DDWSC Chairperson, Elizabeth Ferris.

A Message From The Chair.

On Wednesday 25th February, Dragons were once again found at the Caird Hall in their glad-rags, for another night of good food, quality banter, a few drinks, oh and some shiny awards.

This time it was the Dundee Sports Awards where the club was represented in four of the 12 categories. I was pleased to take home the Jenny Wood Allen Award for Disability Sport; an accolade I really didn’t expect, but nonetheless was honoured to receive. 

The next two categories saw Head Coach Kevin Rattray make Finalist in Community Coach of the Year, and Club Secretary Sally Lumsdaine was also a Finalist for Volunteer of the Year.

The last award of the night was Club of the Year. The winner was chosen by way of a public vote and we were up against five other clubs from across the city. Every one of the other finalists would’ve been worthy winners; all were well established, thriving clubs and all were much larger than us.

I’ll be honest, I really didn’t think we had much chance of taking such a prestigious title, so when we were announced as the winners and I was given the microphone for a second time that evening; I couldn’t even think of where to begin!

So it’s a pleasure to list my personal thanks here to each and every one of you who make up a part of The Dragons Family;

To the coaches who give willingly of their free time to provide top class tuition. 

To our main sponsors Gowrie Care, and the other funders such as Wooden Spoon, Rotary Dundee, Dan Maskell Trust and Awards for All Scotland, without whom we simply couldn’t function.  

To organisations like Sported, Leisure & Culture Dundee, Dundee City Disability Sport, Basketball Scotland, Scotland Wheelchair Rugby League, Tennis Scotland and Scottish Disability Sport; all of whom are only too happy to provide advice and support no matter what the query. 

To the “doers”, of which there are many;

• Bill Lamb who makes sure our chairs survive the punishment meted out to them week by week, 
• Sally Lumsdaine who does an excellent job as Secretary, the responsibilities of which are many and ultra-varied!
• Farana Latif who ensures that we remember to warm up, cool down and everything in between. 
• Kevin Rattray, who likes to say he’s “on the periphery” of club activities but we all know he is, in fact, always found at the heart of everything we do. 
• The Volunteers and Students who conscientiously turn up each week and get stuck into whatever is asked of them.

To the families who bring their kids along faithfully week by week, regardless of the weather outside or the time on the clock.

To the players who refuse to let their disabilities hold them back from enjoying and excelling in team sport.

To all these folks and everyone else associated with the club, a thousand thousand thank-yous for your role in our success. Here’s to the 2015/16 Season, I trust you’re looking forward to it as much as I am!