Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to Tannadice!
This weekend will undoubtedly be one of the toughest challenges of our season. Celtic are unbeaten in the league and are the best team in the country right now.
We go into the game as underdogs, but we must believe we can cause an upset. As I’ve said, in order to do that, a lot of things need to fall into place on the day. Discipline out of possession is probably the biggest factor. Celtic are probably going to have large spells of being on the ball, and we’ll need to deny them space. Concentration levels need
to be high, and when we do get the opportunity to play, we have to be brave on the ball and try to exploit the areas where we can cause them problems.”
Looking ahead, this is the start of a challenging run of fixtures, including two games against Celtic, a derby at Dens Park, and a visit from Aberdeen. This could be one of those defining runs of games in the campaign. It’s a lot of games in a short period of time, which will test the squad to the maximum, especially with the injuries we have. But I’m confident we can come through it positively. We’ve had a brilliant start, and we don’t want that to fall by the
wayside.
Christmas is my favourite time of the year, but it’s a challenge for everyone in the game. While family and friends are letting their hair down, we have to remain professional. But if we can come through this period still in the top half of the table, those sacrifices will be worthwhile.
The players will give everything, and with your incredible support, we’ll give ourselves every chance of a positive result.
I hope you all enjoy the game!
- Jim Goodwin
ROBBIE IRONS AGE: 9
FAVOURITE PLAYER: CRAIG SIBBALD
OLIVER JONES AGE: 8
FAVOURITE PLAYER:
TODAY’S MASCOTS
JAX DRUMMOND AGE: 7
FAVOURITE PLAYER: KRISTIJAN TRAPANOVSKI
ARRAN MURRAY AGE: 9
EVIE OBHIELO AGE: 11
FAVOURITE PLAYER: LOUIS MOULT
FAVOURITE PLAYER: SAM DALBY
DANNY LOW AGE: 5
FAVOURITE PLAYER: LOUIS MOULT
OLLIE GOODWIN AGE: 9
FAVOURITE PLAYER: CRAIG SIBBALD
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FAVOURITE PLAYER: WILL FERRY
PAIGE STEWART
AGE: 10
FAVOURITE PLAYER: LOUIS MOULT
THIS
WEEK’S PRIZES
DUNDEE UNITED VS Celtic
1st prize £1000
2nd prize £250
3rd prize - Signed Top
4th prize - £50 club shop voucher
FOCUS ON CELTIC
Having won twelve of the last thirteen league titles and currently unbeaten in the Premiership with a nine-point advantage at the top of the table this season, the Celtic juggernaut rolls into Tannadice this afternoon.
Having lifted the League Cup last weekend for the seventh time in nine seasons, our guests will be brimming with confidence as they look to extend their incredible record against us.
In the previous thirty meetings, we have recorded just a solitary success, a 2-1
Kasper Schmeichel jumped at the chance to be reunited with his former manager. After lifting the Premier League and FA Cup with the Foxes, he spent the last two seasons plying his trade with Nice and Anderlecht.
Viljami Sinisalo cost £1m when signing a five-year deal. The former Aston Villa goalkeeper is seen as the long-term successor to Schmeichel.
Alex Valle is on loan from FC Barcelona for the season.
victory courtesy of Nadir Çiftçi and Stuart Armstrong’s goals back in December 2014.
With qualification for the latter stages of the Champions League on the back burner until next year, the men from Parkhead will be looking to pull themselves even further ahead of the pack domestically in order to rest key players in advance of those crucial matches against Young Boys and Aston Villa in late January.
The 20-year-old youth international spent last term on loan at Levante.
Auston Trusty arrived from Sheffield United on a fiveyear deal.
Arne Engels cost a whopping £11m from German side Augsburg. The Belgian midfielder has so far scored four times this season.
Paulo Bernardo has struggled to command a first-team place since his arrival from Benfica.
The 22-year-old central midfielder is under contract until 2029.
Luke McCowan cost £1m when he arrived in August. Used mainly from the bench, he has still managed to notch three times for his new club.
Adam Idah gained cult status when he scored the 90th-minute winner in last season’s Scottish Cup final victory over Rangers while on loan from Norwich City. Now a fully-fledged Celt, the hitman already has eight goals this term.
ONE TO WATCH
DAIZEN MAEDA
THE GAFFER BRENDAN RODGERS
Forced to retire from professional football at the age of 20 due to a knee condition, the Northern Ireland schoolboy international immediately began coaching at Reading. José Mourinho spotted his potential and took him to Chelsea, where he became a youth and reserve team manager.
