AIFF Millenium
An early source of inspiration was a visit which the late Aberdeen Football Club vice-chairman, Chris Anderson, and the Pittodrie club's manager of that time, Alex Ferguson, paid to the United States within a week or two of the latter's appointment as Dons' manager in the summer of 1978.

One of the features of the North American scene which particularly impressed the Pittodrie pair was the achievement of a high degree of community involvement in soccer (as the game was known in the States). Attendance at matches was turned into a family occasion.

In the course of their visit, the Aberdeen FC officials made tentative arrangements to play hosts to young American footballers who were to visit Britain the following year and to stage a coaching school for their benefit in the Granite City.

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