Red Ultras - Aberdeen
The Red Ultras were born in 1999, when the groups original banner a simple 'RED ULTRAS' was first raised in Section Y of Aberdeen's South Stand. It raised many questions from the police, club and other football fans. When Aberdeen played Rangers in the Scottish Cup final in 2000, the group banner was confiscated, due to the term 'ultras' attracting attention from Glasgow's 'finest'. It would take nearly 4 years of trust building from the group to get it across to club officials and indeed the police that the group were not hooligans and that our only intent was to make Pittodrie a colourful place with the type of coreography that is so prevalent at European games.
During this 4 years it was extremely hard to convince the club to allow us to carry out the type of displays we wanted to do. Simple confetti displays weren't allowed as stewards flung out members guilty of chucking some ripped up paper over a tier, toilet rolls were confiscated and numerous other incidents occurred, as a result the group stuttered and stalled to make an impact. It would take a heart to heart meeting with the club to really get across what we wanted to do. As a result the club were willing to let us utilise some of our ideas, after numerous successful displays the group hit its first big display with a massive card displays against Rangers.
It was a tremendous success for the group and proved to be a turning point in the groups fortunes as the Pittodrie faithful were able to see what such a show of colour can do to motivate the players and generate an intimidating atomosphere. There was no holding back the group now as the RU continually raised our own bar at home at Pittodrie and indeed away from home. The group actively carried out displays at grounds such as Ibrox, Parkhead,Tynecastle, East End Park and also enjoyed carrying out displays at the smaller grounds in the Scottish Cup. The group were also active in Europe, carrying out a small display in Berlin as the team played Hertha.
Over the years the group have carried out displays that are regarded as being the best ever seen in Britain. With the Dons managing to make the Uefa Cup group stage the group worked tirelessly to deliver some amazing home displays against the likes of Dnipro,Locomotive and FC Copenhagen (4-0...GIRFUY) and perhaps the most highly thought of, against Bayern Munich in the last 32 of the cup.
Over the years the group has had various fall outs with the club however its important to note that without the clubs help the group would never have been able to put on displays like the ones seen at Pittodrie. The groups home is now Section Y, due to complaints from the Corporate element at Pittodrie the group has had no choice but to move back to the spirtual home of the Red Ultras. It will hopefully be a blessing in disguise as the group are now closer to the pitch rather than stuck away up in the gods with the sound merely filtering out the roof of the stand.
We have lots of ideas for the section, as we aim to make Pittodrie noiser and much more intimidating for opposition fans and players. Every home game cannot come soon enough as we look to try out new ideas and generate an atmosphere that fans are proud of and most importantly want to join in with.
Red Ultras
