May 11 1983: Aberdeen 2 - 1 Real Madrid

Sir Alex Ferguson admits to a "magnificent obsession for the Dons" during his time at Aberdeen and remembers, as one of the highlights of his life, the night of May 11, 1983, when he guided, coaxed and cajoled a side, bristling with confidence, to the European Cup-Winners' Cup. It helped to mould him into the manager he is today. His words, not mine.

It was Ferguson's remarkable drive and determination, linked to a tactical awareness that was uncannily perceptive and unmatched by most other coaches, that marked him out as the "special one" long before anyone had heard of Jose Mourinho. Some 14,000 of us clung to his coat-tails as he led us, pied-piper like, to Gothenburg, not so much a city in the eyes of Aberdeen supporters, more of an event.

It was to bring him to the attention of bigger clubs envious of what he had achieved with a team assembled and nurtured using - among other ingredients - carrot and stick to impart the belief he had that this group of footballers from a provincial club could reach their Everest.

Ferguson's skills were not restricted to the beautiful game. He knew how to extract the best from every situation and invited Jock Stein to the final against Real Madrid, knowing that such a legendary figure would inspire his squad.

It was Stein, himself a master of the dark art of gamesmanship, who suggested that his host should present the great Alfredo Di Stefano, the manager of their opponents, Real Madrid, with a bottle of whisky. "Let him feel important," Stein advised, "as if you are just thrilled to be in the final and there to make up the numbers."

Whether this bred a complacency among the stars of the Spanish side we will never know but it became clear from the early stages of the final that the Scots were the ones with the energy and effervescence required to create an upset.

Many of those who were in the Ullevi Stadium to witness the 2-1 victory that rainy night will attend commemorative dinners in the Granite City tonight and tomorrow to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that achievement and to pay homage to the players who participated and thereby wrote their names into the Pittodrie history books.

There will be discussions of the match; of Eric Black's opener, the dive by goalkeeper Jim Leighton at the feet of Real's Santillana and the equaliser by Juanito from the resultant penalty kick.

The memories will cover the conditions, difficult in the extreme because of a day's worth of torrential rain and a pitch with enough surface water to have grown rice.

They will recall the names who shone for Aberdeen: Alex McLeish and Willie Miller, steadfast at the back, Gordon Strachan's midfield resilience and tenacity, Mark McGhee's power and strength in holding up play and, of course, the extra-time winner from John Hewitt, scored in the 112th minute.

Hewitt had replaced an injured Black at the end of 90 minutes but had done so little to convince his manager that he could change the game that Ferguson had considered taking him off for the second period of extra time.

The end sparked a predictable triumphalism among those wearing red and white. The small band of wet and bedraggled Real Madrid supporters packed up their drums and trumpets, headed for the exits and left the Ullevi to the Scots as the celebrations began in earnest and Gothenburg submitted itself to those jubilant fans who had reached the Swedish city by various means.

Five hundred of them, the boat people, had endured a raucous 27-hour trip on the P&O Ferry, St Clair. They had sailed from their home port on Monday, May 9, ready to raid the ship's duty-free stocks and determined to write themselves into the Guinness Book of Records as part of the world's merriest floating party.

The media were out in force days later when the ship returned to the Granite City and Jane Franchi and her Reporting Scotland camera crew witnessed the occasion.

"I remember it well," she said. "Alex Ferguson and Mark McGhee were there with the European Cup-Winners' Cup to welcome the fans back. They shook every single hand that came off that ship and that, for me, was an amazing gesture.

"The atmosphere was wonderful and I remember the guy from P&O telling me it was a fantastic trip and that, despite all the partying and drinking that went on, there were only around half a dozen glasses broken. Those fans were so well behaved."

It was as a television reporter that I was sent to Gothenburg in one of the 50 planes chartered to transport the team and their travelling party, fans, officials and the media to Sweden, though with my principal concerns on the big night centring on pre and post-match interviews, including one with a Ferguson bursting with pride at the end, the game itself seemed to pass me by, just as it did one of the occasion's heroes.

