Highs and lows – John has seen it all inhistime

The club has experienced the best and worst of life outside the top flight of Scottish football since John Christison took over as chairman.

Dundee FC paid an astonishing fee of £120,000 for striker Paul Tosh in 1993 but that big money boost was tempered by a 9-1 loss to Celtic later in the year — the club’s biggest defeat.

The Scottish League was restructured a year later, with Arbroath settling in around the bottom half of the new Third Division.

Dave Baikie was brought in from all-conquering junior side Tayport and the club was promoted in the 1997/98 season, a renaissance built on by John Brownlie with promotion in 2001 — a return to the First Division for the first time since 1980.

Back-to-back relegations followed and the team would have to wait until 2007 to get back up to the Second Division via play-offs, followed by relegation two years later.

Player/manager Paul Sheerin led Arbroath to its first ever championship trophy in the 2010/11 season, with previous promotions to higher leagues having been achieved from runner-up spots.

In a world of overpaid here today, gone tomorrow superstars, John Christison’s story is truly remarkable. Players may come and go with the turning of the seasons, but Mr Christison, who yesterday stepped down as the longest-serving chairman in Scottish football history, was in it for the long haul – and then some.

Without doubt, Mr Christison is someone fans can relate to. Fortunes may change, but real supporters stay loyal through thick and thin.

Paul Sheerin led the club to its first ever league title win.