Diary pinpoints Dark Blues’ highs and lows

the legendary Billy Steel in the early 1950s.

Being a life-long fan, Kenny, who is chairman of the Dundee Supporters’ Association and club historian, knows only too well following the club i nvolves pain as well as pleasure.

Remaining true to that, he’s included some dark days, a few of which he feels illustrate what a crazy ride those 124 years have been.

“One I found i nteresting was Saturday, April 30, 1938. Having won 5-0 at Somerset Park just a few weeks earlier with almost the same team, Dundee needed to beat Ayr at Dens to avoid being relegated for the first time ever.

“They could only draw, went down and, because of the war, had to wait a long time to get back up.”

Maybe it’s because of historical twists like that, but Kenny reveals even the dates he regards as his favourites have a link to darker times.

“It would be easy to name the days we won trophies or promotion but my own favourite 2004.

“That was the day of what became known as the Monopoly Derby when United fans were waving Monopoly money at us because we’d just gone into administration.

“It also happens to be my birthday, but the main thing for me was Dundee won and, as I say in the book, we were down but still fighting.

“My second favourite relates to another period of administration. The day that happened again was probably the worst in the club’s history because they were so close to closing, but it did lead to the Deefiant run.

“For me, the highlight of that was when the manager now, Neil McCann, came out of retirement to help out and scored a 94th-minute winner against Raith Rovers on February 12, 2011.

“Moments like that are so precious, you can’t make them up and I hope I’ve managed to include a few of them in the book.” is January 25,

Kenny Ross’ new book Dundee FC On This Day.