Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Dillo deserves this honour from United
IT hasn’t been a good week, few months, or even past year or so for Dundee United.
But I hope Arabs will remember the good times and turn out in numbers for Sean Dillon’s testimonial match against Hearts tonight.
Not just because I’m playing for part of the game but because my old teammate’s service to the Tangerines means he deserves a great night.
I was at United the day he signed and, over the past 10 years, Sean and I have become good mates.
And probably the best tribute I can pay him is I would put him up alongside my old Dundee pal Barry Smith as the kind of player you want in your dressing-room.
Like Baz, Dillo is one of that breed whose first thought is always that the team comes first.
Nothing illustrates that more than when he turned his ankle late in last Wednesday’s game at St Mirren.
He should have come off but, with all three subs already used, he stayed on for the 90 minutes.
That put his involvement tonight in jeopardy but was typical of him — the good of the team mattered more than his personal situation.
I realise a lot of punters will think that should be the norm for any professional player but I can say I’ve played with quite a few boys who would always put their needs before those of whichever club they were playing for.
People like Sean, who take the opposite view, are a rarer breed these days.
I have to say I’m also excited about running on to the pitch at Tannadice again — it’s been seven years since I did that in front of a crowd.
I’m taking the game seriously but I’ll own up to being my usual disorganised self.
I’ve realised I don’t have a pair of shin guards and when I looked my boots out yesterday there were a few studs missing.
That’s not too different from my playing days but, like then, I’ll be sorted by the time the game kicks off.
Old boys like Noel Hunt, Christian Kalvenes and Craig Conway are travelling a fair distance to take part tonight.
That shows the respect we all have for Sean, though you wouldn’t think so judging by the banter that’s been going on between us over the past few days.
But we all know what a great servant to United he’s been and, hopefully, that will be reflected with a big crowd.