Tributes have flooded in for a 'larger than life' Aberdeen fan who who helped to found the club's first ultras group.
A banner honouring David Geddie was unveiled during Saturday's clash with Kilmarnock at Pittodrie, after the Dons supporter died suddenly at the age of 54 last month.
Dave, who worked as a telecoms surveyor, was a long-time follower of the Dandies and a member of the Red Ultras. Best friend Stephen McCormick has paid tribute to his pal following his passing, describing him as 'an absolute legend', reports AberdeenLive.
He said: "Dave was my best mate since we were in our mid-teens and he was a big, larger than life character - the life and soul of the party.
"We used to go to Dons games together back in the 80s. His humour was different class. He was such a lovely guy and we had so many adventures. He had a heart of gold and he would do anything for you.
"He's Scottish but his family went down to England when he was young. He used to get taken to Man City and he also kept a love affair with them all his life.
"I started the Red Ultras back in 1999 and Dave was very helpful with me for getting it off the ground, organising fundraisers and band nights so we could do the tifos."
Dave's charm made him popular among the Pittodrie faithful and across the city. But one of the deepest connections he helped forge was with another group of football fans from the continent.
Stephen explained: "Round about 2003, we had a guy who came to Aberdeen v Liverpool. He was a Portuguese guy and he was studying in Aberdeen and he was a Boavista fan.
"He came out for a few beers with Dave and I and some of the lads. Boavista were formed in 1903, just like Aberdeen and a friendship grew in the pubs in Aberdeen. Then the Boavista ultras, who were called the Panteras Negras, invited us over to cement the friendship.
"So Dave and I and a few of the lads went over for the Porto derby which ended in a draw but we had a crazy weekend with the ultras from Boavista and a lot of the lads, even to this day, still go to Portugal to go to games with the friends we made.
"Dave, more than anyone, went lots of times. Some of these guys came over to Aberdeen to work and Dave would find them work and he would also put them up in his flat in the city centre.
"He became a legend within the Boavista support." The Red Ultras disbanded in 2011 but Dave continued to attend matches when work commitments allowed.
Boavista fans also unfurled a banner in Dave's honour at a recent match against Arouca. Meanwhile, at Pittodrie on Saturday the tribute was laid at the front of the Red Shed with the help of Ultras Aberdeen, a new group whose members regularly rock the Red Shed.
Stephen continued: "We were never not going to do anything when we heard he died. His (Dave's) mother was really touched by the whole thing. Wider family contacted to say it was a lovely tribute for him.
"The boys in Portugal were really sad and he had friends across the UK that were all in touch to say how sad they were about Dave's passing.
"He'll be sadly missed by many people not just in Portugal but across the Aberdeen community and the north-east community. He's a legend, an absolute legend."
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