Going solo at Watford initially in 2008, he also managed Reading, Swansea (leading them to the Premier League), Liverpool, and Celtic. In his first spell at Parkhead, he won back-to-back trebles before heading back down south to Leicester City. After lifting the FA Cup and Community Shield, he returned to Glasgow last summer and captured both the League and Scottish Cup in his first season back as he continued his dominance over Scottish football.
Now aged 51, he has rebuilt the Celtic side over the past 18 months and has fashioned a squad that is arguably stronger than at any time over the past decade.
Since arriving in 2022, the 27-year-old has gone on to make 130 appearances and score 40 goals, the most recent being Celtic’s second goal in last weekend’s League Cup final success over city rivals Rangers.
Not content with that, he also slotted home the winning penalty in the shoot-out.
Recognised as a phenomenal athlete with an unquenchable desire to harry and shut down the opposition, the Japan international is a defender’s nightmare.
Under contract until 2027, the Osakan takes on United for the sixth time today and will be on the hunt for his first goal against us.
By Ryan Haldane
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PAUL CADDIS
Born in Irvine, North Ayrshire, on 19 April 1988, Paul came from a family steeped in football. His older brother, Ryan, and younger brother, Liam, played for senior clubs in Scotland, and the youngest, Dylan, was on Kilmarnock’s books as a youngster and played for Clyde in the Scottish Cup.
In the 2016–17 season, his three brothers were all playing together for junior club Ardrossan Winton Rovers.
However, Paul’s career was far more long-lasting and ultimately took a different direction, making more than 350 appearances, the vast majority of which were south of the border.
At youth level, Paul played for Ayrshire Rangers before being scouted by and signing for Rangers. He spent two years in the Ibrox youth system before moving on to Celtic, the team he supported.
He trained with the under-17s team at Celtic before moving to the under-19s, where he was quickly appointed captain and often trained with the first team.
His competitive debut came as a substitute in Celtic’s 1–0 victory away to Falkirk on 27 January 2008. Six days later, he started for the first team against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in the Scottish Cup, providing the assist for Scott McDonald to score the opener in the 5–1 victory.
His home debut was on 20 February 2008 against Barcelona in the Champions League last-16 first-leg fixture.
Almost a year later, attracted by his versatility, Craig Levein brought him in on loan after Scott Robertson had been sidelined until the end of the season.
Though predominantly either a rightback or right winger, he could also play
as a left-back or anywhere across the midfield, due to his ability with both feet. Paul went on to play regularly, starting his first-ever senior game against Inverness CT in a 1–1 draw at Tannadice.
Indeed, he made a total of 11 appearances, all but one in the starting line-up, and was also capped once at Scotland U21 level during his brief spell on Tayside.
Returning to Celtic at the end of the season, he appeared in Celtic’s 3–3 Europa League draw with Rapid Vienna in December 2009. After a total of 24 appearances, he was transferred to Swindon Town in August 2010, sparking a career in the Football League that went on to encompass Birmingham City, Bury, Blackburn Rovers, and ended back at Swindon in 2021.
On 20 April 2023, Caddis was appointed manager of National League North club Hereford, signing a two-year contract and officially taking charge from 1 May.
After guiding Hereford to their highestever finish and highest points total in the National League North in his first season, Caddis signed a one-year extension to his contract.
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BILL FINLAY
We were saddened to hear of the passing of Bill Finlay last week, aged 83. Bill’s connection to Dundee United started when he was just 4 years old, living on North Isla Street, and often visiting Tannadice to have a kickabout with the players.
After retiring from the Post Office, Bill spent five years working in the Tannadice office in the 1990s and 2000s. He was responsible for making up the money floats and selling tickets, often handling the challenge of Glaswegian accents on the phone, particularly during Old Firm matches, ensuring that only United supporters made it into the home end.
Dundee United was Bill’s passion through the years, from the European successes of the 1980s to the highs and lows that followed. He took his children, Alison and [insert name], to matches from the late 1970s, and they were proud season
ticket holders during the club’s most memorable years.
Bill’s favourite spot in the stadium was the front row of the Upper George Fox Stand, where he could enjoy the match without worrying about taller fans standing in front of him. For over 40 years, Bill attended games with his childhood best friend, Murray McGregor, who, despite being a Dundee supporter, was also a loyal season ticket holder at Tannadice until he passed away last year.
To honour Bill’s memory, his family has asked supporters to join in a round of applause in the 4th minute of the upcoming match against Celtic on December 22nd. This would be a special tribute to a man who loved Dundee United and supported the club through all its ups and downs.
