Two Dons fans will visit every football ground in Ireland where the club has played as part of a unique fundraiser.
Local businessmen and lifelong Dons fans Bob Bain and Jock Gardiner have been waiting two years to complete their four-day challenge.
Money raised will go towards the creation of the AFC Heritage Trail around Aberdeen.
The trail, which is being developed by AFC Heritage, will mark places of importance to the stories of the Dons.
Mr Bain and Mr Gardiner have previously completed similar pilgrimages, raising more than £14,000 by visiting all the grounds in the Highland, lowland and south of Scotland leagues.
This trip takes place from June 8 to 12, and has been delayed for two years due to the pandemic.
Mr Bain, who has only missed 22 home games in the last 44 years, said: “This trip was planned for June 2020 following our successful fundraising trips in 2019 to visit 32 grounds which Aberdeen had played in across the UK, and our first foray in 2018 to visit 18 club grounds in 18 hours.
“This trip will see us visit grounds and the sites of former grounds where Aberdeen FC has played, and also grounds which have a link to the club such as Dundalk FC, where Dons legend John Hewitt managed the team.”
Retracing the steps of Aberdeen Football Club
Both men are trustees of AFC Heritage Trust.
Mr Gardiner explained why embarking on this trip meant so much.
“It’s really important to us to celebrate the history of the club – and of football – in order to ensure an important part of the city’s sporting history is not forgotten.
“The AFC Heritage Trail plaques will mark the places of historical interest and keep the spirit of the club alive across the city and not just at the current ground.
“We previously raised over £14,000 from our 2018 and 2019 tours so we hope to top this with donations as a result of our Irish challenge.”
Locations on the planned heritage trail include the previous grounds of the three founder clubs of the current Aberdeen FC: Aberdeen, Orion and Victoria United.
Plaques will also be put up at the former Albert Hotel on Correction Wynd, where the inaugural Aberdeen Association Football Club held their first meeting on October 8, 1881; Trinity Cemetery, where the first Dons manager James Philip is buried; and Holburn Cricket Ground, where the first Aberdeen match was played in 1882 – resulting in a 3-1 win against Coupar Angus.
