Aberdeen's former long serving full back Stuart McKimmie played his first game for the Dons against Hibs after joining from Dundee in December 1983 and famously his second game was a European Super Cup Final second leg win over Hamburg.
Just over 30 years later, right back Shaleum Logan has also had a high-profile baptism of fire for the Pittodrie club as he made his debut in the 4-0 Scottish League Cup Semi-Final success over St. Johnstone and then followed that up in the 2-1 Scottish Cup success over Celtic at Parkhead.
The on-loan Brentford player will complete a hat-trick of games for Aberdeen this weekend when they face St. Mirren live on Sky Sports and the 26-year-old is only now drawing breath after a hectic couple of weeks.
Logan said: "I only found out above the move two weeks ago on the Thursday and the time has flown by since then. I have played in two really big games and Aberdeen have had great results in them both so it has been a great start.”
“Winning the Semi-Final 4-0 against St. Johnstone was a terrific result and what a welcome to Scottish football that was. It was a great afternoon in Edinburgh and to build on that by beating Celtic has been really exciting.”
Aberdeen’s move for Logan was placed firmly under the radar and the player had no idea what he was letting himself in for when he travelled north from Griffin Park.
Logan said: “I was not aware of the Semi-Final or the Celtic game when I was talking about coming up. I had not checked the games Aberdeen were due to play until I met the manager Derek McInnes and he told me about facing St. Johnstone.”
“Mind you I did not have a lot of time to think about Scottish football at all. My day changed quite markedly in the space of 5 or 6 hours as I woke up as a Brentford player and ended it as an Aberdeen one. “
It was certainly a day to remember as Logan explained: “It was my birthday and I had played the night before against Gillingham in a 3-1 win. When I woke up there was a number of missed calls including a few from my agent.”
“When I got hold of him he me told that Aberdeen wanted me to go and join them on loan. It was totally out of the blue as I had never discussed looking to play elsewhere.”
Logan added: “Not only was it a surprise to hear from Aberdeen but it was a surprise to learn I was available for loan. I was not aware that I was but I went in and saw the Brentford manager, Mark Warburton and he told me that Aberdeen had asked and it was my choice.”
The former Manchester City youngster, who played once in the Sky Blues top team, quickly worked out that he would be with some familiar faces in the north.
Logan said: “I knew Niall McGinn was up there and I had got to know him quite well when he was at Brentford on loan for a season. I also knew Willo Flood from his time at Manchester City as he played in the same team as my elder brother, Carlos, who was at City as the same time as him.”
“Nicky Weaver was also at Manchester City when I was in the youth team so that was another name I recognised. I suppose it is quite ironic that we are all now at the club where there are a lot of pictures of Sir Alex Ferguson!”
After agreeing to join Aberdeen on the Wednesday, Logan headed north on the Thursday and got his boots on with his new team-mates on the Friday.
“I played in the St. Johnstone game with just one training session with the boys,” said Logan before adding: “I knew some of them as I said and I got to know some of the other names on the Friday. I did not know everyone when the game started but by half time I had started to know them all.”
“The standard is good and of course facing Celtic last week meant that we had to play really well. I had seen games from Parkhead in the Champions League but I have not watched that many to be honest. I would either be playing or I would watch the English teams in action but to go there and win is good going.”
“It is not too big a step up from some of the games I have played in for Brentford in League 1. Of course the first two games were huge and the St Mirren one on Saturday will be a more typical game.”
Logan’s arrival into two high intensity games and his performances in them has seen him taken to the hearts of the Aberdeen fans already.
It would be fair to say that their passion has not gone unnoticed with Logan saying: “The fans have been great with me and they must like what I have been doing as I have gained a huge number of followers on twitter.”
“Getting a 4-0 win and then the 2-1 Scottish Cup success could not have been bettered. They were marvellous successes for the club and it was great to just go out and play in them.”
“I did not know how much beating Celtic would mean to the fans. Their reaction to that result has been unbelievable. We went out to give 100 percent and we did that. To come from a goal behind and win was great for us but it seems to have been even better for the Aberdeen fans.”
Logan is however no stranger to big games as he added: “I was in the play-offs last season with Brentford and we made it all the way to the Final at Wembley before losing 2-1 to Yeovil. Winning the Scottish League Cup Final would go some way to making up for that.”
“I have not even thought about a second Cup Final appearance in the Scottish Cup as there a couple of rounds in that still to go.”
There could be double or triple celebrations for Logan this season as he finished by explaining: “Brentford are doing well in League 1 this season and are sitting in top spot. They could go up on their own with the Play-Offs.”
“After the disappointment of last season Brentford getting promoted and Aberdeen winning a Cup would certainly make up for it.”
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