In Your Shoes - Chris Platt

Saturday – More Than Football Day

We kick off with one of the biggest days in our calendar. More Than Football Day is exactly what it sounds like…a chance to showcase everything that sits behind the badge.

My day starts hosting a VIP reception for partners, funders, politicians, press and supporters. It’s a bit of a balancing act; making sure people feel welcomed, keeping things running smoothly, and quietly hoping everything lands the way I’ve planned it.

But the real highlight is always seeing people connect. When someone who’s funded the work meets someone whose life has been changed by it, that’s where it all clicks. That’s the job, really.

Monday – The Gable End gets real

Straight back into it. Monday is all about the Gable End, our capital development that’s been years in the making.

We’re deep into the details now. Building warrants, matchday protocols, health and safety…all the things that don’t necessarily grab headlines but are absolutely essential. It’s the groundwork that allows us to do the exciting stuff better: football, climate action, employability, health.

It’s one of those days where you’re constantly switching between big vision and fine detail.

Tuesday – Partnerships and alignment

A proper double header. First up, a visit to Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce (coincidentally) to get more embedded with the team there. That relationship is a new one but also a bonus, the first face we saw through the door was Laura Costello of Dundee FC Community Trust…a legend of the game!

Then it’s straight into a meeting with the football club. These conversations are always important; aligning operations, progressing capital plans, and making sure we’re coordinated ahead of a high-profile visit.

It’s a reminder that nothing we do happens in isolation. Everything is built on relationships.

Wednesday – Funding mode

A slightly different pace, but no less important.

With the new financial year opening up, Wednesday is very much head-down, laptop-open, funding day. Writing applications, shaping proposals, pulling together evidence, all to bring investment into the town.

It’s probably the least visible part of the job, but arguably the most critical. Without it, none of the rest happens.

Thursday – CEO clinic day

Thursday is my non-negotiable.

My diary can take me all over the place, so I make sure I’m always in the office on a Thursday. It’s a chance to reconnect with the team, understand what’s happening across the organisation and step in where needed.

Sometimes that’s strategic conversations, sometimes it’s problem-solving, sometimes it’s just being present. But it’s one of the most important days of the week.

Friday – New ideas, new connections

Friday is about looking outward again. In this case, conversations around climate work and building new relationships.

One of the more surreal moments this week was doing that with a namesake, Julie Platt. Not something I’d planned, but a good example of how varied this role can be. It also highlights something we’re seeing more and more…that football can be a gateway into conversations you might not expect, including things like environmental sustainability and marine protection.

Saturday – Not Quite A “Day Off”

Saturday is, on paper, a day off. This one looks a little different.

We welcomed the First Minister to Links Park, giving us the chance to showcase the Gable End vision and the wider work of the Trust. From meeting young players on the pitch, to hearing stories like Jacob McDonald’s remarkable fundraising challenge, it’s a snapshot of what football can enable beyond the game.

It’s a busy hour, but one that captures what we’re all about: community, connection and creating real opportunities.

Sunday – Strategy and stewardship

Then we go again.

Sunday is our Trustee Strategy Day. It’s a really important moment in the year; taking a step back from delivery and focusing on direction. Why we exist, where we’re going, what we need to prioritise.

The role of the Board is to steer, so that the team can deliver. Getting that right is critical, especially as we grow.