Shed Talk 07 | Dundee United v Livingston by dundeeunitedfc

Shed Talk CONTENTS

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 afternoon everyone, and welcome back to Tannadice!

Firstly, I’m pleased to report that we’re in a good place going into this weekend. We’ve still got a few of the long-term boys out, but aside from that, the group is looking healthy.

This time of year is always a bit stop-start with international breaks, and it can be difficult to build real momentum. We’ve got six or seven players away representing their countries, which is brilliant for them, but it does leave us a bit short. The lads who remain will continue to train hard, and we’ll balance the week with a bit of recovery time too.

Both Will Ferry and Zac Sapsford were close to international call-ups, and they can count themselves unlucky to miss out. It’s great they’re on the radar, a sign their performances here are getting noticed. That’s what we offer at

Dundee United: a platform for ambitious players to showcase themselves and progress their careers.

Looking to this afternoon, the weather could play its part. We’ve all seen the forecasts, and it’s likely to be wild conditions across the country. Hopefully it’s not as severe as predicted, but we’ll be ready either way. Wind is the hardest element to deal with in football, more so than rain, because it affects the flight of the ball and can really change the nature of the game. We’ll aim to keep the ball down, move it quickly, and make sure the conditions don’t dictate the result.

Thanks as always for your support. We’ll do everything we can to deliver another strong performance today.

Enjoy the game!

BRYCE JOHNSTON

AGE: 10

FAVOURITE PLAYER: ZAC SAPSFORD

ALFIE MCGANN

AGE: 11

FAVOURITE PLAYER: PAN CAMARA

NELLA LOWDON

AGE: 10

FAVOURITE PLAYER: BERT ESSELINK

RYAN STRAIN

It’s been a frustrating start to the season, a bit like last year, but after picking up a knock against St Johnstone and finding out it was a fracture, I’ve just had to stay patient. I felt the fittest I’ve been in a long time after a strong pre-season, so it was tough to take, but I’ve kept myself in good shape with bike work while it healed, and now I’m back training and feeling really fit again.

The Gaffer’s just told me to keep working hard and wait for my chance, and that’s exactly what I’ll do. I’ve been around long enough to know when someone’s in form, you’ve just got to be patient. But when my opportunity comes, I’ll be ready to take it.

There’s real competition throughout the squad this season, and that pushes everyone to be at their best. The quality is there all over the pitch, lads coming back from injury, strong options off the

bench, it’s a really exciting group. You can see the difference from last year too; our transitions are sharp, we’ve got real pace and attacking flair, and the football looks more free-flowing. Watching from the sidelines makes you desperate to be part of it, but when the team’s playing well, you’ve got to be patient and wait for your chance.

For me personally, I just want to get back out there and show what I can do. Before the new Australia coach came in, I’d just broken into the team and made the squad in the summer. With the World Cup coming up, that’s a massive motivation. It’s every player’s dream, so I’ve been working really hard in the gym to get back. The knee’s feeling much better now, and I’m desperate to get back on the pitch and help the team.

This weekend will be another tough game.

Livingston have changed their style a bit since coming back up. They’re trying to play out more from the back, but they’ve still got that aggression about them. It’ll probably be a similar kind of game to Kilmarnock, and we know we’ll need to be sharp, especially at setpieces.

We’ve conceded too many from set-pieces lately, and that’s not good enough. Last year, we were really strong in that area, so we know it’s something we need to fix. You don’t really see teams cutting through us or scoring great goals, it’s mainly set-pieces. and that’s something we can put right on the training pitch.

We’ll keep working hard, stick together, and make sure we put it right.

