-minute delay in the Premiership play-off quarter-final second leg at Somerset Park on 9 May, while a similar delay was caused by Thistle fans using pyrotechnics and throwing them on to the pitch.

The pyrotechnics display by Aberdeen fans during their 14 May match against Celtic led to Sky Sports “having to issue an apology for interruptions to the broadcast following the display, which caused significant smoke clouds to form within the stadium”.

Celtic supporters carried out pyrotechnic displays in the north-east corner of Celtic Park during and prior to the final league game of the season at home to St Mirren on 17 May.

“These incidents caused a health and safety risk to fellow supporters, players and those working at matches; as well as a significant inconvenience to thousands of supporters at the matches and fans watching these games at home,” the SPFL added.

The UK is home to some of the most beautiful walks in the world, and one in particular is a must-visit this summer – especially if you love to snap photos

If you’re looking for a sign to get outside and discover the UK’s amazing landscapes, consider this your cue. A picturesque harbour town in the UK, boasting stunning coastal views and even a castle to explore, should be on your travel list, as there is so much to see and do there.

Stonehaven, located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, is an ideal destination for a summer getaway. According to a recent study by CEWE experts, this charming location boasts one of the most scenic walks in the UK.

If you’ve visited before, you’ll understand why – the incredible landscape could easily have come straight from a postcard.

Each spot on the list was evaluated based on star ratings, review count, and descriptive terms such as ‘beautiful’, ‘stunning’, ‘amazing’, and ‘lovely’ – words typically linked with photogenic locations that leave lasting impressions.

The walk around Dunnottar Castle tied for second place overall with Powis Castle in Wales, surpassed only by Mount Stewart in Northern Ireland, reports the Express.

Dunnottar Castle in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire stands as one of Scotland’s most precious landmarks, having shaped the nation’s story across 1,000 years of history.

Boasting dramatic clifftop panoramas, this remarkable fortress has welcomed legendary figures including Mary Queen of Scots throughout the centuries.

The castle has also served as the backdrop for numerous Hollywood productions, including Disney’s Brave and Mel Gibson’s Hamlet, with its official website noting that the ‘haunting’ castle has featured on the big screen many times.

They said: “Perched on a cliff-top amidst striking scenery with stunning seascape views, it’s not hard to understand why the beauty of this outstanding location has been captured on the silver screen on numerous occasions.”

Positioned dramatically on a towering 160-foot precipice and encircled by sparkling waters, this magnificent structure truly must be seen to be believed.

Visitors can venture to the Aberdeenshire coast to secure tickets for exploring the castle itself, or alternatively wander the surrounding grounds whilst admiring the view.

Things to do in Stonehaven

Dunnottar Castle is about 1.6 miles south of Stonehaven, so it’s the perfect place to visit if you’re in the area. But aside from the castle, there are so many brilliant things to do in this town.

No trip to Stonehaven would be complete without dedicating time to the charming harbour area.

There are so many places offering the perfect spots to dine, sip drinks and unwind, whilst there’s nothing quite like observing the boats gently swaying in the water.

During your stay, make sure to explore the Tolbooth Museum, which is the town’s most ancient building and previously served as a jail many years ago.

Many original elements remain intact, including the traditional prison cell entrance. And if you’re in the mood for a bit of adventure, you could also give paddleboarding lessons a go out on the water.

However, if you’re not quite up for braving the sea, there’s an outdoor swimming pool situated along the seafront that remains open until September.

EDINBURGH, Scotland — President Trump played golf Saturday at his course on Scotland’s coast while protesters around the country took to the streets to decry his visit and accuse United Kingdom leaders of pandering to the unpopular American president.

Trump and his son Eric played with the U.S. ambassador to Britain, Warren Stephens, near Turnberry, a historic course that the Trump family’s company took over in 2014. Security was tight, and protesters kept at a distance were unseen by the group during Trump’s round. He was dressed in black with a white “USA” cap and was spotted driving a golf cart.

