AFC DONScast – The Final Chapter
After two decades of match analysis, tactical debates, and hundreds of hours of audio, the time has come to bring the AFC DONScast to a close. What began as a way to connect with the Red Army has seen us through a generation of footballing history.
Two Decades of the Dons: The Managerial Timeline
The heartbeat of our podcast has always been the men in the dugout that have taken our club through some highs and lows.
- We began during the Jimmy Calderwood years, a time of top-six finishes and the return of European nights to Pittodrie.
- We navigated the difficult managerial carousels that followed, documenting the “mid-table stagnation” and the struggle to find a consistent identity.
- Derek McInnes provided our greatest audio highlight, the 2014 Scottish League Cup victory. It was an eight-year period that redefined the club’s modern standards and brought silverware back to the North East.
- We tracked the expansive, though often inconsistent, approaches of Stephen Glass and Jim Goodwin.
- Most recently, we analysed the Jimmy Thelin era. His structured, modern approach brought a fresh tactial identity to the squad and a sense of renewed hope to the fans, including our 2025 Scottish Cup win, but it wasn’t to be.
- As we sign off in 2026, the club transitions once again with Stephen Robinson taking the reins from Thelin. Discussing his appointment and his track record in the Scottish game has been a fitting final topic for our weekly recording sessions. Yes the 25/26 season wasn’t the best to celebrate 20 seasons!
Highs, Lows, and Podcast Memories
- Nothing will ever quite top the atmosphere of the 2014 Scottish League Cup win, which we were proud to broadcast to the Red Army from Celtic Park.
- And our foreign jaunt to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Europa League, where we broadcast direct from the Vicente Calderón Stadium and of course, the many, many pre-season trips.
- The periods of uncertainty and the struggle to compete at the very top were difficult to record, but the loyalty of our listeners always provided the motivation to keep the mics live.
A Message to our listeners
Whether you joined us on our socials, downloaded our episodes for your commute or visited the website, we thank you. This community made twenty seasons possible.
A final word of gratitude to Aberdeen Football Club for their support that allowed the podcast to thrive for so long. We’ve enjoyed every minute of it.
Whilst the mics are about to turn off this Sunday after the Dundee match, I can only but thank you all for sticking with us over 20 seasons.
Thank you, and goodbye.
Stand Free.
