POTY 2008

The Finale to the season 2007/08 was, as always, the DSA player of the year denner at the Dundee Hilton and, as has become tradional by now, a full table of HDB's made the jaunt down the road and the miles by car and train to show their support for a team who had given us more hope than for several seasons and came sooooo close to getting our beloved team back where we belong. The troops headed doon the road with many questions, Who was staying?Who was going? Would we have more funding for new players? Would Derek Lyle come out of the tanning salon in time to catch the last train to Hamilton? these and many more questions would be answered before the night was out.

All assembled in the aptly named Couttie's Snug, Trades Bar, Union St. by 4:30, although some had been there a tad longer than others. Quality beer and a good 2-2 dra' between Everton and Aston Villa kept the lads from wearyin' as we waited for wir denner !
A crackin day, weatherwise, made the trips down by car and train very enjoyable. The walk/stagger to the Hilton was equally pleasant, although a touch more risky as we were led over dual carriageways, roadworks and against traffic lights to the safe environs of the Olympia Car Park. A quick change and there we were. The Dapper lads in a variety of kilts, troos, suits and smart but casuals.

A few swallies in the foyer ( loaby ) and the we took our seats at table 26. Not as close to the great and the good as we've been before, but close enough.The top table, the legends then the current squad were clapped in and it was down to the soup, meat (and pastry), and puddin. A steady stream of flat pints began to build up on the Cahirman's side of the table,but he was nowhere to be seen. Breakin a' the rules he was awa gettin autographs before we'd finished oor tea !

( editors note: eh think it's crehd denner in posh places Mao!!)

Snappin awa wi the camera, I heard shouts of " there's no flashes", to which I replied " Eh dinna think it needs tae flash ". Only later did I discover that the first 12 foties I took were a' short videos !!! Technology wins again. (You Tube! someone muttered!!)
The POTY awards started and we felt the tension rising as it got closer to Big Billy's turn. Proud as punch, the older of the two Watson boys did us proud with a few words of congratulation for our POTY, Kevin MacDonald, and the quaich was duly accepted.

Amidst the mayhem ( memory fading here ) I think there was an auction, a raffle, a comedian wi nae neck (and nae political correctness) and speeches by Bob Brannan, Chair of DFC, Alec Rae and a few others, orchestrated by Roger Brunton in his own inimitable, polite and efficient manner.
Just as we thought the whole thing was over and we could adjourn to the bar, there was one final award, the Supporters Club of the year trophy. As soon as it was announced that it was going this year to a club who really deserved it for all their fund raising, raffle ticket sales and distance travelled regularly to support the DEE, I knew it was going to be us - THE HIGHLAND DARK BLUES !!!! Mr Couttie, stunned and visibly shocked was ushered to the podium to accept the award on our behalf. He said thanks, corrected a previous speakers account of a European night from the 70's and smiled for the cameras !

After that is a blur. I recall singing Let it Be accompanied by a very talented pianist in the foyer, then the voddies started and the legends gathered round the piano for a photo opportunity with the HDB's. George Stewart was allowed to hold the trophy, as he had never done that before ! Bobby Wilson, a gentleman if ever there was one, marshalled the leg ends in. There was Jocky, Jim MacLean, Billy Campbell who had flown in from Ireland and was walking with the aid of crutches, Jim Easton who had flown in from Canada, George Stewart, Alex Kinnonmonth, Ronnie Selway, and Gordon Wallace. The memories, oh the memories.

Jim Maclean persuades Arnie toallow him to have his picture taken with a Dundee legend!!

A great night yet again. All the more sweet for winning a well deserved award for everybody's efforts over the 5 or 6 years we've been together, and a fitting tribute to Jabba in his last year in his current spell as secretary.

Highlights - The beers in the Trades, Big Billy's presentation to Kevin, Wee Billy's pretendin to be a player and signing autographs !, Jabba's face when the award was announced, Addo winning a raffle prize ( lunch for two at the Hilton ), a free blagged breakfast for the Cahirman on Monday morning !

Lookin forward to next year's event already !!!!
CAHIRMAN ( sober noo )

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A JOINT MAO/MAC PRESENTATION