"I connected with a volley which came crashing back off the bar," said Eric Black, "but I got my goal not long after when I followed up Alex McLeish's header. Other than that I don't remember much about the game apart from John Hewitt's winner.

"The only lasting memory I have is dancing about in the dressing room with a bottle of champagne; the scenes we were met with on our return to Aberdeen are what still live with me. I've never witnessed anything like it before and I don't think I will again."

For me, too, the day after the players lifted the trophy, was breathtakingly memorable as a reported 100,000-plus well-wishers - many of them had partied the previous night away up and down Aberdeen's Union Street - lined the streets to welcome back their heroes, carried through the town on the obligatory open-top bus.

Inside Pittodrie, there were 22,000 more as Ferguson and Willie Miller, the club captain, led the players out to rapturous applause and tears of undiluted joy.

For the new breed of Aberdeen followers, clinging to the slimmest of hopes that their team can squeeze themselves into third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, starting at Motherwell today, and spark another European campaign, Gothenburg was a unique episode of which they have only read and heard.

They can safely assume it will never be repeated.

ABERDEEN'S HEROES - Where are they now?

A weekend of events have been lined up to celebrate Aberdeen's greatest achievement including a screening of the game at which members of the team and hundreds of supporters will attend.

Sir Alex Ferguson will also bring his Manchester United side to Pittodrie for a Testimonial Match on July 12. So, where are the heroes of Gothenburg now?

Sir Alex Ferguson

Arguably Britain's greatest manager is currently battling Chelsea to retain the Barclays Premier League title and will face the Londoners in the Champions League final later in the month as he looks to add another European success to his illustrious cv.

Jim Leighton

One of Scotland's best goalkeepers. He was the man between the sticks for the Scots in the 1994 and 1998 World Cup Finals. Now works as goalkeeping coach for Aberdeen and Scotland's Under-21s.

Doug Rougvie

Trusted right-back was solid throughout the Euro campaign after coming through the youth ranks. Had a spell at Chelsea. Still lives near Pittodrie and now works for an engineering business.

Alex McLeish

Had spells as manager at Motherwell, Hibs and Rangers and led the Ibrox side to seven trophies in 4 1/2 years including a domestic treble in 2003. Became Scotland manager in 2007 and narrowly missed out on a place in the European Championship's before becoming Birmingham boss.

Willie Miller

Captained Aberdeen throughout the Cup-Winners' Cup success and is a Pittodrie legend. Had a spell as Dons manger and now works as Aberdeen's chief executive.

John McMaster

Solid left-back, also had a stint at Morton. Now a football agent for Hume International.

Neale Cooper

Played in the heart of midfield (his son is now at Liverpool). Cooper is currently manager of second division side Peterhead.

Gordon Strachan

Stints as manager of Southampton and Coventry before joining Celtic. Led Parkhead club to two league titles in a row and guided them into Champions League last 16 for two consecutive seasons.

Neil Simpson

Industrious and hard-working, he was the heart of Aberdeen's midfield. Now looking for the next generation of talent as Aberdeen's youth director.

Peter Weir Left-winger orchestrated many of Aberdeen's attacks. Now a coach who looks after Aberdeen's youth scheme in West of Scotland.

Mark McGhee

Delivered the cross to Hewitt for the injury-time winner. Also played for SV Hamburg and Celtic. Now in charge of Motherwell after managing Wolves, Leicester City and Brighton.

Eric Black

Hit the crossbar in the final before he screwed a typical poacher's finish into the net for the opener on seven minutes. Now works as assistant manager to Steve Bruce at Wigan.

John Hewitt

The only substitute for Aberdeen came on in the 87th minute and scored the winning goal. Hewitt, who also had spells at Celtic and St Mirren, is now a contractor in the oil industry in Peterhead.