The Beginnings Of Stardom

How the Team was created. Personally I was contacted directly by Granada TV via email on the 30th September, I sent back a reply not thinking I’d have much chance of making the Team when I noticed the official site had also received the same email and posted it for all to respond.

It was the next day when I received confirmation from Granada Television’s Jonathan Bates that I’d been selected for the Team and two other members were still required. Not knowing the criteria I informed them that Rod Miller-Kelly may be available, but poor Rod was to be disappointed, when it was announced the final team had been selected. It was then I’d asked Granada for a list of my fellow Dundee Team Members and their email addresses.

They came in as James Hegarty, Paul Rendel, Andy Boyack and Davie Elder.

Just like any new team being put together we can all now sympathise with Ivano on how difficult this is.

We had the initial getting to know each other phase of rushing emails and telephone calls to each other, trying to work out what we thought the questions may be like, what knowledge we actually had and what our specialised subjects could be. (The equivalent of the dropped ball or over hit pass). After all we’d had less than 3 days notice, from even being made aware of the show, to actually being selected.

Some of us knew of each other from Dundee chat sites such as the one shown on the Dee-licious Chat page, controlled by Rod Miller-Kelly, but we never actually knew each other.

A short profile via emails to Paul, threw up the following profile, he was 35 actually living in Manchester and hailed from Glasgow initially, but had supported Dundee ever since the 1973 League Cup Victory over Celtic.

James Hegarty joined us then on Rod’s chat page to discuss tactics and strengths just like any football team. He’s 16 and has Supported Dundee since he was a lad.

Andy Boyack called me later that night and divulged he was 48 currently living in Wigan and knew the Dees Down South he was going to be meeting us at the Train Station when we arrived in Manchester.

Dave Elder arrived in the chat room the following night and we discovered he’s a Football Coach and aged 31.

Which leaves myself Bob Laird 37, Dundee born & bred and Editor Of Boab’s Little Piece Of Scotland, a website which is dedicated to Dundee FC.

It was during one of these ensuing chat sessions we found out at short notice that Dave Elder was otherwise indisposed that weekend due to work commitments. Just like the team we all support, our plans were put into disarray by the quiz equivalent of a knee injury. Unfortunately only the three of us were online at the time and rapid contingency plans were set flying. Rod was back on the agenda (warming up on the touchline in his tracksuit). It was agreed I should give Rod first option, since we had after all been hi-jacking his chat page for our team training sessions.

Disaster as what often happens to Ivano’s plans in recruiting a quick signing to overcome an injury situation, yes Rod’s Passport needed authenticated. Technically he’d made other arrangements for the weekend for his family and credit to him he never wanted to let them down. Some may suspect a De Marchi rumoured injury i.e. his bottle went, but not me.

It was then we decided to pull off a Caniggia style coup and sign up the Dundee legend and Guru Norrie Price. Unlike Ivano, our audacious attempt failed, the Guru was otherwise engaged that weekend. He did however wish us well in our endeavours. We finally decided we would go into the fray with a depleted squad, but still confident of taking the points. This was after numerous calls to Sara the Co-Production Organiser, for rule confirmations, who like all Refs was probably getting fed up of the back chat. It was confirmed we could get a fifth official member at a later date.

Trying to organise the train timetables and routes is nothing short of Rocket Science. They make Andy Gray’s tactical board look easy to follow after he’s gone wild with the light pen.