Dundee United Football Club, The CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park, Dundee, DD3 7JW
01382833166
Option 1 - Ticketing
Option 2 - Commercial
Option 3 - Retail
ADDRESS BOOK
Chairman
MARK OGREN Vice-Chairman
SCOTT OGREN
Director
JIMMY FYFFE
Chief Executive
LUIGI CAPUANO
Chief Operations Officer
JOE RICE
Finance Director
JAMES ROBERTSON
Manager
Printed copies of Shed Talk are available via Curtis Sport. 22 18 24 33 29
JIM GOODWIN
Assistant Manager
LEE SHARP
First-Team Coach
DAVID BOWMAN
Head of Goalkeeping
PAUL MATHERS
Head of Football Operations
First Team Sports Scientist
Strength and Conditioning Coach
ALLAN GARTSHORE
Club Doctors
DR DAVID NICOLL
DR STEPHEN GALBRAITH
Kit Manager
ANDREW BRYAN
Head of Commercial
MARK CUNNINGHAM
Ticket Office Manager
MOIRA HUGHES
Head of Retail
STUART BOOTLAND
Commercial Sales Manager
DECLAN PRIDDING
Catering & Bar Operations
Manager
JOHN RICHARDSON
Head of Stadium and Facility Operations
JONATHAN ROBERTS
Head of Media
MARK MCCREERY
Head of Marketing
LUKE BAIN
Content Producer
YANNIS MARR
Club Photographer
RICHARD WISEMAN
SHED TALK
Design and Editors:
LUKE BAIN AND PETER RUNDO
Contributors
MIKE WATSON
RYAN HALDANE
LEE SMITH
THE GAFFER
Good afternoon everyone and welcome back to Tannadice!
Obviously, the other night was disappointing. We didn’t cover ourselves in glory during the first 45 but I thought the reaction in the second half was brilliant. We dominated completely and did everything but put the ball in the back of the net.
Today presents a different challenge altogether. The two fixtures against Rangers this season have been very tight and we will take confidence from that.
They come into this game after a demanding match against Manchester United. Only having 48
hours to recover is a difficult task, but they have strength in depth. Ultimately, though, our focus is on ourselves. We need to execute our game plan, be brave on the ball, and be more clinical in front of goal.
At the start of the season, we made the league our priority. We’ve put ourselves in a fantastic position within the top six, but the job isn’t done yet. Teams around us have strengthened during the window, so we’re mindful of that. Our focus remains on working hard and earning the points needed to secure our position.
We’re delighted to welcome Ruari Paton and
Lewis Fiorini to the squad.
January isn’t the easiest window, but we’ll continue to explore options to strengthen key areas. I’m pleased with the business we’ve done so far and the players available to us.
The Chairman is also here this afternoon which is always a boost. We’ve had productive discussions about the team’s progress and he’s pleased with how far we’ve come since promotion.
I hope you all enjoy the game!
- Jim Goodwin
TODAY’S MASCOTS
DILWYN LLOYD
AGE: 11
FAVOURITE PLAYER: DECLAN GALLAGHER
SAM THOMSON
AGE: 8
FAVOURITE PLAYER: WILL FERRY
GETHIN LLOYD
AGE: 9
FAVOURITE PLAYER: VICKO ŠEVELJ
FINLAY MELDRUM
AGE: 11
FAVOURITE PLAYER: SAM DALBY
KAI DENNISON
AGE: 7
FAVOURITE PLAYER: LUCA STEPHENSON
ASHTON WILSON
AGE: 8
FAVOURITE PLAYER: VICKO ŠEVELJ
CONNOR KETTLES
AGE: 8
FAVOURITE PAYER: ROSS GRAHAM
ST MIRREN 0 DUNDEE UNITED 1
3PM SATURDAY 11 JANUARY 2025 | THE SMISA STADIUM | WILLIAM HILL PREMIERSHIP ATTENDANCE: 7,440
UNDER THE KOSH
The hosts had the better of it from the off with some forays forward and several early corners.
One of them almost spelt immediate danger, but a vital intervention from Stephenson on the line denied the towering Richard Taylor a certain opener.
WOODWORK DRAMA
Both sides had efforts off of the crossbar within a minute as we approached the hour mark.