MND Scotland LEARN

Bringing together people affected by MND and researchers

Thanks to Dundee United FC, MND Scotland will be in the Hegarty Suite on Saturday 04 October to host the Lived Experience and Researcher Network (LEARN) event.You can find out more here https://mndscotland.org.uk/events /learn-dundee/

Wednesday 22 October ‘25 www.mndscotland.org.uk

Motor neuron disease (MND) is a rapidly progressing terminal neurological illness, which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles. People living with MND in Scotland

MND Scotland is the only charity in Scotland funding essential MND research and directly supporting people affected by MND. For more information about MND Scotland and the LEARN events you can scan the QR code or visit:

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Welcome to

LIVINGSTON

Sunday’s defeat to Rangers saw Livingston’s winless run stretch to six matches, a result that leaves them sitting tenth in the Premiership table.

Having collected just five points from their opening seven fixtures, Livi have earned fewer points than they had at this stage two seasons ago. That campaign ultimately ended in relegation. The picture would look far brighter at Almondvale had they not lost three matches this season, including the last two, in stoppage time.

With thirteen goals conceded in the

Premiership so far, Livingston have struggled defensively, with only Aberdeen failing to find the net against them in league action.

However, The Lions arrive at Tannadice having lost just three of their previous thirteen competitive meetings with United and can draw level on points with us if they win this afternoon.

Appointed in 2020 following a successful stint as interim manager, 51-year-old Glaswegian David Martindale’s rise to the top has been anything but conventional.

A youth prospect with both Rangers and Motherwell, Martindale admits a lack of application saw him fall short of the professional game. Instead, he forged a career in the Juniors with Linlithgow Rose, West Calder and Whitburn.

He first became involved at Almondvale in 2014 as a volunteer, helping with maintenance work before gradually moving into training sessions. Coaching responsibilities

followed, and he was appointed assistant to David Hopkin in 2016.

Four years later, after guiding the team to four straight wins as interim boss, Martindale was appointed manager on a short-term deal. A run to the League Cup Final and a top-half finish convinced the board to hand him a longer contract.

Relegation in 2023/24 was swiftly followed by an immediate return to the Premiership last term, with the Challenge Cup also added to the cabinet. That success gave the current third-longest-serving manager in the country his first piece of silverware.

SUMMER SIGNINGS

MOHAMMED SYLLA the 31-year-old French midfielder joined in the summer following his release from Dundee. Primarily a central midfielder, he has featured in defence this term and brings over 300 games of senior experience.

GRAHAM CAREY a veteran midfielder with a wand of a left foot. The 36-yearold Irishman can play anywhere across midfield but has been used sparingly so far this season.

SHANE BLANEY the central defender departed Motherwell in the summer after three years at Fir Park. A former schoolboy international, he has experience in the League of Ireland and English lower leagues.

JEREMY BOKILA the Congolese international striker has played in Belgium, Romania,

Russia, Turkey and the Netherlands. The 36-yearold, who scored twice at the 2015 African Cup of Nations, has already netted twice this season.

CONNOR MCLELLAN an Aberdeen academy graduate with 113 appearances and eight goals for the Dons. The 25-year-old winger joined from Ayr United after an injury-hit spell with Salford City.

CAMMY KERR the former Queen’s Park right-back has yet to feature since arriving due to injury.

BROOKLYN KABONGOLO the French defender spent four years at Ipswich Town’s academy before a spell with non-league Billericay in 2023. The 6’3” centre half joined from National League South side Aveley but is yet to make his Livi debut.

ADAM MONTGOMERY the

Celtic left-back is on a season-long loan, his sixth temporary spell away from Parkhead. The 23-year-old provides versatility down the flank.

JUNIOR ROBINSON a fullback who featured heavily for West Ham United’s U21s last season. The youngster is spending the campaign on loan at Almondvale.

MACAULAY TAIT returns for a second loan spell after making 23 appearances last term. The 20-yearold Hearts midfielder previously captained the club’s B team in the Lowland League.

MAHAMADOU SUSOHU

Spanish-born and capped at youth level by both England and Spain. Formerly of Espanyol, the defensive midfielder arrives on loan from Manchester City, having spent last season with Peterborough United.

