Roger Rushton never thought he would get the chance to see the two teams he supports go head-to-head.
The 67-year-old from Newburgh was a long-term season ticket holder at Aberdeen and Burnley – and will be at both Europa League games between the teams.
Rushton, a director of an oil and gas company, named his home in the north-east of Scotland Turf Moor in honour of the Clarets’ own ground but says he will have divided loyalties when Derek McInnes’ Dons take on Sean Dyche’s Burnley tomorrow.
He said: “We moved to Forres when I was 14 as my father was in the army and based at Kinloss.
“I was the only boy in the school who supported Burnley but I soon adopted Aberdeen as my other team.
“We went to all the Aberdeen games with my sons Mark and Gavin for about 10 to 15 years and we would go down to see Burnley games when we could.
“I never thought I would ever get to see Aberdeen take on Burnley. A friendly would have been enough so to see the two teams meet in Europe is quite something.
“I was actually there in 1981 when Aberdeen last faced English opposition in Europe in a Uefa Cup tie against Ipswich Town.
“The Dons won on that occasion but I’m not sure who will go through this time.
“Turf Moor and Pittodrie are actually very similar. They hold about the same amount of people and they both have one stand bigger than the rest.”
Aberdeen head into the tie as underdogs but the Newburgh resident believes the Dons have a reasonable chance.
He added: “It is going to be closer than we think.
“It will depend on how the teams line up.
“Aberdeen don’t have as much strength in depth as McInnes would want, while Burnley probably won’t play their strongest team in the first leg.
“They have a big squad and I can see Sean Dyche giving some of the fringe players a game at Pittodrie.
“The atmosphere is going to be fantastic at both games.
“Burnley have a great support and they will certainly make themselves heard.”