There were times during the summer when many must have doubted that Hibs would even be around to fulfill this fixture. Whether it was thanksgiving for their deliverance from the clutches of Mercer, or just the usual early season optimism, a sizeable Hibs support made the journey north for this first league match of the new campaign.

Obviously the euphoria of the club's reprieve from extinction had no effect on the team's performance. To be fair Aberdeen were still a very good side, as demonstrated by the programme cover which shows Scott Booth and Graham Watson brandishing the League and Scottish Cups. They had also finished runners up to Rangers in the league and were to do so again this term, losing out only on the last day of the season in a championship decider at Ibrox.

With Theo Snelders in goal, Aberdeen were still fielding their central defensive partnership of Miller and McLeish and could also boast Scottish internationalists (at a time when that meant something) in Stewart McKimmie and Jim Bett. Apart from Scott Booth there were other rising young stars such as David Robertson and Eoin Jess, and the seasoned professionalism of Robert Connor.

It was Connor and Bett in midfield who ran this game, and Hibs had no answer to Aberdeen's superior all-round quality. The Hibs team was: Goram, Miller, Mitchell, Kane, Cooper, Farrell, Evans, McGinlay, Findlay, Houchen and Tortolano (getting a rare run-out on the wing), with McGraw and Fellinger on the bench.

John Collins had gone in the summer to Celtic for £900,000 but, as the programme observed, none of this money was likely to find its way into Alex Miller's hands.

Vogts and Bonhof face a daunting challenge

So ran a headline towards the back of the programme. Reading on it says: 'A manager's lot is never easy. With the high rewards come the even higher risks. Spare a thought then for Berti Vogts who now faces the most daunting challenge in world soccer.' Jings! This programme must have been written by Nostradamus! Imagine predicting Berti's appointment as Scotland boss ten years ago! Ah, but hang on, it's actually about his appointment as boss of reigning world champions West Germany. Most daunting challenge? Just you wait Berti...