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SHED TALK

CLUB HONOURS

Scottish Premier Division Champions 1983

Scottish Cup Winners 1994 and 2010

Scottish League Cup Winners 1979-80 and 1980-81

UEFA Cup Runners-up: 1986–87

JIM GOODWIN

Good evening everyone and welcome back to Tannadice for tonight’s Premier Sports Cup fixture against Spartans.

Saturday was a positive response from the disappointment at Montrose and exactly what we needed.

It was pleasing to get back to winning ways in front of our own supporters and, just as importantly, to see three of our attacking players getting on the scoresheet.

We've worked hard over the last couple of transfer windows to add more athleticism, pace and energy to the squad.

I thought you saw that against Arbroath, not only with the goals we scored but with the intensity we played with.

Our forward players are willing runners, they press with real aggression and they set the tone for the rest of the team, while we've also added creativity in midfield to unlock stubborn defences.

We know Spartans will provide a difficult test.

They've shown before that they're a well-organised side and we won't underestimate them for a second.

However, after the result at Montrose, we know what tonight requires.

We need to build on Saturday's performance, be clinical in front of goal and continue developing the understanding between our attacking players.

Thank you once again for your fantastic support. We look forward to seeing you get behind the team again tonight and, hopefully, together we can finish the evening with another important three points.

LOCAL SUPPLIER OF KEGS,

LACHIE ROSE

Saturday was a great night for all of us. It was brilliant to get the win back at home and even better to do it in front of our supporters.

Personally, I was buzzing to get my first goal, but the biggest thing for me was getting the three points. At the end of the day, I just love winning football matches.

We're still a new group and there are a lot of new faces, so it's always going to take a bit of time for everything to click.

Every day in training we're learning more about each other, understanding each other's strengths and building those connections.

We all believe in what the gaffer wants from us and I think you could see on Saturday that things are starting to come together.

For me, I just want to bring energy to the team. I want to work hard, make runs in behind and be a nuisance for defenders.

If I can chip in with goals as well then that's a bonus, but my main job is helping the team win.

We know Spartans will be another tough test tonight, but we've got another chance to keep improving and building momentum.

Hopefully we can put in another good performance and give you all something to cheer again.

Thanks, as always, for your incredible support. It doesn't go unnoticed, and we really appreciate you getting behind us every week.

Enjoy the game!

THE SPARTANS

The Spartans arrive at Tannadice for the second time this year.

Our visitors from Edinburgh earned SPFL status in 2022 after winning the Lowland League title and securing promotion through victories over Brechin City and Albion Rovers in the play-offs. Since then, Spartans have continued to impress, finishing runners-up last season before narrowly missing out on promotion.

The sides first met in the 2022-23 Premier Sports Cup, when Blair Henderson's goal earned Spartans a shock win at Tannadice, before United edged a 2-1 Scottish Cup victory at Tannadice last season.

Entering his 15th season in charge, Dougie Samuel has now been at the helm for more than 600 matches. Having guided the club to eight pieces of silverware, the legacy he has created within the wider community has also played a huge part in the 59 year old’s popularity across North Edinburgh.

After suffering a heart attack in 2018, it is testament to Samuel’s character that he continued to develop Spartans both on and off the pitch.

His work in advancing the club’s community strategy was recognised in 2022 when he was awarded an MBE for services to football and the wider Edinburgh community.

As a player, Samuel was a goalscoring midfielder who represented Newtongrange Star, Meadowbank Thistle, Whitehill Welfare and Spartans before beginning his managerial career with the University of Edinburgh.

PLAYED FOR

ARCHIE MEEKISON

Understandably, given Spartans have only been an SPFL club for three years, there are very few players who qualify for this feature.

In fact, Archie Meekison is one of only four. The others are Marc McNulty, who featured for Spartans in last season’s Scottish Cup defeat to United, goalkeeper Jack Newman, who made four appearances for the Terrors during the 2022-23 campaign, and, most notably, Eamonn Bannon, who brought an outstanding playing career to a close at Ainslie Park.