It was Mikael Mandron who had the first bite of the cherry, taking a neat touch to open up space in the box before firing a fierce effort off the underside of the bar. United immediately cantered forward through Dalby who found Middleton by way
of Stephenson on the charge. Our number 15 took one touch to set himself before his deflected effort looped up and onto the bar as both sides went inches away from the opener.
A GRANDSTAND FINISH
It was an onslaught of pressure as we threw everything at it in search of a winner in the dying embers.
Late substitute van der Sande was incredibly unlucky not to open his United account as his close-range effort was blocked on the line before several penalty box stramashes left us wanting.
However, there was time yet for pandemonium as Moult was back with a bang to grab a spectacular winner.
It came as Ferry’s long throw was flicked into the heart of the box and reacting quickest was our number nine - who took one touch to set himself before executing a stunning overhead kick that found the far corner!
The tension wasn’t over yet as into six minutes of additional time the hosts were awarded a spot-kick.
It looked incredibly harsh as Olusanya jinked past Holt to work a cross and went down all too easy over an outstretched leg.
Justice was done however as Walton again got the better of Olusanya, diving low to his left to keep a well-earned clean sheet intact. It wasn’t without a scare as a long check for encroachment was eventually waved away.
MOULT 89’
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FOCUS ON RANGERS
This season has been a mixed bag for Rangers. A slow start left them trailing Celtic and Aberdeen, but they’ve since gone on a Premiership run of just one defeat in 13 matches, reclaiming second place. In the League Cup, they defeated St Johnstone, Dundee, and Motherwell to reach the final, but lost on penalties to Celtic.
In Europe, Rangers exited the Champions League qualifiers early, losing 3-1 on aggregate to Dynamo Kiev. However, their Europa League campaign has been stronger, with wins against Malmö, FCSB, and Nice, alongside draws with Olympiacos and Tottenham. Their domestic and European matches sandwich this afternoon’s tie, following Thursday’s clash with Manchester United and ahead of a fixture against Union St Gilloise.
The sides’ two meetings this season have been closely fought. Rangers won 1-0 at Tannadice in September thanks to Tom Lawrence, while Sam Dalby’s header secured United a 1-1 draw at Ibrox in November.
THE GAFFER PHILIPPE CLEMENT
Antwerp-born Clement won multiple Belgian league and cup titles as a player and represented Belgium 38 times, including at the 1998 World Cup. As a coach, he has claimed three Belgian league titles and a Belgian Super Cup. Clement took over Rangers in October 2023 and secured the 2023/24 League Cup with a 1-0 win over Aberdeen.
Under contract until 2028, he boasts 51 wins in 79 matches at Ibrox and continues to build on his growing reputation.
ONE TO WATCH HAMZA
IGAMANE
The Moroccan striker, signed for £1.7m last summer, has scored 14 goals this season, including 12 in his last 11 matches. A recent hattrick against Hibernian showcased his versatility, and he’s scored in his last two Premiership games.
LAST TIME OUT RANGERS 1-1 UNITED
ONE TO WATCH
VACLAV ČERNÝ
The Czech winger, on loan from Wolfsburg, has been a standout with 12 goals and eight assists this season. His pace and ability to cut inside onto his left foot make him a constant threat, as seen when he equalised against United in November.
We were the first team to take Premiership points off Rangers at Ibrox this season, with Sam Dalby’s clinical header earning us a hard-fought 1-1 draw.
Despite disrupted preparations, the lads put in a resolute performance in Govan. While Vaclav Cerny equalised after the break, we stood strong to secure a well-deserved point.
JIM BETT
Whilst Jim Bett was very much a top-level player, most notably with Aberdeen, Rangers, and United, his career— spanning almost two decades—was bookended by time with these clubs.
In fact, Jim was a Scottish schoolboy international who had been an S-form with Dundee before starting his senior career with Airdrieonians in 1976, where he made eight appearances as a teenager.
He then surprisingly moved to Iceland to play for Valur in 1978 and, a year later, signed for Belgian side KSC Lokeren. He returned to Scotland in 1980, with John Greig paying £150,000 for the midfielder.
During his three seasons at Ibrox, he won a Scottish Cup winner’s medal and a League Cup winner’s medal, both against United in 1981. Having represented Scotland at under-21 level for two years, he made the first of his 26 full international appearances in a win over the Netherlands in 1982 before leaving Rangers. By that time, he had scored 30 goals in 152 appearances for the club, and he returned to Lokeren in 1983.
