Andrew Considine’s Aberdeen family fortunes

Andrew Considine, son of 1980s Dons player Doug, is enjoying his time at Pittodrie more than ever in his testimonial year. Picture: SNS

Andrew Considine doesn’t have far to look for a bit of advice regarding what it’s like to win the league title with Aberdeen, as his dad Doug has already been there and done it. Considine senior made 14 starting appearances at left back for the Dons when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side won their first championship, all of 35 years ago.

Now his son is playing in the same position for Derek McInnes’ team, who head the Premiership table by a point from Celtic at the start of the New Year.

Victory at Motherwell this afternoon would stretch that to four ahead of the defending champions’ visit to Rugby Park tomorrow.

It all means life couldn’t be much better for Andrew right now after signing a new contract earlier this week that will extend his stay at Pittodrie until at least May 2017.

The versatile defender is already halfway through his testimonial season after making a top team debut back in the dark days when Steve Paterson was in charge.

There have been five different managers in total during the 11 years since, but Andrew admits his father remains his most important, and toughest critic. He said: “My dad is the first guy I phone after games – and he’s brutally honest, which you’d rather have. He has been there and done it and he’ll tell me what I did right and what I did wrong. It’s great to have that.

“I’ve looked up to him since day one so it’s great to have him by my side. He played with a team full of internationalists back in the day, so to have him in my corner is brilliant.

“He’s delighted that I’m still here and playing for the same club that he was a part of. I grew up in Banchory and came to watch Aberdeen when I was young – and I’ve been at the club since I was 12.

“It’s the team I’ve always wanted to play for and I’m delighted to be here for the next couple of years.”

Doug Considine lost his place in Ferguson’s side when Doug Rougvie made the position his own, forcing a move to Dunfermline before he stopped playing in 1983 at just 26 – a year younger than his son is now.

Andrew has made more than 280 appearances for the Aberdeen first team since making the breakthrough as a teenager, although the lows have largely outnumbered the highs.

That has all changed since McInnes replaced Craig Brown 22 months ago, as the club has been on an upward trajectory ever since, culminating in their highest league position after Christmas since 1991.

The League Cup holders are also just one game away from this year’s final and that’s why Considine is so pleased to have extended a contract that was due to finish at the end of what could turn out to be his best-ever season. He added: “This is as good as it has been in terms of a feelgood factor.

“I’ve been here for a while and I’ve seen some pretty bad times. I’ve seen some good times as well, but there’s a level of consistency now and a real buzz about the squad.

“I’ve loved every minute of being here and I’m just delighted to be here for another two years.

“I’ve just got my head down and played games. It was up to the manager whether he wanted to keep me here. Thankfully, he did.

“Since Derek [McInnes] and Tony [Docherty, assistant manager] have come in there has been a real positivity all around the club.

“We’ve got a fantastic squad, the kind of squad that can really go places – and I want to be a part of that. The League Cup win last season was a great experience so it would be great to replicate that.

“To finish a place higher in the league would be ideal – that’s what we’re striving for. Regular European football, of course, would be terrific, and to get to the group stages in Europe would be great, but we’ll take one game at a time.”

Aberdeen’s prospects of sustaining a challenge to Celtic do seem promising as they follow today’s match at Fir Park with games away to St Mirren and at home to Dundee.

All potentially winnable for a team who haven’t conceded a league goal in 540 minutes, especially as influential midfielder Willo Flood is expected to return today after two months out injured.