Local Businesses To Help The Dee

Around 50 local Dundonian businessmen attended the first meeting of the Dark Blues Business Trust on Thursday evening at the Dundee Ice Arena.

It was explained at the meeting that the aim of the trust was to help the club reach the target of £300,000 to get out of administration and also help to secure its long-term future which includes buying back Dens Park.

Trust spokesman Peter Marr spoke to The Courier about the event. He said:

“I think it went quite well, about 40 of those present signed up and that’s the hard part. Now we’ve got to work hard and get more pledges — there were a lot of people not there who are already involved but couldn’t make it on the night due to the weather.

“And I’d like to say there’s someone here tonight whose father died recently and his mother has pledged £5000 to the trust. They are big Dundee fans and that’s the sort of thing we keep hearing about.

“We’re quite confident — we’re definitely well into five figures now and the response tonight was good.”

The BBC also have a video interview with Peter Marr which can be found here.

Smith Calls For Indoor Facilities

Dundee manager Barry Smith has called for state-of-the-art indoor football facilities to be built on the East Coast of Scotland.

West Coast clubs have been able to train on the Regional Football Centre at Toryglen and the £32 million sports development at Ravenscraig. Both of which boasts state-of-the-art indoor synthetic grass pitches built to the highest FIFA standards.

Smith said: “The trouble all clubs in this part of the country are having training just now highlights how we could be doing with a Toryglen or Ravenscraig in the east of Scotland.”

“This is not just about me wanting an indoor facility like that for Dundee to use, it would benefit a whole load of clubs. It does not even need to be in Dundee, just somewhere within travelling distance.

“If there was ever a time to consider a project like that, then it is now.”

Lochee United vs Dundee XI – Preview

Lochee United vs Dundee XI

Craig Robertson Testimonial

Saturday 20th November

Thomson Park

Kick-Off 2pm

 

A Dundee XI consisting of players from the present squad and legends from the past will travel to Thomson Park, the home of junior side Lochee United on Saturday to play in Craig Robertson’s testimonial match.

Craig Robertson is in his 10th season playing for Lochee but is a passionate Dundee supporter. He has very kindly decided to donate all proceeds from the match to the Dundee FC Supporters Society to go towards helping our clubs survival.

Former players Javier Artero and  Miguel Artero are travelling from Spain to play in this match. They will line alongside other legends Bobby Geddes, Bobby Glennie, Tosh McKinlay, Rab Shannon, Andy Dow and current manager Barry Smith (others possibly still to be announced). I am hopeful that we will also get to see some youth players have their first run-out for the full team.

Kick-off is at 2pm and entry is only £8 for adults and £2 for OAPs and Under 16’s. Hopefully a big crowd will turn out to support Craig on his day and also raise some dough for the Dees.