Alex Ferguson, then assistant manager of the Scotland national team, brought the experienced midfielder back to Scotland in 1985, signing him for Aberdeen for £300,000. During his nine seasons at Pittodrie, he won a second Scottish
Cup winner’s medal in his first season and added a League Cup winner’s medal and another Scottish Cup medal during the 1989-90 season. Whilst in the North East, he was included in two World Cup squads: Mexico in 1986 and Italy in 1990. However, he made only one appearance across those two tournaments.
After leaving Aberdeen in 1994, he had spells with KR Reykjavik and Hearts before signing for United early in the 1995-96 season on a free transfer.
His arrival at Tannadice came as a surprise to many when fans learned he was in the starting XI to face Motherwell in the League Cup at the end of August. Manager Billy Kirkwood felt the experience of the 35-year-old midfielder could make a significant contribution during the first half of the campaign in the First Division, and this proved to be the case. With his class showing through, he helped fill the void left by Billy McKinlay, who moved to Blackburn Rovers a month later. Bett played an integral role as United regained their Premier League status via the play-offs.
However, he was not involved in the latter stages, having played his final game for the club at home to St Johnstone in early February. He retired at the end of the season, bringing to a close a highly successful career.
FIRST TEAM SQUAD
OUR BRAND NEW HITMAN RUARI PATON
Dundee United are delighted to announce the signing of Ruari Paton, who joins the Terrors on loan until the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
Hailing from Carpenterstown on the outskirts of Dublin, Paton spent his formative years representing a variety of local boys’ clubs, whilst also being capped for his homeland at U16 level.
He caught the eye of Hibernian, and ventured across the Irish Sea in 2016 after the Easter Road outfit tabled his first professional contract.
Two years developing in the capital preceded a brief stint with East Kilbride, where he balanced his goalscoring duties with a labouring job in the South Lanarkshire town.
The frontman’s career kickstarted upon his arrival at Stranraer, where he grabbed ten goals and three assists to bolster
The Blues’ promotion push.
Stephen Farrell’s men reached the Semi-Final of the play-offs, ultimately losing out to Dumbarton.
Fellow Dumfries and Galloway-based side Queen of the South took notice of his prolificacy, which persisted at Palmerston. 2022/23 saw Paton named in the PFA Scotland League One Team of the Year, rounding off a scintillating season with 25 strikes to his name.
His meteoric rise through the SPFL pyramid continued following a move to Scotland’s oldest club, Queen’s Park, in the summer of 2023.
The Irishman grabbed his first professional hat-trick in a rout of Elgin City in the Premier Sports Cup just four weeks after pitching up at the National Stadium - a sign of things to come.
Paton would ripple the net in all but one of the Spiders’ league fixtures throughout August, a return which saw him receive the Player of the Month Award for the second tier.
Over one-third of Queen’s Park’s goals last term
were tucked away by our new number 21, finishing 2024/25 with a tally of 22 in all competitions. It can be argued his strikes single-handedly kept them in the division.
Unsurprisingly, more critical acclaim followed, as he found himself named one of four nominees for the PFA Scotland Championship Player of the Year, alongside United colleague Louis Moult.
The 24-year-old arrives with 24 appearances to his name so far this season south of the border - ready to make an instant impact on Tannadice Street.
CAPABLE OF CHANGING GAMES AT THE DROP OF A HAT
After securing his first signing of the January transfer window, Dundee United Manager, Jim Goodwin, said: “Ruari is a player who has been on our radar for a considerable period of time, having witnessed his talents firsthand throughout last season whilst he was lighting up the Championship at Queen’s Park.
“With players such as Kevin Holt, Ross Docherty and Declan Gallagher able to make the transition to top-flight football seamlessly over the summer, I have no doubts our new addition will be able to emulate their success.”
He continued: “Able to spin into the channels or hold the ball up with his back to goal and bring his teammates into play, Ruari can serve a multitude of purposes at the top end of the pitch, and is capable of changing games at the drop of a hat.
“He’s exactly the type of player and person we look to strengthen our group with, and I speak on behalf of everybody at the club when I say we’re extremely excited to work with him during the remainder of 2024/25.”
