IN PICTURES: Adam Rooney bids farewell to Aberdeen after four and a half years and 87 goals

By Stuart Findlay

July 19 2018, 5:52 pm

There has been sadness among Aberdeen fans this week at the news that striker Adam Rooney has left the club.

The big Irishman became a firm fans favourite after signing from Birmingham City in January 2014, going on to score 87 goals in 194 appearances.

Surprise will have been one of the main emotions for supporters after learning of the move, not just because his new club Salford City are in England’s fifth tier, but also because Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is already light on striking options.

McInnes has since spoken of his sadness at losing Rooney and the difficulties of trying to retain his best players and given the considerable financial pull of Salford – they are part-owned by Man Utd legends Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Phil Neville plus Singaporean business magnate Peter Lim – there was a certain inevitability about another of the Scottish league’s top players heading south to football’s land of milk and honey.

But hey Dons fans, don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and take a look at some of the more memorable moments from Rooney’s stay at Pittodrie.