The reason that a small university team from the east coast of Scotland will be able to celebrate this achievement before any other shinty club is because on Saturday 9^th November 1861 thirty-eight individuals whiled away their time in the ancient sport of their forefathers.  However more significantly they decided to constitute themselves into a shinty club and in doing so document rules not only for membership of their club but also rules for conducting the game of shinty. This historic document is now the earliest surviving shinty club constitution and is held by the University of Aberdeen.

The club are delighted that the Aberdein Considine Sutherland Cup Final will be held in Aberdeen on 30 July 2011.  The University of Aberdeen’s Kings College Playing Fields will be venue for the final.  This will be the first time that a final of any sort (apart from the Littlejohn competition) has been hosted by the city.  The final also provides the opportunity to reintroduce shinty to Aberdeen and show the shinty world what the University of Aberdeen and the wider city has to offer.  No less important, it also provides the club with the opportunity to reconnect with former players. 

The current team wanted to mark their 150^th birthday in suitable style having missed the club’s Centenary in 1961.  The club are publishing a book - “Keeping the Camanchd Flag Flying – 150 Years of Aberdeen University Shinty Club” - charting the formation and progress of the club.  This also includes memories from Aberdeen University players from the 1920s onwards – some well-known, some lesser known!

The title of the book was inadvertently provided by Peter English when he wrote agreeing to provide his memories from his time in Aberdeen and commending the club on keeping shinty alive in Aberdeen.  Unfortunately Peter would pass away before he could make good his promise.

Introducing shinty to youngsters from city schools will be National Shinty Development Officer, Ronald Ross M.B.E..  He will run a “Come and Try Shinty Festival” on the morning of the final.  Meantime, while the potential stars of the future are being put through their paces former players are invited to join the current team in the Tartan Day parade down Union Street.  The action then returns to Kings College for the final and presentation. 

To cap it all, the traditional after-match meal will be expanded into a ceilidh and fund-raising auction at the Beach Ballroom.  This “Grand Reunion” for the finalists, invited dignitaries and Aberdeen University players past and present will provide everyone with the opportunity to bid for some fantastic prizes while dancing the evening away to Schiehallion (featuring Glenurquhart’s Stewart MacKintosh).  The club are extremely grateful to Aberdein Considine who have been generous in their support of the 150th book and auction.

The club have negotiated a 20% discount for match tickets purchased in advance.  Details can be obtained from the contact details below.  Similarly anyone wanting to purchase a book, or former Aberdeen players looking to participate in the Tartan Day Parade or purchase tickets for the Grand Reunion should contact either:

Terry Stebbings: Terry.Stebbings@evcam.com                                              

Steven MacKenzie: steven.mackenzie98@aberdeen.ac.uk

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