JOINING A SIDE THAT’S SUCCESSFUL AND AMBITIOUS
Paton himself added: “I feel brilliant! Having the opportunity to come to a place like this at a time when we are flying high in the Premiership made it a no-brainer.
“As a player, you want to come into a side that’s successful and ambitious, and that’s exactly where Dundee United are.
I want to add to that by making a good team better. I think I can bring other people into the game as well as scoring goals - I don’t believe in being selfish. I can’t wait to get going!
A MIDFIELD MAESTRO LEWIS FIORINI
Dundee United are delighted to announce the signing of Lewis Fiorini on loan from EFL League One side Stockport County until the end of the season.
Born and raised in the footballing echo chamber of Greater Manchester, Fiorini pledged his allegiance to the blue half of the city.
He found himself snapped up by the Citizens for their academy aged just six, marking the beginning of a 15-year association with the club.
After sharing an England U15s dressing room with future stars such as Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala, the gifted midfielder opted to continue his international journey henceforth with Scotland - eligible through his grandmother.
Coincidentally, he thundered home his first goal for Scotland U21’s in front of the Eddie Thompson stand in a 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan, with fellow United colleague Glenn Middleton also on the scoresheet that evening.
Fiorini was handed his Man City U18s debut in August 2018, and grasped the opportunity with both hands, bagging seven goals and three assists in his first 12 matches.
His development continued within the youth setup for a further two seasons, whilst also being afforded the chance to train with Pep Guardiola’s star-studded first team on numerous occasions.
Venturing out of his comfort zone at the beginning of 2020/21, he embarked on a formative temporary stint with Dutch outfit NAC Breda.
A successful year in the Netherlands afforded Fiorini over 2,500 minutes of continental experience, as he rounded off the campaign with 11 goal contributions in all competitions.
These Eerste Divisie exploits were enough to convince City chiefs to table a five-year deal to their home-grown prospect, which he penned before heading out on another spell away from the Etihad, this time with Lincoln City in EFL League One.
He would go on to make 44 appearances under Imps boss Michael Appleton, netting six goals and complimenting his strikes with four assists.
Fiorini followed Appleton to Blackpool and latterly Charlton Athletic throughout the
subsequent two seasons, cutting his teeth in the English second tier during his time with the former.
In the summer of 2024, the 22-year-old decided to cut ties with the reigning Premier League champions and represent his local club, Stockport County.
Since pitching up at Edgely Park, Fiorini has turned out 11 times for the Hatters, who are currently hunting down back-toback promotions.
HIS FIRST THOUGHT IS TO PLAY FORWARDS
“Lewis arrives at Tannadice with a fabulous pedigree, having progressed through one of the finest academies in world football.
“He’s balanced this grounding with a wealth of senior experience at such a young age, boasting in excess of 120 first-team games both in the UK and on the continent.
He continued:
“Unsurprisingly given his development at the Etihad, Lewis has an outstanding ability to handle the ball in difficult scenarios, and his first thought is always to play forwards.
in several different scenarios we could find ourselves in as a team.
“I’m delighted to have a player of such quality at my disposal for the rest of the season, and both him and Ruari have the chance to make an immediate impact in this evening’s Scottish Cup match at Dens.”
I WANT TO ADD QUALITY
Our new number eight added: “As soon as I heard of the interest and spoke to the Gaffer, I was keen to get up here. The lads have been flying so far this season, I just want to come and add some more quality into the midfield by showing my passing range, scoring goals and getting assists.
“I’ve actually scored here at Tannadice for Scotland U21s and created one for Glenn (Middleton) so hopefully we see some more of that!
“For someone who’s still only 22 years old, I feel I’ve got some good experiences, both in football and life, behind me and that’ll help me adapt quickly.”
“Furthermore, he has a knack for finding the back of the net from distance, and that’s something which will come in useful
“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind weekend - I played for Stockport on Saturday, now I’ve potentially got the opportunity to be involved in a massive fixture tonight so hopefully I can hit the ground running”
FLASHBACK FOCUS
AUGUST
2021
UNITED 1 Jamie Robson (64)
RANGERS 0
United welcomed Steven Gerrard’s Rangers to Tannadice, seeking their first league win of the season, buoyed by the return of 4,600 fans – the first significant crowd at Tannadice in 17 months.
