Last updated 10:04, Saturday, 14 June 2008

IT is often at the worst of times that football supporters reveal the best of themselves.

Personally, I can already hear the encouragement pouring from the terraces at Brunton Park in a few weeks’ time, when Peter Murphy emerges from the unimaginable trauma of the death of his girlfriend Kelly Gourlay to resume the trivial business of kicking a ball across a plot of grass for a living.

A rush of cheers and applause from a stadium of strangers won’t make any kind of imprint on Murphy’s grief.

But it will demonstrate that fans can deal in humanity as well as tribalism and invective. And, more importantly, show a fine professional and decent man that he is appreciated and respected.