PATON A HIT WITH THE FANS!

77-year-old Andy Mitchell has been a United season ticket holder for 13 years since retiring from the Merchant Navy and loves to watch the matches from his seat in the Eddie Thompson Lower Stand. However, twice recently Andy has been the unfortunate victim of a stray warm up shot. On Wednesday night ahead of the Motherwell game, Andrew was struck for the second time by a wayward effort from midfielder Paul Paton. The force of the blow was enough to daze Andy who subsequently fell and injured himself. First aid staff on hand attended to him promptly but he spent several hours at Ninewells Hospital before being allowed home. Concerned, Paul asked the Club to find out more details so he could apologise in person. After an appeal over social media, Andy was contacted and attended training over at St Andrews and met Paul and the rest of the squad and coaches before watching the team train. The Club has also asked Andy and his wife to come along to a future game as a guest of the Club and enjoy boardroom hospitality and is now considering the options available to eliminate the prospect of such incidents happening in future. Director Derek Robertson said, "This was an unfortunate accident and we are now looking into ways to prevent an occurrence in the future. In the meantime, we have apologised to Andy and look forward to welcoming him back to Tannadice." Andy said, “I would like to thank the Club for the way they have reacted to this incident. It was a bad hit and the first aid staff were excellent. I will be back in my seat come Saturday – although this time I will arrive after the prematch warm up! “After I heard the Club were asking after me, I contacted Communications and Media Manager Joe Rice who invited me over to St Andrews to meet Paul and the rest of the players and coaches. Paul Paton was very nice and apologised for his effort and the Club also arranged for me to get a match programme signed by the players. “It was good to see the training complex and I look forward to attending the boardroom in the near future.”