Cult keeper lined up for Dougie's testimonial
Sieb Dykstra
By Grabar
July 21 2008
One of the first people to sign up for the Motherwell select side for Dougie Arnott’s testimonial on Thursday 11th September was one of the club’s biggest cult heroes, goalkeeper Sieb Dijkstra. The keeper is looking forward to playing in front of the Well fans once again.
The Dutch keeper, who signed for Motherwell in the summer of 1991 from Dutch side Roda JC and left to join QPR in 1994, is looking forward to playing at home in front of the Motherwell fans for the first time since leaving the club. On his return to Fir Park in a Well shirt he said, “It was great to play in front of 60,000 people again in the Phil O’Donnell tribute game and especially the Motherwell fans.
“But on Thursday 11th of September it will be even more special for me because then I will play at the ground again where it all started so brightly for me.
“Also a very special feeling again to play in front of my great all time favourite Motherwell fans.” Sieb connected with the Well fans almost immediately and quickly established himself as a firm favourite, he feels this goes back to his first two games while he was on trial at the club, as he added, “I remember coming over for a trial and my first week on trial at Motherwell Tommy McLean asked my whether I would like to play in a cup game against Raith Rovers due to Billy Thomson's injury.
“I was a bit shell shocked but of course I said yes.
“In the game itself I came out for the first 2 crosses which I took on the edge of the 18 yard box and the Motherwell fans went mental. “Unfortunately we played terribly in that game and lost 4-1 although I was quite pleased with my own performance.
“A week after Billy was still injured and I had to play again in the derby league game against Airdrie. In that game I nearly collected all the crosses that came in the 18 yard box.
“We won 0-1 and I got a standing ovation from the fans after the game and they were chanting my name.
“I will never forget that moment.”
The popular Dutchman was keen to play in former team mate Dougie Arnott’s testimonial due to the respect he had for the striker during his spell at Fir Park, “Dougie was a role model professional who looked well after himself and still does.“He was a player I think every defender dreaded, because of his quickness en sharpness in the 18 yard box, he really was a handful for every defender.” He also remembers a couple of key goals scored by Dougie that still stand out in his mind, “I remember Dougie scoring that oh so important goal against Falkirk in the last game of season 1992-1993. He scored the winner in a 2-1 win and that goal kept us in the Premier League.
“Also the 0-1 victory against Celtic in the game Fergus McCann took over and Dougie scored the only goal and silence the crowd at Celtic Park.” Dougie Arnott’s testimonial game between a Motherwell select and an Old Firm Select will take place at Fir Park on Thursday 11th September. More information on the planned events can be found at www.dougie-arnott.com