Friday 5th August 2016
SHE’S sold every season ticket, completed every player’s registration so far and answered most phone calls.
But today, Antonia Kerr’s preparations for season 2016/17 with Dumbarton will end.
For after six years at the club, this is Antonia’s last day before she starts work in a similar position at Morton.
Having joined with Sons languishing at the wrong end of Scotland’s third tier, she’s overseen the administrative side of the club all through its stay in the Championship so far.
She’s been up and down the country carrying out her work, from freezing evenings watching the development squad at Dumfries to the four occasions when survival in the second tier has been clinched.
And all this for a club she didn’t even grow up supporting. Partick Thistle was her team of choice.
As Antonia departs the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium for the final time as a DFC employee today, it will be the end of an era.
She said: “Having taken in more than 200 matches, I’ve seen more at Dumbarton than I could possibly have envisaged when I took up the job.
“Each season in the second tier has been special. Dumbarton, as a part-time side, have survived in what has largely been a full-time league, and every time it has been different.
“But as an all-time highlight, nothing can compare to being part of a promotion-winning group at Airdrie in 2012.
“From dealing with all the interest in the club before the match, to returning to the stadium afterwards to celebrate moving into what was then the First Division, it’s a day nobody at DFC will ever forget – certainly not me.
“The people at the club, from the supporters to the management and directors, have been great and I wish them well for the future.”
Antonia won’t have to wait long to renew acquaintances with Sons’ players and staff, as they visit Cappielow on Saturday, August 20.
But she added: “Jim Duffy will have to do his own homework on how Dumbarton play. I won’t be giving anything away!”
Join the debate ahead of the new season @dumbartonfc and #sons24
Andy Galloway