FLASHBACK FOCUS
MAY 1963
DUNDEE UTD 3-0 CELTIC LEAGUE
UNITED 3
Dennis Gillespie (34)
Eric Brodie (57)
Wattie Carlyle (73)
CELTIC 0
The season was extended due to one of the harshest winters on record, leaving United with just a handful of games over ten weeks. Our home match against Celtic, rescheduled due to the disruption, drew 12,656
fans. For United, only pride was at stake, while Celtic had the Scottish Cup final replay against Rangers looming.
Dennis Gillespie set the tone early with three attempts on goal, eventually putting United ahead with a thunderous strike 11 minutes before halftime. United dominated, with around 15 shots on target, but missed chances — including a stunning miss from Wattie Carlyle, who scooped the ball over the bar from six yards out — kept the lead narrow at the break.
The second half brought more reward for United’s impressive play. In the 57th minute, Brodie finished a flowing move involving Gillespie, Mitchell, and Irvine. Carlyle redeemed himself 17 minutes from time, slotting home after Haffey’s attempted clearance from Brodie’s cross.
The 3-0 scoreline flattered Celtic, with one paper remarking, “A 6-0 defeat wouldn’t have been
out of place.” Rangers capitalized on Celtic’s shaken form, winning the Scottish Cup days later.
United’s performance earned high praise, with the Scottish Sunday Express declaring it “one of the best displays of football ever given by a Dundee side,” outclassing Celtic with slick, high-speed play uncharacteristic of the team’s reputation as the “Terrors.” This historic victory marked United’s first win over Celtic since their promotion three years prior.
1923
JOHNSTONE 2-1 DUNDEE UNITED | LEAGUE
Jimmy Brownlie’s men were the more polished side in the first half but failed to turn their dominance into goals at Newfield Park. The tide turned after the interval, with player-manager Brownlie in goal working hard to keep the hosts at bay. It was no surprise when Johnstone went ahead, Harrower heading home from a corner. Such was their dominance that it was surprising it took until four minutes from time for McDonald to add a second. United’s consolation came courtesy of James Porter, who converted a penalty just before the final whistle.
Johnstone were relegated
22 DECEMBER
to the Third Division at the end of the following season and ceased to exist in 1927. They have no connection to the current West of Scotland League club Johnstone Burgh, which was formed in 1956.
1934
DUNDEE UNITED 9-2 BRECHIN CITY | LEAGUE
Hat-Trick Heroes: Arthur Milne & George Ross
“Crazy stuff at Tannadice” was how The Courier described
Jimmy Brownlie’s demolition of the Glebe Park side. Brechin, having already suffered an 8-2 defeat in the reverse fixture, endured another hammering. Remarkably, the visitors struck first through Malloy in the seventh minute. George Ross soon equalised, with further goals from Dave Corbett and Arthur Milne, followed by Ross’s second, making it 4-1 at half-time. After the break, Ross completed his hat-trick before Milne added his second to make it six.
Brechin’s Stewart pulled one back, but Milne wasn’t done, netting twice more to take his personal tally to four. Jimmy Smith rounded off the rout with a stunning ninth goal. United’s fourth successive victory saw them score an astonishing 28 goals—an average of seven per game!
the lead at half-time. United struck twice more after the interval. Two minutes into the second half, Quinn unleashed a glorious 20-yard strike. Shortly before the hour mark, Mitchell smashed in a McKay pass from similar range. Alloa’s Ryden and Madden found the net late on, but it wasn’t enough to stop United from claiming the points.
1962
DUNDEE UNITED 3-1 AIRDRIE | LEAGUE
Wattie Carlyle was the toast of Tannadice.
Declared fit after recovering from flu, Carlyle inspired his side to victory on a frozen pitch. He scored twice and set up the third, though he
blotted his copybook by missing a penalty. After 25 minutes, he pounced on a poor back pass, firing home one of his trademark angled drives.
Carlyle turned provider in the second half, setting up 16-year-old Ian Mitchell, who lashed home with his left foot. Though Airdrie’s Matt Tees pulled one back with a header after 72 minutes, Carlyle sealed the win with a brilliant solo effort two minutes from time, beating two men before conjuring an unorthodox finish.
DUNDEE UNITED 2-0 DUNDEE | LEAGUE
Steve Murray in action against his former club.
“A Titanic battle in icy conditions,” declared The Sunday Post. United took the lead in the 32nd minute when John Holt fired the ball high into the net after Paul Hegarty headed on a Dave Narey free-kick. Nine minutes later, a poor back pass by Iain Ferguson allowed Willie Pettigrew to net
United’s second with a sharp angular drive. A clash between Frank Kopel and Erich Schaedler saw the United man booked and the German sent off. Despite losing John Holt to injury, United’s ten-man rivals twice struck the woodwork but couldn’t find the net. Substitute Steve Murray was unlucky not to add a third, his point-blank header brilliantly saved by Ally Donaldson.
