Dee ready for battle of the legends
NEIL McCANN and Barry Smith fought together to save Dundee in the club’s darkest hour. Now they are set to meet as foes. But whatever happens in Tuesday’s Betfred Cup clash between McCann’s Dark Blues and Smith’s Raith Rovers, Cammy Kerr will still view both as legends.
Kerr was a teenage youth-team prospect when McCann came out of retirement to help the threadbare Dee in their battle against administration in 2011.
In his first game – ironically enough against Raith Rovers – McCann popped up with a fairytale, injury-time winner for the underdog Dark Blues.
The celebrations that followed will live in lifelong fan Kerr’s memory forever.
But the contributions to and sacrifices for the club’s cause made by then-manager Smith have their place too.
“It was a mental moment to be honest,” he recalled.
“I was in the main stand, beside the tunnel, with the rest of the youth-team boys.
“There were fans on the pitch, people falling about the place. It was just surreal.
“Even the youth team guys were going daft. I certainly was. It was a total one-off. Fairytale stuff.
“We were excused for going mental that day. It was such a great feeling.
“And looking back it epitomised what that season was all about – Neil McCann, a club legend, coming back to score that goal to keep an unbeaten run going against all odds.
“It meant so much to people. But what Barry did as manager means everything too.
“He had so much on his plate that season, with the 25-point deduction and having such a small squad to work with.
“But he was always good with me. He always made time.
“I still see him now occasionally, in Broughty Ferry, and we stop and speak, and it’s good. That’s the way he is. It’s the way he’s always been.
“For me, it’s like bumping into your hero, so on Tuesday there will be a Dundee legend in both dugouts. Me and Craig Wighton will probably be in awe!”
Dundee boss McCann has been demanding of his players in preseason – and they have stepped up.
Nevertheless, Kerr expects Raith Rovers to be like a wounded animal after relegation to League One.
As a result, he knows his teammates will need to take McCann’s lessons on board at Stark’s Park.
“He’s been very clear from the first pre-season game – he wants a winning mentality,” said Kerr.
“Without doubt, the boys know that, and we’ve gone and got wins in pre-season. That builds confidence.
“We’re under no illusions as to how hard it will be on Tuesday. It will be the toughest test we’ve faced.”