Final Polka for Alex

Saying 'goodbye' could be Alex Mill's hardest announcement as he switches off for the final time.

After 18 years behind the microphone the East End Park Stadium Announcer Alex Mill is retiring. The talented 'voice' of Dunfermline Athletic Football Club will be sorely missed and we wish him well for his retirement.Alex took over as Matchday Announcer after offering his services through the Commercial Manager, Audrey Bastianelli back in 1994.

He explained:- "I heard that Bob Johnston, the previous announcer, was due to retire and being an ex DJ, I quickly volunteered my services and the rest, as they say, is history." Alex is a director with Premier Services who have been sponsors of the Club for over 20 years. His matchday routine starts almost two hours before kick off to get everything ready:-

"Most announcements and requests are generally sent to me by email and usually I will have downloaded any music I need and produced a playlist for the day, in advance. Icheck all the equipment is okay and go over what presentations are going on pre-match,also checkingwhat is happening at half time, as we have a very time limited window in which to do announcements etc.

" I also eagerly await the team sheets as I need to get the pronunciation of player's names spot on. Other tasks involve meeting and gleaning info re Mascots, Sammy's routine and gather and prepare latest scores sheets for other games and generally I try to have a quick squint through the programme as I often glean other info from there."

Alex Mill was presented with a 'golden' microphone at the
Sportsmans Dinner held at East End Park on Friday 11th May

For Alex the best part of the job is having the comfort of the heated enclosed commentator's box to watch the game from, while being able to follow scorelines elsewhere courtesy of Sky Sports. What better way for a lifelong Pars fan to follow his team?:-

"It has been an absolute pleasure. I have worked under more managers than I care to remember but the amount of friendships which remain with former players and members of staff from the club mean a great deal to me.

"It is obviously a huge commitment in terms of time but apart from that there are no negatives."

Alex has witnessed the great and the fate, the bad and the sad, the instantly forgettable and some occasions that were so hard to get through that they will live with me and many Pars fans forever.

" I would have to plump for the game against Clydebank just after we lost Norrie, when Craig Robertson scored an absolute belter to put us 4-3 up and of course we won the league that season. Losing Norrie was undoubtedly the hardest most difficult time as I counted Norrie as a personal friend and even now he is never far from my thoughts.

" The best moments have obviously been promotions and it matters not whether it was Third, Second or First Divisions - the feelings the same and the worst, obviously relegations, but being a Pars fan you take these sort of things in your stride! I wouldn't have it any other way."

There have been occasions when he has looked around for help to identify goalscorers and there have even been times when he has been lost for words altogether!

"Twice springs to mind, once when Allan Moore and Gerry Brittain managed to get a hold of a microphone I had left outside for using at half time and gaily trotted out a car registration number that belonged to one of the opposing team's directors and announced that all the tyres were flat! And secondly when Sammy the Tammy took his sledge up to the back of the Norrie McCathie stand then lost his footing!"

Alex has had the pleasure of watching many real entertainers, from the Istvan Kozmas to Davie Moyes, that's the Brickie by the way not the Everton manager, but will never forget Norrie McCathie:-

"He epitomised everything you could possibly look for as an ambassador for your club, his great pal Winker was also a mean sight in full flight. On the managerial side Bert and Dick were superb."

So why would any Pars fan want to retire at this stage? Alex's response seems to indicate that his job is also a team game and when personnel change then that might be the time to leave as well:-

"There's a number reasons for this one, so here goes. Firstly, my right hand man and best friend Alan Williamson who worked with me from the word go, decided for personal reasons to give up at the end of last season and much as Stuart Arnott who is in the box beside me is wonderful company, it's not the same.

" There's also the time commitment which is huge and there are a number of personal family reasons allowing me a bit more flexibility time wise and finally you need to move on to allow a fresh approach."

After he plays the Bluebell Polka for the final time at the end of the SPL game against Kilmarnock, Alex will miss his job as Matchday Announcer, the comfort of the box, Rosie's tea and pies, even Stuart Arnott 's banter. Pars fans will miss Alex's reliable and enthusiastic contributions to matchdays.

Chairman John Yorkston added his thanks:-

"We are very sad that Alex is leaving us after such a long period of time. He has been a fantastic matchday announcer a true professional and a hard act to follow. We wish Alex all the best and hope he enjoys watching the game from the stand instead of the announcer's box."