ONE TO WATCH

SCOTT PITTMAN

Livingston’s midfield is anchored by the tenacious 33-year-old, now in his testimonial season after joining from Bo’ness Juniors in 2015. The former Hamilton youth has made 441 appearances for The Lions, a club record.

After a single senior appearance on loan at Alloa from Accies, Pittman rebuilt his career in the Juniors with Broxburn before climbing back into the senior ranks. He has gone on to establish himself as a key figure in the top flight.

An ever-present during the League One title-winning campaign of 2016/17, a double Challenge Cup winner who scored in the 2014/15 Final, and Livingston’s all-time appearance holder, Pittman’s status as a club legend is beyond question.

PLAYED FOR

BOTH

Nicknamed Rash for his energy and tenacity in midfield, and affectionately known as Eastie, Craig Easton was a fans’ favourite who served Dundee United with distinction for nine years. Across that time, he made 259 appearances, placing him 26th on the club’s all-time list. That tally accounts for roughly half of his enduring 17-year professional career, which saw him pass the 500game mark.

An unusual statistic from his playing days is that, in Scotland, apart from a brief spell with Dunfermline Athletic, Livingston were the only other club he represented after leaving Tannadice in 2005.

A Scotland Schools, Under-16, and Youth international, the Bellshillborn midfielder came through United’s youth programme and was playing in the reserves by the 1995–96 season. He gained early first-team experience during a preseason tour of Denmark in July 1996 and made his competitive debut as a 17-year-old substitute in a 4–0 win over Aberdeen in January 1997.

After helping United’s youth side lift the Youth League title in 1996–97, Craig made his breakthrough into the senior team the following season, featuring in the UEFA Cup as a substitute

against CE Principat. He scored his first senior goal for the Club in the League Cup semi-final win over Aberdeen at Tynecastle – fittingly, five of his 17 United goals would come against the Pittodrie side. Later that year, he collected a League Cup runners-up medal after the final against Celtic at Ibrox.

Craig remained a regular in the United first team for six seasons and was a fixture in the Scotland Under-21 setup, where he became the nation’s fourth most-capped player at that level. Among his most memorable goals was a winner in a 2–1 victory over Celtic at Tannadice in August 1999. He was also a key part of

the winner that secured Livingston’s SPL status while sending rivals Dundee down to the First Division – a moment celebrated by Livi fans and Arabs alike.

In July 2005, Craig moved south to join Leyton Orient, helping the League Two side defeat Premiership outfit Fulham in the FA Cup and win promotion to League One. In June 2007, he reunited with former United manager Paul Sturrock at Swindon Town, spending three seasons there before following Sturrock to Southend United.

He later had short spells with Dunfermline Athletic, Torquay United and Raith Rovers, where he took on the role of head coach of the development team. Craig returned to Tannadice in June 2018 as reserve team manager, before moving on to become assistant manager at Cowdenbeath in August 2019. He left the Fifers in October 2021 following Gary Bollan’s departure.

In March 2023, Craig joined the Montserrat national team as Assistant Coach for their CONCACAF Nations League matches against Haiti and Guyana. Now based in north-east Fife, he works as a college lecturer alongside his coaching

HANGING UP THE

BOOTS

STEVEN FLETCHER

Striker Steven Fletcher has announced his retirement from football, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable 21-year playing career.

Confirming the news this week, the former Scotland international said it was “the right time” to hang up his boots and reflected with “pride and gratitude” on his journey in the game.

Fletcher made his senior debut for Hibernian in April 2003 before going on to enjoy spells with Burnley, Wolves, Sunderland, Marseille, Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke City, Dundee United and Wrexham.

On the international stage, he earned 33 caps for Scotland, scoring 10 goals between 2008 and 2016.

In a message to supporters on Instagram, Fletcher wrote:

“After a lot of thought, I feel the time is right to retire from football.

