It is hard to believe that the final home game of the season is upon us - a season that started with the usual optimism after the disappointment of not getting promoted the previous term. Little did we know what horrors awaited us just around the corner.
Administration........ again! We lost a lot of good people on that fateful day at Dens. A thing we all thought would never happen again, but it did - and the big questions were; Would we survive? How would we be punished? Well, we soon got our answer to the latter when the SFL deemed that we should be punished by an unprecedented 25-point deduction. They obviously thought that this would be enough to kill and relegate The Dees! How wrong they were!! Administration showed everyone involved in Scottish football just what being involved with DFC means to each and every one of us. It gave us the strength to push on, to never admit defeat. It brought the Club and fans much closer together than we have ever been. It made the Club & the Community work as one in order to have a Club that we could be proud of!
I can honestly say that I have never felt more proud to be a Dee than I do just now. The fundraising efforts by the fans have been absolutely tremendous and we should all be very, very proud of what we have achieved. This seige mentality and team spirit at the Club also provided a record breaking unbeaten run by Barry and the boys. Surely a team of heroes that we will be forever grateful to! Here's hoping that the next few weeks will bring even better news that the Club have exited administration and is on a sound footing to be carried forward as the biggest fan owned professional club in the country.
I have every faith in the DFCSS and believe that they will continue to act in the best interests of the Club and its fans. We will be in good hands - of that I have no doubt.
So that brings me to Saturday. As a member of the committee of the DSA I have been involved in trying to organise a number of fundraising events since we went into administration. They have proven to be a great success and I hope that the "Doo" in the Dundee Social Club on Saturday will be just as successful. I would also like to think that some people that attend might start their own supporters club or even join an existing one. The feel good factor around Dens just now is absolutely fantastic but let’s not forget that we will all be required to do our part in the future. So watch out for even more activity from the DFCSS and DSA during the close season!
All that’s left for me to say is enjoy Saturday, whether you will be at the doo, a local pub, at hospitality or just going to the match. Get the balloons, streamers, flags, scarves and most importantly your voices in full swing. If you are a member of a supporters club and want your flag, banner or shield displayed on Saturday, make sure you get them to Dens before 12 noon. A space in the Bob Shankly stand has been created to accommodate all of your flags etc. Let’s give Barry and the team the thanks they deserve by raising the roof with our party at Dens.
However, it is important that we all refrain from invading the pitch at full time. If there is an invasion the players will not be able to come out and give their thanks to all of us! Finally and most importantly, have fun, enjoy yourselves. You really deserve it!
Thank you to each and every one of you!
KIDB
Rab Gilchrist