I am delighted to report that our membership has now passed the 400-mark as it continues to grow. As we approach the end of 2022, I want to thank all of you who have joined the Trust over the past year or who have renewed your membership. The more members we have, the stronger our voice is.
While we have little progress to report in our attempts to secure a meeting with the DFC board the club have reiterate to us their belief that there is no danger of Dundee becoming homeless, for the reasons they outlined back in March.
While that is welcome, we would like to gain a better understanding of the matter through further dialogue and for the club to publicly address the other questions asked by fans around the proposed new stadium development.
We understand that many of you feel frustrated just now but, as we said at last month’s AGM, we will do everything we can to seek answers to the issues that our members are urging us to raise with the club. Please be assured that there is a lot of work taking place in the background that we hope to be able to update you on soon.
Dee4Life ends 2022 in a much stronger position than it began the year in. Our board has expanded and our new directors, including our most recent appointee Kenny Valentine, bring with them significant professional experience. We also have an enlarged pool of expert advisers helping to inform our decisions and a membership that has more than doubled in recent months.
For Dundee supporters, last weekend’s postponed game against Cove Rangers was another source of frustration given the momentum the team has built up recently, though also possibly relief for those hanging after their work Christmas do the night before. The severe weather was also a reminder of the challenges we face with rising food and heating costs.
In these tough times, credit must go to the Dundee FC Community Trust. As well as providing warmth and meals for those struggling with bills, the team are collecting hot water bottles, blankets etc to give out. We have pledged items to this very worthy cause and want to congratulate Greg Fenton and his team for the work they are doing to help vulnerable members of our community.
On a similar theme, Dee4Life director George McIrvine is involved with the Fans Supporting Foodbanks group that hold collections before each game at Dens and Tannadice. We would encourage all those fans who are able to do so to support this initiative. It was heartwarming recently to see how members of the Giorgi Nemsadze supporters club came together to donate items for FSFD – well done lads and lasses.
To turn back to football, we are obviously all desperate for the Dark Blues to give us an early Christmas present when they travel to Ayr tonight. Let’s hope we go top of the league and stay there for the remainder of the season.
On behalf of the Dee4Life board, I would like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Best wishes,
Grant Hill (Vice Chair)
