There are so many people I individually want to thank that it would be almost impossible to write down.
I thank the club greatly for the countless support they’ve given me since joining in 2014. Since the injury and in the two years afterwards they have exhausted all possible options to try and get me back on the pitch, which was the ultimate aim. It hasn’t worked out that way but I now have a healthy knee that will allow me to have a normal active life and be involved and hands on in a coaching sense. Given the problems I’ve had with the knee this delights me. Its impossible for me to thank John and Tim enough for allowing me access to the best treatment and use of the best surgeons out there, nothing was a problem and for that I’m forever grateful.
To the manager and all of his coaching staff who have helped me when I have been struggling. They picked me up when I was down and encouraged me the full time. I’ve not been able to help Neil on the pitch but he still made me feel part of the place and a member of the squad at all times. The countless conversations I’ve had with him and Garts have helped me more than they probably realise. They have gone out of their way to make me feel important around the place and when I told them about my plans to retire their advice was invaluable as they have both experienced injuries in their careers. So in a way they could really relate to my situation. This all sounds like something that should happen at all clubs and all places of work but when they have a first team squad to look after and all the things managers, assistants, and coaching staff have to deal with on a daily basis then injured players can be forgotten about. Not in this case so I thank Neil, Garts, Tommy, Rab and Blair for their help and advice. I must also thank Paul, Cabey and his staff for all the help in their time at the club. Jimmy has also been great in allowing me to help with the 20’s and keeping me involved. His enthusiasm and love of coaching and football in general is infectious and I have loved working with him and learning . The work with Jimmy and Eddie previously has helped get me on the coaching path and one positive from the injury is that I started getting involved in the coaching earlier than I thought.
This now opens up a new opportunity for me and hopefully the start of a successful coaching career. Again I thank the club for their guidance in helping me through my badges, with only 9 months to go of my Pro Licence I feel that this positive side of the injury has given me a good head start. I hope I can now repay the club with my experience and pass some of this on to the youngsters and I can’t wait to get started full time with them and Jimmy.
I’ve had many great team mates who have kept me motivated and kept me going at times when I was down. Since I first came we have always had a great dressing room at Den’s filled with a mix of experience like Gowser and Daz and younger players such as Cammy and Wighton but even when players have been moving on and new ones coming in we’ve always managed to have a good dressing room. I thank all those players for their support while trying to recover. Also to all the staff behind the scenes at Dens, too many to mention but each and everyone of them make this club a special place to play and work.
The fans have been great with me from day 1. On the pitch I think they saw how committed I was to the club and I love playing in front of our passionate fans. Also off the pitch I thank them for their well wishes and their messages of support. It is a fantastic club from top to bottom with great people within the club and supporting it.
Last but not least the two people at the club who have kept me going day in day out, Gerry Doc and Lorraine. Lorraine has been amazing and she is so important to the players, we would all be lost without her and she’s picked me up on numerous occasions. Gerry has had to put up with my questions and my moaning about something. He’s left no stone unturned in trying to get me on the pitch. Its not gone totally to plan but considering how bad it was he’s performed a minor miracle. He’s a fantastic physio and even better man.
James McPake