It’s not an easy decision because this game has been my life since I was a boy, but I know in my heart it’s the right moment to close this chapter.

When I look back, I feel nothing but pride and gratitude. From starting out at Hibs to the journeys with Burnley, Wolves, Sunderland, Marseille, Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke, Dundee United and finishing at Wrexham – every club has shaped me and given me memories I’ll never forget.

Pulling on the Scotland shirt was also one of the greatest honours of my career. To represent my country and share the pitch with so many talented lads is something I’ll always treasure. Those moments stay with you forever.”

Fletcher joined United from Stoke City in 2022, signing a two-year deal. His experience and leadership proved valuable across the 2023/24 campaign, where he finished as the club’s top scorer with 10 goals in 39 appearances and frequently captained the side during the run-in.

Upon leaving Tannadice, Fletcher said: “I would like to thank everyone at the Club for the warm reception my family and I received, and the fans for welcoming me with open arms – that’s something that will never leave me.”

Dundee United would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Steven for his contribution to the Club. We wish him the very best in his retirement

First-Team SQUAD

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Until recently, new clubs attaining league status was something of a rare occasion.

Since the Second World War, only two had been elevated to that level, Clydebank being the other one, until the Highland duo of Inverness Caledonian and Ross County joined just over 30 years ago.

Before Thistle evolved into the club we now know as Livingston, United had never faced the Edinburgh side on league business during their first 21 years. The only competitive clash came in the Scottish Cup in 1993.

However, prior to that, the clubs did meet in a midweek pre-season friendly at Meadowbank Stadium.

For a match in which the United eleven consisted mainly of reserves, the hosts commendably produced a full 16-page issue.

The outer cover was on yellow paper, while the inside 12 pages were printed on plain white paper. Of the seven pages of copy, there were, disappointingly, no illustrations.

That said, there was plenty of interesting content covering a wide range of topics,

including mention of a closed-doors friendly which United had edged by the odd goal in three, three years earlier.

Two familiar names in the Thistle lineup were Colin Campbell and Darren Jackson. Colin Campbell had joined United from Hibs in 1980 but made only six appearances before moving on to Airdrie

and later arriving at Meadowbank.

Meanwhile, Darren Jackson was picked up by Thistle, and his prolific scoring saw him move to English First Division side Newcastle United for £40,000 in 1986. Two years later, he signed for United and scored 37 goals in 110 appearances. The Club made a strong return on their original outlay, with a tribunal setting a £400,000 fee for Hibs to pay when he moved to Easter Road in 1992.

As for the game itself, the Edinburgh side, who had drawn with a strong Aberdeen team in their previous outing, went one better against a United side suffering their only defeat of the pre-season build-up.

It was a disappointing display by a team that almost entirely comprised reserves. Meadowbank fully deserved their 2-0 success after squandering several early chances.

They finally went ahead on 52 minutes when Adrian Sprott hit a well-timed volley past Scott Thomson. Three minutes later, Walter Boyd scrambled in the second. In what was a lacklustre display, United’s best chance fell to Joe McLeod with 13 minutes left, but Thistle keeper Jim McQueen denied him with a fine save.

United team that August evening: S Thomson, P Smith (Reilly), Lyall, Reid (McKinlay), Kopel, Kirkwood, Kerray, Page, Clark, J McLeod.

GRAND CHALLENGE MATCH

25 JANUARY 1986

The game that never was!

This friendly was scheduled for the same day the first team faced Morton in the Scottish Cup at Tannadice. While that tie went ahead thanks to Tannadice’s undersoil heating, icy conditions at Meadowbank meant no play, but full marks to Thistle for producing a programme regardless.

Reproduced below is the four-page issue, which would have sold at 15p.

THE MAIN EVENT

THE FIRST COMPETITIVE ISSUE

Our only meeting with today’s visitors in their Meadowbank Thistle days came in a third-round Scottish Cup tie in January 1993, just a couple of seasons before their name change and switch to West Lothian.

