Dundee fans packed into Dens to roar their side over the Championship finishing line against Dumbarton at the end of last season now Gary Irvine has urged the supporters to turn out in similar numbers for the club’s first game in the Premiership.
The full-back signed a new one-year deal with the Dark Blues, shortly after the fixtures for the forthcoming season had been released.
Paul Hartley’s side will play Kilmarnock at home on the opening day, and Irvine would like nothing better than for the famous old ground to be jammed full once again to help Dundee get off to a flying start back in the top tier of Scottish football.
He said: “It’s a great game to open the new season in the Premiership. The atmosphere was incredible for our last game at Dens when we clinched the title.
“It was one of the best memories of my career and the fans really drove us on that day. Now it would be brilliant if we could get a repeat of that kind of crowd for the Killie game.
“When the ground is full like it was that day, the players really respond. We would love to think that we could have another full house on the opening day.
“Everyone is buzzing being back in the top flight and all the punters are so excited at the prospect so getting off to a flier would really help.”
Irvine says he did not have to think twice about staying with Dundee.
It has been a rollercoaster four years since he joined the club from St Johnstone in 2010, but Irvine feels he has forged a special bond with the Dark Blues and their fans.
“It (signing a new deal) was a no-brainer. Dundee have a special place in my heart after all I’ve been through in the past few years.
“There is a bond here between the fans and the players which is so strong.
“They give you stick sometimes when things aren’t going well which is well documented but they’re the first to pat you on the back when you do the business.
“I’ve experienced the effects of administration and being docked 25 points which brought everyone at the club closer together.
“I feel really wanted at this club which is what you always want in this game.
“There’s a feeling that good times could be ahead and the club is on the way up after some struggles in recent seasons.
“It’s what I want to be part of and the quicker we get back down to business the better.”
As one of the newly-promoted sides, Dundee will no doubt be installed by the bookies as one of the favourites to go straight back down.
However, Irvine insists Hartley’s revamped squad will have more than just survival on their minds in the Premiership.
Irvine said: “We’re not coming up just to fight a relegation battle. If you look at the signings the manager has made so far this summer, it should give everyone a lot of optimism.
“We were thrown into things the last time we got promoted two years ago. But this time we’ve had a bit more time to prepare which will hopefully pay off.
“We finished last season on a high and that should give us confidence for what lies ahead.”