Pars Stars behind the scenes

As reported last week, DAFC moved out of Pitreavie as from 31st January.

The club’s entire playing and back room staff will now be based back at East End Park, in the “undercroft” within the Norrie McCathie Stand. Our club will in future use the excellent grass facilities at McKane Park for training purposes.

Since the turn of the new year extensive work has been carried out in the “undercroft” to accommodate the football staff moving back to East End Park.

Ross McArthur, Managing Director, DAFC stated

"On behalf of the DAFC board I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank everyone involved in this project. The transformation in such a short period of time has been remarkable and simply would not have been possible without the assistance, support and generosity of a large number of people. This really epitomises what our community owned Football Club is all about.

"It has been fantastic to see everyone pulling together to get the job done, it was a real team effort. Although it is difficult therefore to single anyone out, I do have to pay tribute to Jim Thomson, Managing Director of Realm Construction (part of the Purvis Group), who project managed the whole process, along with Supervisor, Alan Swanson also from The Purvis Group.

"Jim’s expertise and experience were invaluable, as he managed to prioritise and coordinate all of the various tasks, volunteers and trades, as well as drawing on support from a number of the Purvis Group companies. It is at times like this that you appreciate that the Purvis Group is not just a name on our first team shirts, but a true partner and friend to our club, as it has been for 10 years.

"In addition, AK Moyes and Stephen Vaughan Electrical yet again provided fantastic support above and beyond the call of duty, including providing designated staff for a good number of days. The ongoing support provided by both Davie Barclay and Stevie Vaughan is greatly appreciated. As was the additional help provided by Almor Carpets, DNA Flooring and Macrae Roofing Limited along with trade suppliers Rowan Timber, Howdens and City Plumbing.

"Finally, I have to thank our own ground staff Kevin and Willie who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, with the ever reliable and enthusiastic Stadium Volunteer Team led by Davie Blackburn which included Bob Barkway, Josephine Chesby, James Chesby, John Geddes, Lee Blackburn and Davie Allan. Kevin Collier also assisted at short notice with a number of urgent plumbing jobs which was greatly appreciated, as was the PST’s purchase of a new dart board and table tennis table, by the players!”

In less than a month the “Pars Stars” have managed to undertake the following work:
• Clear out existing undercroft and lift flooring
• Re – create the original boot room
• Create a new kit room and equipment room
• Re- create the original laundry room and moving laundry equipment from Pitreavie
• Create new functional day to day offices for the management team and physio
• Fit out a new kitchen and catering facility within existing Players Lounge
• Repair existing roof leaks, guttering and flashings
• Repair showers, flooring, electrical faults
• Create a new access ramp and repair collapsed drains
• Move storage containers from Pitreavie to East End Park and McKane Park
• Relocate the ball boys/girls back to the former Police Room

The full list of the “Pars Stars” who assisted with the renovation of the “undercroft” are as follows:

Project Management, coordination and specialist equipment - Purvis Group
Jim Thomson, Project Manager
Alan Swanson, Supervisor

DAFC Groundstaff – Kevin Dawson, Willie Davis

DAFC Stadium Volunteer Team – Davie Blackburn, Bob Barkway, Josephine Chesby, James Chesby, John Geddes, Lee Blackburn, Davie Allan.

Joinery & Building Work - AK Moyes
Davie Barclay, Brian Arnott, Barry Ovens, Andrew Barratt, Derek Wood (Joiners)
Craig Kirk, David Chalmers (Builders)
Electrical Work – Stephen Vaughan Electrical
Stevie Vaughan
Kris Vaughan, David Cuthbert

Flooring - Almor Carpets
Ian Morris, Robert McAllister (fitter)

Floor Screed - DNA Flooring
Derek Newall, Andy Leslie

Plumbing Work - Kevin Collier

Plumbing Supplies - City Plumbing
Davie McKinlay

Trade Supplies - Timber & Kitchen Units - Rowan Timber & Howdens

Roofing – Macrae Roofing Limited
Sean Macrae

Dart Board & Table Tennis Table – The Pars Supporters Trust