Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Deewok to retire after fun times and mishaps
DEEWOK found himself on the mascot naughty step more than once during a Dens Park career spanning more than 20 years.
The club mascot has now been retired following the misery of relegation and the Dark Blues have unveiled their new effort to entertain youngsters: SnappyDee.
It marks the end of an era for the popular bear.
Whether waving an inflatable sheep at Aberdeen fans or riding a tractor on to the pitch for a game against St Johnstone, life was never dull when Deewok was in post, with a flurry of dustups bringing some unwanted headlines during his time on the touchline.
Deewok first landed himself in hot water in January 2002 when he was banned from entertaining fans during a league match against Hibernian.
He was given an official warning by the club for trying to make light of rebel midfielder Patrizio Billio being allegedly assaulted outside Dens Park.
Deewok was removed by police and club officials after strapping a flashing blue light to his head and carrying a truncheon and handcuffs on to the pitch.
His matchday routine was scrapped after being deemed “inappropriate”.
Worse was to follow that May when the bear went AWOL!
He attended Lubo Moravcik’s charity match at Thomson Park in Lochee before disappearing and he was still missing in July, which prompted a plea for information.
“Maybe the call of the wild was too strong for him,” a club spokesman said.
“If anyone has seen him wandering the streets, we would implore them to get in touch with the club.
“There will be a reward for anyone who provides information that will lead to his recovery.
“We haven’t seen him since May and so far our investigations have revealed very little.
“We are very keen that he is back in place for the start of the season.”
The old saying that the best place to hide is in plain sight was proven when Deewok was eventually tracked down to a cupboard in Dens Park.
He might have wished he stayed there after being threatened with the sack within a few months for ridiculing Dundee United midfielder Charlie Miller.
At half-time in the November derby game, the giant cuddly bear-like creature appeared wearing a United jersey bearing Miller’s name and number.
Stuffed up the front – in mock suggestion that the Tannadice star could do with losing a pound or two – was a pillow.
Several United fans took offence and complaints were forthcoming.
Seeing as this was by no means a first offence, it looked as if the axe was about to fall on the errant mascot until Miller’s timely intervention.
Miller stressed he had taken no offence and saw no reason for any disciplinary action.
Deewok survived but Andy Lynn, the holder of the role, was arrested and charged in connection with an alleged assault on a Partick Thistle supporter during a match in 2011.
The incident unfolded outside the commentator’s box at Dens and took place in full view of fans following Dundee’s second goal of the match. The charges were subsequently dropped, although Andy was spoken to by the fiscal’s office and warned about his future conduct.
The 47-year-old Partick Thistle fan was ejected from the ground and subsequently charged with breach of the peace but the case was also dropped.
The club stood by Andy during the case.
He continued as the popular Dens Park mascot until Deewok was dropped in 2018, returning from cold storage for the 20192020 season.
It will be up to SnappyDee to follow in his footsteps in 2022-2023.
Bringing in a new mascot after relegation is nothing new and was a tactic famously employed by Forfar Athletic after going through the trap door in 2016.