Formartine United 0 - 1 Aberdeen

This is particularly true for the club's reserve squad, which usually has to absorb a fresh intake of youngsters at the start of each season and needs these games to help settle the newcomers into their new environment.

Willie Miller and Teddy Scott greatly appreciate the ready co-operation they receive each year from Highland League and minor clubs in the area in arranging these friendly games, often at short notice.

This year, the pre-season period had a double value for the Pittodrie club in that it also gave Willie Miller, whose new appointment as coach includes responsibility for the reserve squad, an opportunity, before the start of competitive football, to assess the players in his charge.

While results in pre-season friendlies are not all-important, Willie can be reasonably well satisfied with the string of victories the young Dons recorded in the warm-up period, including winning the Mackessack Trophy in the Rothes tournament.

The aim was to get as many of the squad members as possible involved and some of the games were arranged specifically for the Under-18 players in preparation for their BP Youth Cup campaign, which opens with a home tie against Fraserburgh.

"There is plenty of potential in the squad to work with," says Willie. "We have a fairly young squad wth a lot of 16 and 17-year-olds in it. There could be a 'boys against men' situation when they face the more experienced players which some of the clubs have in greater numbers in their reserve sides, but our youngsters can learn a lot from playing against these older opponents.

"The main objective in reserve team football is to develop young talent and the younger lads can improve their own game by playing alongside and against experienced players.

"I'm looking forward to working with them in the months ahead."

Source: Match Programme, Saturday 17th August 1991