Lions Summer Camp, Week 2

Week 2, Lions Campers were treated to a visit from a very special guest!

6/19/14

Kids attending the second week of the St Louis Lions Summer Camp were treated to a visit from a very special guest. This particular visitor to the Tony Glavin Soccer Complex is over 124 years old and has sported many different names over its lifetime. This guest tells a story in a totally different way than most, as it was the Scottish Premier Football League’s Championship trophy. Every year this cup is presented to the winner of the second tier division of professional soccer in Scotland. For the 2013/2014 season, one of the oldest and most historic clubs in Scotland finished at the top of the table: Dundee Football Club. Founded in 1893 with the merger of two local clubs, the “Dees” have played their home games at Dens Park in Dundee since 1899. An interesting fact is that the closest team to them is Dundee United, whose Tannadice stadium is located on the same street and a mere 170 yards away! This gives the two arch rivals the title of closest professional soccer teams in the world! After a couple of periods where the club went through financial issues, the summer of 2013 marked a new era at Dens Park. Rumors swirled round of a take over from some American investors and these were confirmed when a group that included St Louis native John Nelms took over control of the club. Nelms was appointed to the position of Director of Football Operations and has been a key figure of the Dark Blues rise back to the top level of Scottish football. The 2013/2014 season started off slowly for the “Dees” but by Christmas time, they were top of the league. However, club legend and then manager John “Bomber” Brown decided he could take the club no further. Ex Celtic and Scotland internationalist Paul Hartley was appointed as the new manager. After a seesaw battle with Hamilton Academicals and Falkirk FC, all the Dark Blues had to do was win at home to Dumbarton on the final day to secure promotion to the Premiership. As seemed to be par for the course throughout the season, it went down to the last kick off the ball as a world class save from goal keeper Kyle Letheren secured the win and the three points needed for the “Dees” to get their hands on the oldest league trophy in the professional game! The Scottish Championship Trophy was on a tour of the States and the St Louis Lions were extremely lucky to be given the opportunity to get their hands on such a historic piece of the Scottish game. We would like to extend our thanks to John Nelms for bringing it out so our campers could experience it and we wish Dundee FC all the best in the 2014/2015 Scottish Premiership season! Except when they play Celtic!