Supporting the community for 100 years
Looking after Aberdeen’s children and young people
Established in 1924 by a group of local businessmen to promote social, moral and physical wellbeing, thousands of children and young people have come through ALC’s doors over the last century.
What started off as an informal club located in the city’s East End has evolved into a highly regulated charitable organisation, providing a wide range of community education services for all children and young people regardless of their background or circumstance.
Originally named ‘Aberdeen Lads’ Club’, the charity has had several homes over the years, with premises at The Gallowgate, Woodside, Hutcheon Street/Mounthooly and now in Tillydrone. Regardless of where we’ve been based, our goal has always been the same – to provide a safe haven where young people feel supported, inspired and encouraged to realise their full potential.
Girls joined the boys at our Woodside club in 1949 and since then generations have benefitted from the child-led opportunities we offer for learning as well as for personal development, with many returning to volunteer or even work with us, always talking fondly about their time as a ‘Ladser’.
In 2023-24, our Tillydrone facility underwent a major renovation to become a modern, multi-use building. This, along with a new brand identity, signifies a fresh chapter for the charity as we set our sights on another 100 years of supporting our communities.
- 1924: Aberdeen Lads Club is created with Mr Frank Ogsden as its leader.
- 1925: The Gallowgate facility opens at a cost of £2,900.
- 1928: 25 boys from the club sailed to Canada, before taking up farm work in Montreal.
- 1932: Prince George officially opens the Gallowgate club extension.
- 1935: Handball is the most popular game with boxing a close second.
- 1937: The club acquires its Woodside site.
- 1939: Three young men head to Sydney, with support from the club. An area at the Woodside club is turned into vegetable plots to help with rationing.
- 1943: The buildings at Woodside are destroyed by an air raid on the city. First football team was formed.
- 1946: A sports field in Persley is feud to the club by the City of Aberdeen Land Association (CALA). The first camp at Huntly is held.
- 1948: The club’s constitution is amended to make provision for girls as well as boys.
- 1949: Girls become members of the club.
- 1961: The Gallowgate premises are demolished.
- 1964: The Hutcheon Street / Mounthooly facility opens at a cost of £30,000.
- 1972: The Hutcheon Street / Mounthooly club closes to make way for a massive traffic roundabout.
- 1983: The club’s Tillydrone facility is built.
- 1984: The Urban Aid under-12s project is launched.
- 2018: The Persley land is sold back to CALA Homes.
- 2023: The Tillydrone facility benefits from a major renovation project.
- 2024: The club’s doors re-open.
- 2025: The club is rebranded with a fresh new name and look.
Sport has always been at the heart of the club
Aberdeen legends started out as Ladzers
Sports have always been hugely important at ALC, with its footballing section comprising teams across all age groups right up to Juniors.
In fact, several high-profile sportsmen honed their skills at the club as boys.
Footballing legend Denis Law – the only Scottish payer to have won the Ballon d’Or award – was a Ladzer, as was Liverpool legend Ron Yeats.
Dave Smith, Jocky Scott, Graeme Hogg, Scott Paterson, Stewart McKimmie and Gary Whyte all played for the club.
Gary Law, Denis’ son, has spoken about how much his dad enjoyed his time playing football at the club: “Dad always spoke fondly of this time with the Aberdeen Lads Club. Growing up, it gave him the opportunity to play football and help establish a team with other young people who loved the game in the city.”
It wasn’t only football that the youngsters enjoyed. Cricket, table tennis, billiards and badminton have all been played over the years, along with indoor games such as quoits, dominos, ludo and bagatelle.
Fast forward to today and our 27m x 16m games hall continues to be enjoyed by our children and young people and is also hired privately by groups from across the city.
