January 2nd, 2003, represents an important date for all United fans. We play Kilmarnock at Tannadice in a game we must win in order to register our first home league win of the season and start to get clear of the relegation dogfight. For one Nic Dear (aka Wishae Arab) though, this game represents something else entirely. Unbelievably it’s his 100th first team game in a row watching United. Perhaps other Arabs have watched their team 100 times on the trot but how many have done it over the past three years when we have the worst performing United team that most of us can remember (that includes me!!!). Yes, Dundee United V Kilmarnock on January 2nd, 2003, represents a landmark in the United supporting life of Wishae Arab.
For most of us Arabs we will be hoping and praying that we can get that elusive home win but Wishae will be hoping that he can get through the day without getting overly embarrassed. That’s because he will be the special guest of Dundee United with the usual hospitality and seat in the Director’s box as a reward for his commitment to United’s cause. How will he be able to sit quietly watching the game without displaying the passion he normally exhibits during the game; how will he be able to avoid the pre match “swally” and banter in the Airlie; and how will the other occupants of the Director’s box relate to that “hat”?
However, just in case all you fellow Arabs think you can be a special guest of United by watching 100 games in a row let me tell you why we in the GLS Arabs think he deserves the accolade. Apart from supporting United all his life, which has meant travelling from deepest Lanarkshire to Tannadice (and everywhere else) in recent years, Wishae has almost single handedly built up the Glasgow Lanarkshire and Stirling Arabs from what was a few fans travelling from the Motherwell area. Soon he had encompassed the remnants of the defunct Glasgow Arabs, collected Arabs from Ayrshire and Stirling and the GLS Arabs has never looked back. Using the internet as the predominant communications medium the club was begun 2 years ago and now stands proudly as one of the most successful member of the Federation of United Supporters Clubs. Wishae has been, and still is, the driving force behind the club and never wastes an opportunity to proselytise on its, and United’s, behalf. He writes articles for a number of websites and publications, most recently in Tannadice Times. Nic is constantly pushing United to embrace the internet in a much more positive way and is very critical of the fact that we, the supporters, cant buy United produce on-line.
In everything Nic writes you will find, along with a real love of his team, a great warmth of personality. This manifests itself most often when communicating on line with Arabs, BNB’s and other football supporters. He positively loves the friendly (and sometimes not so friendly) banter between Arabs and Bluenoses on the unofficial supporters website message boards. I remember he told me one night when the ubiquitous Yankee Dee came on the board one night to enliven proceedings with some humorous asides that this was what he really loved the best while sitting in front of his computer screen on an evening – laughs galore with unknown friends across the globe. Of course those closer to home like Lochee Arab, Dave Webster, Stan Gateer, Tangy, M Mushroom etc etc can equally get him fired up with humour. My particular favourites are the wee one liners he posts during the day “atween sair throats” as he once memorably stated.
I was talking to Nic recently about his memories of the 100 games and, apart from the derby victories and the relegation nailbiter at St Johnstone, there were not many memorable games such has been the paucity of our achievements recently. However, what he does remember is the time he met Lochee Arab for the first time (Ibrox), Stan Gateer (Fir Park), and a whole host of others who regularly post on United message boards including Lee Arab most recently (East End Park I think). This really tells you all about Wishae, he’s a people person. The irony of this though is that he is also extremely shy when it comes to face to face meetings where he feels its difficult to be “Wishae Arab”, but to be fair that diminishes very quickly when he realises that he’s in good company. Although he may prefer the anonymity of the internet he really goes out of his way to get to know people who are only faceless names on a computer screen and I know he really appreciates the friends he has made over the last few years through that very medium. He meets many of them regularly at games and at occasional social events. Nic is one of those few people who is prepared to go that extra mile for his team and for his friends.
So if he is introduced to the crowd at the game please give Wishae a huge roar of appreciation in order to calm his nerves and lift his confidence because the OVD’s will not have done the trick!!!
Wishae, the GLS Arabs along with your many friends among the crowd thank you for your contribution to our club and hope you have a memorable day (three points may be memorable enough!!!).
Here’s to the next 100.