2018
DUNDEE UNITED 2-1 FALKIRK | LEAGUE
Ray McKinnon made his first return to Tannadice as Falkirk manager after leaving the club in October 2017. It was an unhappy homecoming as United ended a threematch winless run against the league’s bottom side.
United’s opener midway through the first half came with a stroke of fortune. Sam Stanton’s shot from the edge of the box took a massive deflection off Aaron Muirhead, wrongfooting Falkirk keeper David Mitchell.
The Terrors doubled their lead eight minutes into the second half when Fraser Aird’s corner was headed in by Pavol Šafranko for his eighth goal of the season. Muirhead netted a lastminute penalty for Falkirk’s consolation, but United claimed a well-deserved victory.
HOME FOR WRAPPED IN TANGERINE
AT DUNDEE UNITED
If Arabs are “Driving Home for Christmas,” as per Chris Rea’s 1986 seasonal hit, then once they’ve reached their destination, they won’t need to travel far to follow Dundee United this festive period.
It all begins today with the lunchtime clash against Celtic, kicking off a busy spell of five fixtures in just two weeks. Fans will have plenty of chances to watch the Terrors at Tannadice, with home matches against Aberdeen a week from now, followed by the Dens Derby on 2nd January and Hearts on 5th January.
The only trip further afield comes on 28th December, when we head to McDiarmid Park to take on St Johnstone. With four of the five matches either at home or close by, the Christmas schedule feels favourable for supporters looking to get behind the team.
However, the new year quickly ramps up the challenge. Following the Rangers match at Tannadice on 26th January, the Terrors will face three consecutive away games: trips to Celtic, St Mirren, and Dundee in the Scottish Gas Cup. Then, it’s off to Kilmarnock before returning to face Celtic again, with the Scottish Gas Cup fifth round set to take place between those league games.
While the upcoming festive fixtures bring excitement, the road ahead will test the team’s resilience. Let’s make the most of the opportunities to support the lads over the next few weeks and keep the momentum going into the new year!
A fitting soundtrack for this busy sequence could be “On the Road Again” by Canned Heat (1967).
A
LOOK
THROUGH THE ARCHIVES!
Apart from the identical strips, it’s hard to believe these two team photos were taken less than six months apart.
The first photo, below, was taken at the start of the 1964-65 season, while the second was captured early in the new year.
Back row (from left to right): Benny Rooney, Tommy Millar, Alex Gordon, Sandy Davie, Tommy Neilson, Doug Smith, Jimmy Briggs.
Front row (from left to right): Ian Mitchell, Johnny Graham, Dennis Gillespie, Doug Moran, Stewart Fraser, Lewis Thom.
Of the players missing from the second photo, there were several reasons: Benny Rooney, Sandy Davie, and Lewis Thom had fallen out of the regular lineup. Stewart Fraser suffered a broken leg shortly before Christmas, sidelining him for nine months, while Ian Mitchell endured an injury-plagued second half of the season.
Meanwhile, two players—Johnny Graham and Doug Moran—were transferred to Falkirk. Moran left in October, with Graham following three months later.
Back row (from left to right): Tommy Millar, Jimmy Briggs, Donald Mackay, Frank
Munro, Doug Smith, Lennart Wing, Kenny Dick.
Front row (from left to right): Mogens Berg, Tommy Neilson, Finn Døssing, Dennis Gillespie, Örjan Persson.
United’s dismal position at the halfway mark—thirdbottom with just eight points from 17 games—put their top-flight survival in serious jeopardy, with Third Lanark and Airdrieonians close behind but holding games in hand.
Determined to turn things around, Jerry Kerr signed Swedish international Örjan Persson in late November, quickly
followed by Danish striker Finn Døssing and winger Mogens Berg.
By January, Persson’s clubmate Lennart Wing joined, completing a Scandinavian quartet that sparked a stunning resurgence. Seven straight wins in January propelled United to a remarkable finish, with 13 wins, 2 draws, and just 2 losses in the second half, securing a top-half spot.
Notable arrivals included goalkeeper Donald Mackay and 16-year-old Frank Munro, who debuted with a League Cup winner against Dundee and netted seven goals in 40 appearances. Of the five players who remained, four—Jimmy Briggs, Doug Smith, Tommy Neilson, and Dennis Gillespie— were part of United’s 1960 promotion-winning team, while Tommy Millar had been a regular since 1962.
