Tribute to Dee4life
In November 2003 the news that Dundee Football club was to enter administration was initially met with disbelief and anger. This became a determination to organise in a fans group to campaign to save the club from extinction. Fans rallied through supporters clubs and web sites and subsequently Dee4Life was formed. The D4L working group have thrown themselves into the task of co-ordinating the numerous ideas that were presented to raise money. Bucket collections, discos, concerts, raffles, Dee 4 Life days, support from T.V personalities ,the making of a CD and the ingenious idea to bottle and sell D4L water were the main ideas put into practice to raise a staggering sum of almost £200,000 in little over six months.
Fans of every age have rallied to the cause through the banner of Dee 4 Life. Children have contributed their pocket money, families have done without in order to help the campaign. Elderly people have given part of their life savings to D4L. Fans at home, in other parts of the U.K and abroad have rallied to the cause. De4life have fought a campaign in the face of adversity.
Hindered by media opposition and attempts to discredit the validity of the campaign, and isolated by vested interests who wished D4l would fall flat on their face the D4L committee have fought tooth and nail on behalf of fans. They have knocked on doors and they have asked the big questions. The move to evolve Dee4Life into a supporters Trust in early 2004 gave the supporters campaign a major boost.
The decision to refuse to be Put into Tannadice to wither away to suit vested interests proved sound and lead to the Bank bringing D4L on board as an equal partner in the plan to rescue the Dee.
With the completion of the Creditors Voluntary Agreement on the 26th may 2004 a major objective has been achieved. A decision has been taken that this famous club steeped in tradition will continue to exist. When the crunch came, Dundee fans stood up and were not found wanting.
Every Dundee fan who has contributed to D4L can be proud of their achievement. The Dee4Life committee and their associated members can be proud of their effort; their hard work has not gone unnoticed. We owe them. They can look in the mirror and feel good about themselves. They can be proud of their achievements. History will not forget what we the fans through D4L have achieved.