The president appeared to play an opening nine holes, stop for lunch, then head out for nine more. By the middle of the afternoon, plainclothes security officials began leaving, suggesting Trump was done for the day.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on the cobblestone and tree-lined street in front of the U.S. Consulate about 100 miles away in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital. Speakers told the crowd that Trump was not welcome and criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for striking a recent trade deal to avoid stiff U.S. tariffs on goods imported from the U.K.

Protests were planned in other cities as environmental activists, opponents of Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza and pro-Ukraine groups loosely formed a “Stop Trump Coalition.” Anita Bhadani, an organizer, said the protests were “kind of like a carnival of resistance.”

June Osbourne, 52, a photographer and photo historian from Edinburgh, wore a red cloak and white hood, recalling “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Osbourne held up a picture of Trump with “Resist” stamped over his face.

“I think there are far too many countries that are feeling the pressure of Trump and that they feel that they have to accept him, and we should not accept him here,” Osbourne said. The dual U.S.-British citizen said the Republican president was “the worst thing that has happened to the world, the U.S., in decades.”

Trump’s late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, and the president has suggested he feels at home in the country. But the protesters did their best to change that.

“I don’t think I could just stand by and not do anything,” said Amy White, 15, of Edinburgh, who attended with her parents. She held a cardboard sign that said, “We don’t negotiate with fascists.”

”So many people here loathe him,” she said. “We’re not divided. We’re not divided by religion, or race or political allegiance, we’re just here together because we hate him.”

Other demonstrators held signs of pictures with Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, as the fervor over files in the late child abuser’s case has created a political crisis for the president.

In the view of Mark Gorman, 63, of Edinburgh, “The vast majority of Scots have this sort of feeling about Trump that, even though he has Scottish roots, he’s a disgrace.” Gorman, who works in advertising, said he came out “because I have deep disdain for Donald Trump and everything that he stands for.”

A Scottish newspaper, the National, greeted Trump’s arrival with a banner headline in its Friday edition that read, “Convicted U.S. felon to arrive in Scotland.”

Saturday’s protests were not nearly as large as the throngs that demonstrated across Scotland when Trump played at Turnberry during his first term in 2018.

But, as bagpipes played, people chanted, “Trump out!” and raised dozens of homemade signs with such messages as “No red carpet for dictators,” “We don’t want you here” and “Stop Trump. Migrants welcome.”

One dog had a sign attached that said “No treats for tyrants.”

Some on the far right took to social media to call for gatherings supporting Trump in places such as Glasgow.

Trump also plans to talk trade with Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president.

But golf is a major focus.

The family will also visit another Trump course near Aberdeen in northeastern Scotland, before returning to Washington on Tuesday. The Trumps will cut the ribbon and play a new, second course in that area, which officially opens to the public next month.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney, who is also set to meet with Trump during the visit, announced that public money will go to staging the 2025 Nexo Championship, previously known previously as the Scottish Championship, at Trump’s first course near Aberdeen next month.

“The Scottish government recognizes the importance and benefits of golf and golf events, including boosting tourism and our economy,” Swinney said.

At a protest Saturday in Aberdeen, Scottish Parliament member Maggie Chapman told the crowd of hundreds: “We stand in solidarity, not only against Trump but against everything he and his politics stand for.”

The president has long lobbied for Turnberry to host the British Open, which it has not done since he took over ownership.

In a social media post Saturday, Trump quoted the retired golfer Gary Player as saying Turnberry was among the “Top Five Greatest Golf Courses” he had played in as a professional. The president, in the post, misspelled the city where his golf course is.

Weissert writes for the Associated Press.

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack proclaimed “with Jimmy we feel we absolutely got the right guy” as he spoke mid lap of honour around the Hampden pitch.

Thelin showed a tactical awareness coming into the final. He gave his players two days off for him to come up with a game plan to topple Celtic – and it worked.

