Granite City Oilers: Old photos of Aberdeen's first American football team

For this week’s edition of The Aberdonian, we searched our archives for photos of Aberdeen’s first American football team.

The Granite City Oilers were founded in the 1980s by Dave McDonald.

Before embracing American football, Dave was a rugby player and judoka. He learnt to play American football at the US Coastguard Base at Scatsta and founded the American football team upon returning to Aberdeen.

1986 – Dave McDonald, the city ‘loon’ who promoted American football in Aberdeen.

The Granite City Oilers had their first game in 1986, within months of coming together. They were confident they could beat their opponents, despite the fact that Shetland Red Eyes had been around for two years already.

1986 – A scramble on the ground at Balgownie when Granite City Oilers met the Shetland Red Eyes.

The Bridge of Don side disbanded just a decade later.

In 2011, a new American football team came together in Aberdeen – Aberdeen Roughnecks – “continuing and expanding what the original Granite City Oilers team started”.

Do you remember the Granite City Oilers?

Can you spot any familiar faces in the pictures below?