A fan’s guide – the club from early doors to today
The history of Dundee United can be easily divided three distinct eras. There were the golden years of the 1980s under manager Jim McLean, when the Arabs, along with Aberdeen, challenged the Celtic-Rangers hegemony to form the New Firm.
Then there were the years pre-McLean, when United lived in the shadow of near neighbours Dundee FC. As for the years post-McLean, two of them under Jim’s younger brother Tommy, the Tangerines maintained a near constant top-flight presence and twice won the Scottish Cup – but made little headway in Europe.
Derived from Dundee Hibernian in 1923, when the newly named club ditched their green kits for white and black ones, Dundee United have always been based at Tannadice, next door to Dens Park, home of Dundee FC.
Up to 1960, United remained second flight for every season but four. Hiring a number of Scandinavians, most notably Swedish World Cup star Örjan Persson, United made the Fairs’ Cup in 1966. Beating Barcelona in both legs – United have a 100% all-time record over the Catalans in two ties – the Arabs fell to Juventus in the third round.
In 1971, Jim McLean nipped over the road from Dens Park to take the manager’s job at Tannadice. He was 34. Putting faith in youth, McLean brought the likes of centre-back David Narey, and forwards Paul Sturrock and Davie Dodds, into the first team. With most of the team either locally born or discovered at junior clubs, McLean’s United were a tight, motivated unit.
Given time to develop, by the end of the decade the team could put in a serious challenge to Glasgow’s domination of the domestic game. With the arrival of young defenders Maurice Malpas and Richard Gough, and midfielder Eamonn Bannon, United became a serious proposition at home and abroad.
Rarely lucky in Hampden finals, United won two League Cups at Dens Park in 1979 and 1980. The second, over Dundee, saw the strike partnership of Dodds and Sturrock score three goals without reply. In the subsequent run in the UEFA Cup in 1981, United put five past Monaco, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Winterslag in each round before falling to Radnički Niš of Yugoslavia.
In 1982-83, consistency told as a small playing squad kept neck-and-neck with Celtic and Aberdeen all season to set up a dramatic finish – against, of all teams, Dundee at Dens Park. United held on for a 2-1 win, and a first and only league title.
A year later, they took a 2-0 lead to Roma in the second leg of the European Cup semi-final. Hindered by an early yellow card for Malpas, the Tangerines succumbed to a Pruzzo brace and penalty. If Ralph Milne had not skied a golden chance early in the game… Liverpool would have faced Dundee United in the European Cup Final of 1984 and not Roma. As it was, Milne died an alcoholic at 54 in 2015.
McLean’s United enjoyed further memorable European nights, albeit in the UEFA Cup. There was the 2-2 draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United in 1984-85, another win over Barcelona in 1986-87, followed by a surprise 2-0 win at Mönchengladbach to reach the final. Keeping IFK Göteborg to 1-0 in Sweden, United fell to an opening goal from the visitors in the second leg and failed to claw back the aggregate.
United never impressed in Europe again. McLean left in 1993, remained chairman but bowed out after an unsavoury incident with a journalist in 2000.
After McLean, highlights included lifelong United fan Craig Brewster scoring the only goal of the 1994 Scottish Cup Final – breaking the club’s Hampden hoodoo – and Craig Conway, signed by Brewster as manager in 2006, bagging two in the 2010 final.
Long-term club chairman Stephen Thompson took over from his popular father Eddie, in position for nearly two decades until his death 2008, balancing the books but having to sell key players to do so.
Stephen’s sister Justine Mitchell was also a director and co-owner, one of a new breed of influential women in football. Her shock resignation in April 2016, after a semi-final defeat to Hibs on penalties in the Scottish Cup, signalled that all wasn’t well at Tannadice.
Relegated within weeks, United bade farewell to Stephen Thompson in 2018, Mike Martin taking over as chairman and 30% shareholder. His tenure proved to be shortlived, as months later, US businessman Mark Ogren took over, pumping millions into the club. His key decisions, meanwhile, were not always the most popular ones on the terraces.
Goals from the prolific Lawrence Shankland propelled the Arabs back into the Premiership in 2020, his sale to Belgium for around £1 million almost inevitable. It took United two seasons to find their feet in the top flight, one-season manager Tam Courts performing miracles to lift the club into European contention.
United’s first foray into Europe for a decade was initially successful, a 1-0 win over regular international competitors AZ Alkmaar a welcome surprise. A week later, the former Dutch champions took the Arabs to the cleaners, sweeping United aside 7-0, prefacing a disastrous season of three managers, strings of league defeats and relegation.