Having joined Dundee United at the age of ten, Meekison progressed through the youth ranks before first becoming involved with the senior squad in 2018, when he was named as an unused substitute during the League Cup group stage.

Later that season, he graduated from the Scottish FA Performance School at St John’s High School, helping the school lift the Senior Scottish Cup, before signing his first professional contract with United.

In March 2020, Archie joined newly promoted League Two side Cove Rangers on loan for the remainder of the season.

However, the campaign was curtailed, and his only involvement came from three substitute appearances, the first marking his senior debut.

The following September, he joined Lowland League side Spartans on loan, remaining at Ainslie Park until lower league football was suspended in January 2021. During that spell, he made 16 appearances, scoring eight goals, including a hat-trick against East Stirlingshire in the South Region Challenge Cup.

replaced Florent Hoti shortly before the hour mark. A week later, he made his first start and marked the occasion with a superb goal in a 2-2 draw with Motherwell, although it proved to be his only senior goal in Tangerine.

Across the following two seasons, the talented midfielder made 15 starts and a further 25 appearances from the bench.

A loan spell at Falkirk during the second half of the 2023-24 campaign was disrupted by injury, restricting him to a single substitute appearance before he was released following the expiry of his contract.

After featuring more regularly during the 2021-22 season, Meekison signed a contract extension until 2024.

His United debut came in a 3-0 defeat at Kilmarnock when he

Since leaving Tannadice, Meekison has continued his career in the Republic of Ireland, first with Bohemians, where he made 29 appearances and scored four goals, before joining Sligo Rovers this summer. Up until the beginning of July, he had featured 14 times for his new club, finding the net twice.

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21 JULY

July 21st has been a date dominated by pre-season fixtures throughout Dundee United's history, although one of the club's most memorable European nights also falls on this

day. In 2011, more than 11,000 supporters packed into Tannadice, joined by around 2,000 travelling fans from Poland, as United welcomed Śląsk Wrocław in the second leg of a Europa League qualifier.

Peter Houston's side made the perfect start, with Keith Watson firing home before David Goodwillie doubled the advantage just two minutes later to put United firmly in control.

Although Rok Elsner reduced the deficit, Jon Daly's penalty restored a two-goal cushion and looked to have sent the Terrors through.

However, a stunning 25yard strike from Sebastian Dudek proved decisive, sending the Polish side into the next round on away goals and leaving United to rue missed opportunities across both legs.

There have been happier memories on July 21st during the club's summer preparations.

In 1998, United came from behind to defeat Dutch side FC Twente 2-1, Roger Boli levelling before Stephen Thompson struck the winner late on.

Four years later, Peter Houston's side again showed their resilience by recovering from a goal down to beat Raith Rovers 2-1 at Stark's Park, with defenders Keith Watson and Brian McLean scoring in the closing five minutes.

Three years earlier, a trialist Damian Casalinuovo announced himself by opening the scoring in a comfortable 2-0 victory over UCD in Dublin before Scott Robertson added a late second.

Several other July 21st fixtures ended honours even. Alex Taylor was on target in a 1-1 draw against Danish side Nakskov during United's Scandinavian tour in 1982, while Duncan Ferguson's early strike wasn't enough to prevent East Fife earning a late equaliser in a 1992 pre-season meeting at Methil.

In 2001, Charlie Miller gave United the lead away to German side Aachen before the hosts hit back to secure a draw, while the first match of the club's 1987 Norwegian tour also finished 1-1 against LSK.

Not every July 21st has produced positive memories, however. United's 2018 Betfred Cup campaign came to a disappointing end after a 1-1 draw with Alloa Athletic. Frédéric Frans headed the Terrors into an early lead, but after the Belgian defender later conceded a penalty which Alan Trouten converted, the tie went the distance before Alloa triumphed 4-3 in the penalty shootout, bringing an early end to United's hopes of progressing from the group stage.