United started brightly, forcing two corners within
the first two minutes. Calum Butcher had the first effort on target, but his shot was comfortably saved. Rangers responded with Morelos firing over from close range after Aribo’s clever work on the edge of the box. United played with high energy, pressing aggressively and thrilling the crowd.
As the first half progressed, both sides traded chances. Chalmers delivered a dangerous cross that just evaded Pawlett’s touch, while Morelos headed a Kent cross wide from close range. United had a penalty shout turned down after Goldson appeared to handle Mulgrew’s flick in the box. Just before halftime, Tavernier’s free kick narrowly cleared Siegrist’s bar.
In the second half, Rangers gained momentum, testing United’s defence with a barrage of crosses. Robson stood out, clearing a dangerous Aribo delivery over his own bar, while Siegrist made
a stunning save to deny Tavernier’s long-range strike.
United struck the decisive blow in the 67th minute. Harkes intercepted a pass, and Butcher’s skillful turn released Robson, who fed Spörle. The Argentine’s deflected pass fell kindly for Robson, who coolly slotted past McLaughlin, sparking wild celebrations.
Rangers pushed for an equaliser but struggled to create clear chances. Goldson headed wide from a corner, and United’s game management was excellent, frustrating the visitors and maintaining their lead.
After five tense minutes of added time, the final whistle secured a famous 1-0 victory for Tam Courts’ side, ending Rangers’ 41-match unbeaten league run and giving the Arabs their first win with fans back in the stands.
1918
DUNDEE 1-2 DUNDEE HIBS | EASTERN LEAGUE
A historic first derby win for Dundee Hibs at senior level. Goals from Burge and Thomson gave Hibs a 2-0 lead within ten minutes. Despite Dundee pulling one back after half-time, Hibs’ wellorganised defence held firm for a memorable victory.
1924
HIBERNIAN 1-0 DUNDEE UTD | SCOTTISH CUP (1ST ROUND)
Just three months after their name change, United narrowly lost their first Scottish Cup tie under the new name. A crowd of 16,000 watched Harry
26 JANUARY
Ritchie’s first-half goal seal victory for Hibernian in a closely fought-match.
1935
counters from McKay and Geddes couldn’t overshadow United’s dominant display.
to force a replay, which United won comfortably 4-0 at Tannadice.
1963
DUNDEE UTD 3-0 ALBION ROVERS | SCOTTISH CUP (1ST ROUND)
In freezing conditions, with the pitch cleared using tar burners, United broke the deadlock after 75 minutes through Jim Irvine. Dennis Gillespie and Bert Howieson added late goals to secure a hard-fought win in front of 12,000 fans.
1974
DUNDEE UTD 4-1 AIRDRIE | SCOTTISH CUP (3RD ROUND)
United eased past Airdrie en route to their first-ever Scottish Cup final. Paddy Gardner scored twice, with Tommy Traynor and Doug Smith also on target.
1992
DUNDEE UTD 6-0 BERWICK | SCOTTISH CUP (3RD ROUND)
United ensured no repeat of the previous season’s scare, with early goals from Maurice Malpas and Duncan Ferguson (2). Victor Ferreyra, John O’Neil, and a Willie Garner own goal completed the rout.
2008
KILMARNOCK 1-2 DUNDEE UTD | SPL
Barry Robson’s first-half strike and Craig Conway’s second-half header secured victory in swirling rain. Gary Wales pulled one back late, but United held on for the win.
S K S K
A LOOK THROUGH THE ARCHIVES!
August 1929: The playing staff and management at the start of a season that marked United’s third campaign in the top division. Although manager Jimmy Brownlie was unable to keep the team up, they bounced back the following season, earning promotion for the third time in seven years. However, this marked the end of United’s yo-yo period, as the Club had to wait another 28 years before Jerry Kerr delivered promotion in 1960.
Back row (left to right): David Dorward, Jock Bain, Patry Deuchar, Bill Taylor.
Middle row (left to right): Jimmy Brownlie (Manager), John Cunningham, John McHugh, Harry McGregor, Dave McClure, Jimmy Cameron, Jack Qusklay (Trainer).
Front row (left to right): Geordie Henderson, Duncan Hutchison, D Halley (Director), Johnny Hart, B Carnegie (Director), Jacky Kay, Ernest Robertson (Director). On ground: George A Ross, Harry Michie.
