Dundee derby time change gives Phibbies a New Year’s Dook headache

Organisers of Broughty Ferry’s New Year’s Day Dook are considering a time change after being told its original slot will clash with the Dundee derby.

Dundee United’s tie with Dundee at Tannadice was originally scheduled to kick off at 3pm, two hours after the planned Dook, which draws hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators to Broughty Ferry harbour every year.

But the match will now start at 12.15pm after satellite television company BT Sports announced it would be screening it live,

Organisers Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association known as the Phibbies are now pondering whether to stick to the original 1pm start or move the event forward to mid-morning.

Phibbies president Joyce McIntosh said: “It has caught us on the hop and it’s quite devastating because this is our biggest fundraiser of the year.

“We’re still seeking the biggest Dook in Scotland and we want to be right up there in what we do.

“We are currently considering moving it, but we are trying to accommodate as many people as possible.

“In 2012 we had our biggest entry and the football was on, so we went at 10am, but we have a whole raft of things to consider.”