China Has Gone Dundee Mad

Last updated : 26 May 2002 By Dave Webster
The Daily Record yesterday carried an article on Dundee's Chinese connections and writer Alan McCabe claimed the whole nation were going Dundee mad. The link to the story is:-

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/page.cfm?objectid=11900236&method=full&siteid=89488

Will Fan Return in July?
What's more Fan has told Dundee Director Jim Connor that he intends to return and play out his last year with Dundee rather than sign a contract for top side Shanghai Cosco. He feels he still has something to prove to the Dundee fans and the SPL.

Jim was followed by Chinese fans chanting Dundee's name and of the 600 team jerseys on sale at a football exhibition in which clubs such as Manchester United, Juventus, AC Milan, Roma, Feyenoord and PSV were represented, only 3 remained at closing time.

Dundee have just opened an official team website in Mandarin and 20,000 Chinese fans joined in 4 days.

A competition with a prize of a trip to Dundee to take in a game attracted 40,000 entries.

Dundee are now officially twinned with Chinese table toppers Cosco, the club Fan Zhiyi is currently on loan to and this arrangement will involve players and coaches visiting Tayside with the courtesy returned. Cosco have 60,000 season ticket holders.

The Budweiser managing director for Asia claimed Dundee are now the best known club in China along with Man. Utd.

Dundee have also twinned with the Cosco school of excellence which has 3000 youngsters residing there. That's how big football has become to the huge Chinese population.

Dundee are planning a friendly against Cosco in China in January during the month lay off that is to return this season and Cosco will play at Dens at a later date.

Jim Connor went on to tell the Record: "The last thing Fan Zhiyi said to me when I left was that he'd see me on July 2 for pre-season training.

"But if something happens and he stays over there next season we'd still be looking to have a Chinese international player at Dens Park."