Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Diehard United fans will never walk alone
TWO Dundee United fans will walk from Tannadice to Tynecastle to raise funds for the club’s legal battle against Hearts and Partick Thistle.
United became embroiled in the dispute between the Jambos and the Jags with the SPFL, which will now be heard by an SFA arbitration panel.
The Tannadice club called on fans and rival clubs to help cover the £150,000 legal fees.
Paul McNicoll and Andy Crichton have done just that.
The diehard Arabs have stepped up to the plate for their club, already raising almost £10,000. Their initial target was just £500.
Paul and Andy have been inundated with donations as they aim to complete a charity walk from Tannadice to Hearts’ home ground, Tynecastle in Edinburgh, next weekend.
It is a journey of more than 60 miles, which they believe could take them up to 18 hours to complete.
Paul, who is one half of Dundee United fan podcast The Dode Fox Podcast, said every step will be worth it.
“If we had raised maybe £400 of the initial target we might have just stopped at Dunfermline and paid the rest ourselves,” he said.
“The pressure is on big time now but that’s OK, Andy and I are looking forward to doing it.
“Weather permitting, next Friday or Saturday we’ll leave Tannadice in the wee small hours and work our way to Tynecastle through Fife.
“People are not only making donations. Some are saying they’ll walk part of the journey with us and others have offered to drop food off.
“Someone has even offered us a lift home from Edinburgh.”
Paul added: “Big Andy and I go out walking quite a lot and just last year I did the Kiltwalk which was 29 miles around Dundee.
“Your feet get a wee bit sore towards the end of it but I still felt I could go some more. I’m going to have to do it again next weekend.”
Paul said they have not set a fundraising target but donations from current and former United players have helped them rack up their impressive total so far.
To donate, search for “Tannadice to Tynecastle walk” on gofundme. com.