Wolters bids to be knockout success

DUNDEE: Winger’s pledge to supporters

Dutch tough guy Randy Wolters promises to be a knockout success for Dundee after literally packing a punch back in his homeland.

The tough guy winger became famous – or infamous – back in the Netherlands for smacking an opposition fan in the face at the end of a promotion play-off decider on May 22 2016.

He was in the Go Ahead Eagles team that drew 1-1 away to De Graafschap to secure a 5-2 aggregate success and move up to the top flight and send the hosts down.

At the full-time whistle, hundreds of irate De Graafschap supporters invaded the Stadion De Vilverberg pitch just as the victorious away team went to celebrate in front of their own fans.

In the mayhem that followed, the Go Ahead Eagles players were attacked and Wolters was forced into some self-defence.

A fan of UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) superstar Conor McGregor, the Dark Blues new wide man took inspiration from the Irishman and did what he thought was necessary to protect himself, his colleagues and his photographer father Jack, who was on the park taking pics of the Eagles’ celebrations.

Wolters, who has agreed a two-year deal with the Dens men, said: “I punched a supporter last year when we were promoted and we were attacked by supporters.

“I was zoomed in on (by a TV camera) and it was shown on BBC and CNN, with the video going viral. I punched him in self-defence – it was crazy. We were going up in the play-offs but supporters came on the pitch.

“There were maybe 200 supporters or something and from the 200 maybe 30 or 40 were going for us. My father Jack is a photographer so was on the pitch and I thought I saw someone hit him.

“It turns out it wasn’t him, it was just a guy who looked like him, but I went over and he then went to punch our goalkeeper. So I did a bit of a Conor McGregor on him and left him knocked out.

“The whole team was fighting, really, but I was the one who knocked the guy out. I’m not embarrassed or ashamed.

“I wish it didn’t happen but if the same happened again I would do it again.

“I won’t look for a fight but I will stick up for my team-mates and for my family – I think everyone is the same.

“My father was just laughing about it because it turns out he did get attacked by another person but he punched the guy also. Maybe it’s a family thing!

“People are going to think I’m a fighter but I’m a nice guy, honestly. I don’t mean to be cocky but I’m a happy guy. When I have the kit on, though, and I want to fight to win matches.”

Perhaps surprisingly, Wolters received no punishment from the Dutch authorities, whose sympathies were with the Eagles for being attacked in the first place.

A year or so on and keen to open a new chapter in his career, Wolters wants to draw a line under the episode.

“I don’t talk about it in Holland any more but people in Scotland don’t know about it, so this is the first and last time I will discuss it here,” he said.

“Nothing happened to me about it – there was no punishment.

“The guys who came on the pitch all got punished, though, and they are banned from going to matches now.

“In Holland everyone said I was right to do it but I kept getting asked about it and people got sick of hearing the story.

“The last time I was on a TV programme and was asked about it so I don’t speak about it these days. Football is the most important thing for me. I want to win games with nice football.

“I can fight if I need to but playing good football is far more important.”