The end for the Red Ultras fan group who followed Aberdeen has arrived and it was long overdue; if only for the sake, image, reputation and the sanity of the group members. The name of the group had been dragged down to gutter level by the media, club security and other fans of the club over a long period of time. Despite more than ten years of admirable efforts at integrating the Ultras culture so prevalent across Europe into Aberdeen FC games, the group ended on a January morning in 2010.

The Red Ultras first appeared in 1999 but came to wider notice at the 2000 League Cup final between Aberdeen and Celtic. After initial hostility from the club and other fans, executives at the Pittodrie club gave the group the go ahead to hang banners from the upper tier of the club stadium. There after followed more self created banner production and then admirable attempts at some hand held card displays in the home Richard Donald Stand.

Whilst problems with authorities were occurring outwith the groups control - amongst these weekly frictions with police, club security and club officials - the groups founder made positive movements elsewhere. An official friendship with a Boavista group Panteras Negras emerged whilst communications with police and stewards occurred regularly. A range of Ultra type merchandise was developed and advertised as a means of generating funds. In Scotland, the fans of other Scottish teams latched onto the concept of the Red Ultras and forged similar groups affiliated to their own teams. Amongst these were the Blue Order at Rangers, Green Brigade at Celtic and Well Boys at Motherwell. And just as the Red Ultras disband so those at Celtic and Rangers seem to be progressing in terms of numbers and passion. So what does that say of the wider Aberdeen supporter base?

Despite lots of match day hard work being put into efforts at improving the atmosphere at Aberdeen matches the satisfaction this entailed began to wane due to a number of problems with the club and sadly other fans of the club. The hard work being put into displays faded as the group were forced to move to the desolate Section Y of the South Stand from a former lodging at the back of the RDS.

Essentially, the group were being hung out to dry by club security personnel. As soul-less Scottish Premier league games occurred against the likes of Hamilton Academical and Dundee United, so the numbers and enthusiasm of those involved declined and moral evaporated. It had reached the stage where it was not worth appealing for support or new members any more. Hard work and hours spent encouraging others to follow suit led to disagreement, petty fan forum disputes and recently false allegations. Amongst the worst internet allegations were one which suggested a smoke bomb released by fans at a Dundee United away game may have indirectly caused the death of an Aberdeen fan after the match rather than the natural causes which led to the fan's passing.

The Red Ultras fan group contributed more to Aberdeen FC and its Pittodrie Stadium home ground than any other supporters group have in the club's history. However, despite an internet presence, weekly efforts at engaging others and a range of merchandise the group arguably was always more of a concept than an actual successful thriving supporters body. Why it never reached its potential was quite simple. Firstly, the authorities who run Scottish football treats the members of such groupings like criminals and with no respect whatsoever towards what they are attempting to achieve. On match day the younger members of the group, when seniority and brainchild organisers were not around, were bullied and harassed by stewarding staff. Secondly, despite a constant communicative dialogue with the football club, it was all too false. What was being said to the Red Ultras organisers face to face was not what was being said within the club walls. Whilst club security showed an obligation to them as fans by accommodating them inside the stadium, the same people also fulfilled obligations to police and match security by providing negative information on the group and its ethos. There was only ever going to be one winner.

Thirdly, and most importantly, those behind the Red Ultras idea where right up against it from day one with other fans of the club.   Granted, they were not totally blameless but not deliberatly so.  Many of the older members of the grouping were muture, intelligent and perceptive supporters with years of football supporting experience through various eras of football watching.  But younger members of the group were quite frankly 'head in the clouds ultras'. Nothing wrong with that, but wider elements of the clubs support obviously did not like it.  The reason is that the wider Aberdeen supporter base, whilst professing to be amongst the most loyal fans around, are also the most insular and miserable group of supporters anywhere. As someone once said, Aberdeen fans loved Gothenburg where they won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1983, but the chances of fans going back is non existent; it was raining that night.

Despite being one of the first all seater stadiums in Europe and with an innovative history in terms of ground infrastructure, Pittodrie Stadium is also one of the bleakest stadiums in the UK in terms of atmosphere. The supporters are happier rustling sweetie papers rather listening to other fans getting behind the team. A fan flying a flag is a hindrance rather than an addition; a fan standing up is tagged a hooligan. The Red Ultras idea could never fulfil its potential within a theatre of such apathy.

The demise of the Red Ultras is a sad indictment of the state of modern football in the United Kingdom where the authorities and administrators of the game have introduced bureaucratic ground regulations which means atmosphere creation is almost impossible for any grouping let alone one with the title of Ultras in it. Moreover, the passing of the group is a sorry reflection on an apathetic wider Aberdeen supporters base who in the 1980's perhaps gained far more than they as supporters ever deserved.