The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Dark Blues will face Farense in Portugal
Young keeper Ferrie pays tribute to his No. 1 coach Geddes
Dundee have announced that they will be heading to Portugal next month for an intensive week of pre-season training that will also include a game against LigaPro side S.C. Farense.
Dark Blues boss Neil McCann will put his players through their paces in the Algarve with the friendly taking place on July 10 at the Estádio Municipal de Albufeira, kick off 7.30pm.
The team will be situated at a training base from the 4th to the 11th.
Young Dark Blues goalie Calum Ferrie meanwhile has paid tribute to the influence the club’s keeping coach Bobby Geddes has had on him.
The 19-year-old stopper had been producing impressive performances for the Dark Blues’ under-20s last season and was eventually rewarded with a place on the bench for the first team, making his debut in the daunting atmosphere of Ibrox at the start of April when Elliott Parish had to come off with a facial injury.
Ferrie was then handed a starting place against Partick in the final game of the campaign and although he was unable to prevent the Jags winning through a solitary Kris Doolan goal, he did produce a string of fine saves throughout the match.
And the teenager, who will compete with Parish and new signing Jack Hamil- ton for the No 1 jersey next season, admitted the advice given to him by Geddes has been a huge help to him.
He said: “I love training every day and Bobby has been a great help to me.
“I have been at a few clubs. I was at Port Vale and Stoke when I was younger. So I have worked with a lot of goalkeeping coaches. Bobby is very good. He is really patient with me. He knows the game very well having played it for so long. He is a big help and is a calming influence on me.
“Sometimes you do things wrong, get a little bit on yourself and you want to do better. But he just steps in and gets you to calm down. The most important thing as a goalkeeper is to be calm and relaxed and Bobby really helps with that.”
Former Dundee midfielder Jim McAlister has been snapped up by new Morton boss Ray McKinnon on a oneyear deal.
The 32-year-old had three seasons at Dens, helping the Dark Blues win the Championship in 2014.
He then moved down south a year later to join English outfit Blackpool but left the Seasiders at the end of the last campaign.
McAlister has now returned to the club where his career began and will join other new midfield signings former St Johnstone veteran Chris Millar and ex-Dundee United favourite Charlie Telfer.
McKinnon said: “Jim brings real quality to the midfield area. He’s still at a great age with a lot to offer. Like Chris Millar, he’s in great shape and he’s desperate to go and play football. That hunger is really important as well.
“He wants to come back and play here, which is huge. He and Chris are the type of characters who are desperate to come back and do well here.”
Bobby is very good. He knows the game very well having played it for so long.
CALUM FERRIE