A change in personnel, a change in system, a change of approach anchored in pragmatism. No wonder given how Brendan Rodgers’ team had dismantled Thelin’s men at will on occasion this season.

The Swede also demonstrated bravery in doing so. To recognise something isn’t working is one thing. To do it and roll the dice as you stand on the brink of history, it’s quite something.

It’s a gamble that has paid off to the tune of immortality and £6m, the latter coming with the guarantee of European football until December in either the Europa or Conference League.

How much of it Thelin gets to invest remains to be seen – not least given he was backed heavily in January – but he’s earned the right to go again with this Aberdeen team with a sense of optimism behind him.

Cormack was persistent in his pursuit of Thelin and his man has presided over a maiden season that began with a blistering run and closed with a trophy in the cabinet. One that’s not resided there for a generation.

The frostiness of a winter of dismay will thaw out in the glow of a Union Street bus parade on Sunday.

Post mortems about being dismembered by St Mirren will be marked as an irrelevance amid the glory, all lost in a sea of red and white flags and scarves.

There will be a new set of challenges ahead for Thelin and his team – and a new set of expectations. But that’s for another day.

After this season and the most draining of days, the Pittodrie manager deserves to live in the here and now. Even just for a moment.

“You see how much it means to everyone,” he told BBC Scotland.

“That’s why football is so amazing. To be strong in the difficult times, keep believing and keep trying everything you channel every day.

“We have a lot to look forward to.”

Aberdeen defender Jack MacKenzie was left bloodied after being struck by what seemed to be a seat – thrown by one of his own fans – amid a pitch invasion following his side’s Scottish Premiership defeat at Dundee United.

Unused subtitute MacKenzie was on the pitch while the United supporters invaded the playing surface after their side denied Aberdeen fourth place.

And he was felled by a projectile hurled from the area of the ground that housed a travelling support restricted in number after objects were aimed at United manager Jim Goodwin in the last meeting at Tannadice.

Speaking to BBC Scotland after his side sealed a European place on Saturday, Goodwin labelled the incident “a disgrace”.

“I deliberately took myself off the pitch as quickly as I could because we’ve had previous with the Aberdeen supporters in the past,” the former Pittodrie boss said.

“I’m really disappointed to hear young Jack has been hit by an object thrown by his own supporters. He’s inside having stitches now, it’s an absolute disgrace.

“It’s probably taken something as serious as this to happen for the authorities to finally step in and do something about it to identify these idiots who let down a really good club.”

Nathan Aspinall took the Premier League nightly win in Aberdeen to close on a play-off place while Luke Littler sealed top spot.

Aspinall is on the brink of qualifying after beating Chris Dobey 6-1 in the final on a dramatic evening which saw Gerwyn Price hit a nine-darter.

Dobey claimed a decider to win his semi-final 6-5 against world champion Littler, who earlier won a classic against world number one Luke Humphries that featured 14 180s.

Despite averaging 110.01, Humphries could not halt Littler, who averaged 115.96 to guarantee he would finish top of the league phase.

Defending champion Littler had already qualified for the four-man play-offs in London on 29 May alongside Humphries and Price.

Price hit his second nine-darter of the campaign but ended a 6-4 quarter-final loser to Stephen Bunting.

Aspinall moved above seven-time champion Michael van Gerwen into fourth spot with a 6-3 victory over the Dutchman before dispatching Bunting 6-1 and going four points clear after his final triumph.

If Van Gerwen does not claim the night win in Sheffield next week, Aspinall – who finished fifth in 2023 and 2024 – will claim the last play-off spot.

“All I have said to my family, I don’t want to come fifth again. I’ve put one foot in the finals. I play Michael [van Gerwen] again next week and the pressure is on him,” said the English player.

“It’s a do or die game. I save myself three hours of misery if I can beat him at 8pm, I’m going to the O2 which is a dream of mine. It’s in my hands.”