The team’s fate was sealed by a goal after 38 seconds by Tannadice visitors and fellow strugglers Ross County, who then claimed the play-off spot. Now under fire from all sides, chairman Ogren was the subject of rumours of a local takeover, but remained in charge as promising young striker Kai Fotheringham bagged hatfuls of goals for United to set the pace in the Championship in 2023-24.
Ground Guide
The field of dreams – and the story behind it
As Clepington Park, this area staged games in Dundee in the very early days, as long ago as the 1870s. It was Johnstone Wanderers who first added a fence and a stand but competition from nearby Dundee FC at Dens Park affected attendances and Wanderers were forced to merge, then to move. In came Dundee Hibernians in 1909, Wanderers folding soon afterwards. Hibernians became Dundee United and Clepington Tannadice.
With United’s league status, the club bought the ground and began installing terracing and turnstiles. A cantilevered main stand opened in 1962. The need for further modernisation coincided with the club’s years of domestic success and European progress – though Tannadice remained mainly standing-only. Through the early 1990s, stand by stand, the stadium became an all-seater of bright tangerine.
Current capacity is a shade over 14,000. Away fans are generally allocated the upper tier of the Jim McLean Fair Play Stand, an extension of the main Terry Kerr Stand. On the opposite touchline is the George Fox Stand, also twin-tiered.
Home fans gather round both goals, the West Stand, formerly known as The Shed, and the usually louder East, Eddie Thompson Stand, named after the popular club chairman who passed away in 2008.
In 2021, a storm tore off the roof of the main Jimmy Kerr Stand, forcing the upcoming game against Celtic to be postponed. Supporters have since been surveyed about the state and future of Tannadice, expressing their desire for it to keep its historical aspects.
getting here
Going to the ground – tips and timings
Tannadice Park is right by the Arklay Street opp Strathmore Street stop on the 18 bus line (Mon-Sat every 15-20mins, Sun every 30mins) from central Albert Square (journey time 5mins/6 stops).
If you’ve just missed one, nearby Dens Park has its own stop on bus line 1 (every 15mins Mon-Fri, every 30mins-1hr Sat-Sun), also from Albert Square.
The walk from Wellgate Shopping Centre in town, up steep Hilltown then veering right up Mains Road to the stadium should take 15-20mins.
The sat nav code for Tannadice Park is DD3 7JW. There is no parking on match days. Several car parks are found in central Dundee, such as the one on West Bell Street (DD1 1EX, £2.30/2hrs up to 8pm Mon-Fri, £3 all day Sat-Sun, cash/cards accepted). This is close to where bus 1 sets off for Dens Park (see above) or a 15-20min walk to the ground.
There’s also street parking around the Hilltown district close to Dens Park, up to 4hrs/£4.80, free after 6pm.
getting in
Buying tickets – when, where, how and how much
The ticket office on Tannadice Street opens Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, non-match Sat 9am-1pm, match Sat/Sun 9am-kick-off. There is also an online option.
Whether it’s for the Championship or Premiership, average gates at Tannadice are measured in four figures, at a ground capable of holding 14,000-plus. For enquiries, contact 01382 833 166/option 1, email tickets@dundeeunitedfc.co.uk.
For most matches, there’s an across-the-board price of £25, £15 for seniors, students and under-21s, £5 for accompanied under-12s. There are no cash turnstiles on match days, only sales at the ticket office (see above). Prices rise for the visits of Celtic, Rangers and Dundee, whenever divisional status allows.
what to buy
Shirts, kits, merchandise and gifts
The club shop on Tannadice Street operates Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, non-match Sat 9am-1pm, match days from 9am. The current tangerine home top is fringed with a black-and-white trim, away is a rather smart lime green with a white Bordeaux-like chevron across the chest.
Still available are souvenirs celebrating the recent 40th anniversary of the 1983 title win, including a commemorative whisky and an official book. Other goodies include a retro leather bag, playing cards and DUFC balloons to annoy half the parents at your kid’s birthday party.
Where to Drink
Pre-match beers for fans and casual visitors
The area around Tannadice is dotted with bars. Two in particular have a United affinity although most are used by DUFC fans on match days.
Still going strong, the Snug Bar on Church Street is a popular choice for those walking up to the ground from town. Small and loud with it, the Troll Inn is right behind the stadium on Arklay Street at No.17A.
