24-06-2025
The inside story of the Aberdeen amateur football team who have created history with clean sweep
Kincorth Amateur FC are history makers after completing an unprecedented clean sweep of Aberdeenshire Amateur FA trophies.
Kincorth's 5-1 victory over Woodside in last week's Association Trophy final meant the club won all five trophies, becoming the first team since the AAFA was formed in 1947, to achieve the feat.
The cup win rounded off a remarkable campaign for the club and completed the set which also includes the Premier Division title, North of Scotland Amateur Cup, Aberdeen FC Trophy and Premier Trophy.
For co-managers Dean Stewart and Andrew Ewen, and their players it has been a season which will live long in the memory, especially after the club came through a punishing schedule of 24 games in 60 days to complete the quintuple.
Co-boss Stewart said: 'It has been amazing. It was crazy the amount of games that we had to play and I think that's why it's never been done before.
'The fixture list just doesn't really allow for it to be achieved, when you consider suspensions, injuries and things like that but the boys pulled through and now their history makers
'The whole story around our success is fantastic. It's captivated everybody within the city, in particular the kids – which has been amazing.'
'I think one of the things that makes it all so special is the manner in which it was achieved.
'Cowie Thistle are our main rivals, and they won the league last season.
'We had to beat them to take the title to a play-off – anything else would have resulted in Cowie being handed the league title at our home pitch which would have been catastrophic.
'Within that game our goalkeeper Shaun Barney got sent off and Cowie were awarded a penalty.
'One of our outfield players, central midfielder Sean Cronin, had to go in goals and then he ended up saving the subsequent penalty as we won the game 1-0 from a goal from our captain Ryan Leisk.
'There was more than 600 people at that game. It was the highest attendance of an amateur game that I've ever known.
'The play-off was at Balmoral Stadium, home of Cove Rangers. There was 1,450 people at the game.
'To win the play-off game 1-0 in-front of that support just made it all so special and it was fantastic for amateur football that a game like that could attract so many people.'
Kincorth's stunning campaign is the pinnacle of Stewart and Ewen's time at the club but is also the culmination of a remarkable six-year journey.
Co-boss Stewart said: 'It's been incredible. When we took over the club had just won its last game to remain in Division 1 by a thread.
'At that point, I was contacted by chairman Kris Harris, who lives in Dubai, and asked if I wanted to take the manager's role.
'Kris had agreed to help our lifelong chairman Terry Massie, a club legend who has been there since the very beginning of our 41-year history and it was Kris who offered me the job.
'Andrew and I were at another club together, so I'd communicated to him that I'd been offered a position.
'He mentioned that he would want to come as well so we decided to both be co-managers.
'We had a really good start in Division 1 and we were unbeaten. We were already in one final and we were actually mathematically champions, but we never actually received anything due to Covid.
'Sadly, we effectively lost the first two years due to the pandemic.
'Once football resumed properly again we won the double in our first proper season as managers. We won the Premier League and the North of Scotland Cup, which is the two biggest trophies you can win.
'The following season, we won a treble, including the league again.
'But last season, we had a bit of a dip. We had an ageing team, so we knew that we had to rebuild the squad.
'We didn't have the most successful year, but we still managed to win the AFC Trophy, and it was a big achievement to claim silverware knowing we were in a rebuild.'
During Stewart and Ewen's time at Kincorth, along with assistant manager Matthew Gairns, they've won 11 trophies in four seasons.
For Stewart, the 2024-25 campaign provided a perfect ending as he is stepping down as co-manager, leaving colleague Ewen to take the reins as manager next season.
He is proud of what the club has achieved during he and Ewen's time in charge.
Stewart said: 'I told the boys that I was stepping down at the beginning of last season so to finish on a high has been incredible.
'Being a local lad its just means so much more. I grew up coming to the field at the weekends to watch Kincorth so to be a captain and a manager here I'm very proud of that.
'My dad Graham's been a massive influence; he comes to all the games puts up the nets every week and takes them down wind, rain and snow.
'It's all for him and my kids.
'It's been quite a big commitment but I'm a believer that everything's got its time and I'm extremely proud of what we've all managed to achieve.
'I'm forever grateful to Terry Massie and Kris Harris for the opportunity and I'd also like to thank Andrew. Doing it together as best mates, it's meant all the more.
'In that period as well, I had some good years personally.
'I won association player of the year and players player of the year at the club, which aren't trophies you'd typically see a manager win, so I must have done okay.
'With the recruitment of new boys, I just felt like it was important for them to get a new voice.
'I'm sure the club will still remain really successful, Andrew won't have it any other way, but for me anyway, I felt like my time was up.
'I'm positive the club will continue to win trophies and go from strength to strength'
Stewart's time may be at an end, but he is confident he leaves Kincorth AFC in good health as he steps away from the club.
From having to find a new home to becoming the dominant team in the association, and a burgeoning youth system, the future looks bright for the club.
Stewart said: 'When we started, we didn't have a pitch.
'We weren't playing in Kincorth as the pitch had been given up because the school had been knocked down.
'When we first came in, we were passionate about getting back to playing in Kincorth because we felt like we wanted to harness the support of the community.
'As Kincorth, we just felt like we should be playing at home.
'We pushed to get back. We met councillors and managed to get the pitch back but for a period of time, we were just basically changing at the side of the pitch.
'From there we looked at options and we ended up getting involved with the community centre. That's where the changing rooms are now.
'We gained access to the basement in the community centre and completely renovated it. We got joiners in, decorated, put in showering facilities.
'We've spent quite a lot of money, not just for us, but for the kids' teams as well, to get a functional changing facility, I also cant thank our loyal sponsors enough.
'I think the rebirth of the amateur team has ignited a passion to get kids' football back in Kincorth as well.
'That's why Kincorth Emirates were formed, named due to the chairman living in Dubai.
'I think the rebirth of the amateur team has ignited a passion to get kids' football back in Kincorth as well.
'That's why Kincorth Emirates were formed, named due to the chairman living in Dubai.
'A lot of credit needs to go to Dani Kindness, Andrew Ewen, Kris Harris and James Fettes for forming the Emirates and bringing football in Kincorth back to life.
'There are now over 250 kids in Kincorth that represent the Kincorth Emirates, so everything looks really good for the club's future.
'It's in a good place.'