Donald Park was their manager, and Thistle had reached the second tier of Scottish football. The club’s standard issue that season consisted of 40 pages.

Features included two pages of Tannadice Topics, which announced that phase two of the stadium becoming allseated was imminent, with plans to erect a new 3,000-seater stand at the Arklay Street end costing £1.5 million, now better known as the Eddie Thompson Stand.

Other items included sad news of the passing of former manager Tommy Gray and player Tommy Traynor.

Jim McLean’s hard-hitting column began, “In terms of results, we have made a very disappointing start to 1995.”

But it wasn’t all doom and gloom as he continued, “Yet, in the two recent defeats, there was a pleasing aspect to our play. Ironically, it was the area which houses the most experience that cost us dearly in both games. Our central defence has let us down badly. There is no way we can continue with a system that has leaked five goals in the last two outings.”

Referring to the Meadowbank tie, the United boss said, “It is a tricky one and will be made all the more difficult if the players don’t maintain the same determined approach evident lately.”

As it turned out, United got off to the worst possible start, Paul Rutherford putting the visitors ahead after five minutes. Thistle’s stubborn resistance meant it wasn’t until the 37th minute before Billy McKinlay levelled. Just after the hour mark, Brian Welsh swept home a John O’Neil freekick, and two minutes later, Duncan Ferguson’s looping header added a third.

Elsewhere in the issue was an in-depth review of players who had represented both clubs, with Darren Jackson and Gordon McLeod among the most notable. The Player Profile section shone the spotlight on defender Mark Perry.

With no previous meetings to reflect on, attention turned to early 1950s clashes with non-league Inverness Caledonian.

NEXT UP – LIVINGSTON

The next meeting came 18 years later and ended in a 2-0 win for the SPL newcomers. Nathan Lowndes and Stuart Lovell were Livi’s scorers.

A full review of that issue will feature in the second visit by David Martindale’s side, on the final day of 2025.

4 OCTOBER

1913 – Dundee Hibs 5–0 Johnstone | League (Division Two)

Collie Martin’s double against Johnstone was among the 53 goals he scored in just 55 appearances.

Pat Reilly’s side continued their strong form, going

nap against one of the division’s top teams to draw level with secondplaced Abercorn. Hibs legend Collie Martin struck twice in the first half, with Ned MacDonald also on target before the break. Fred Stoessel and Willie Linn added second-half goals. Despite the fine performance, only 1,500 fans witnessed the victory, with Hibs taking home a guarantee of £15, leaving the hosts with just £6.

1924 – United 3–0 St Bernard’s | League (Division Two)

Bobby Bauld, who broke the deadlock, spent four seasons at Tannadice, scoring 30 goals in 43 appearances. Signed

from Raith Rovers, he later enjoyed a long career in England with Bradford City and Chesterfield.

Jimmy Brownlie’s men marched on, extending their unbeaten record to eight games and moving top of the division. The visiting Edinburgh side battled well but lacked firepower. United’s firsthalf dominance won the day, with Bauld and Sandy Gilmour combining for the opener before James Harvey doubled the lead. In the second half, Dave Richards converted a penalty to complete the scoring.

1952 – Stenhousemuir 0–4 United | League (B Division)

Peter McKay’s remarkable tally of 203 goals remains a club record, and this treble was one of his 21 hat-tricks (including three foursomes).

One disgruntled Warriors supporter summed up the match by saying, “They had four kicks at the ball and scored four goals.” A touch exaggerated, but not far off. All four goals came from sudden breakaways. McKay opened the scoring after 34 minutes, then struck twice in five minutes midway through the second half to seal the points. Frank Quinn added the fourth seven minutes from time.

1969 – Motherwell

0–2 United | League (Division One)

Ian Scott hit the opener, one of 19 goals he scored during his Tannadice career.

United inflicted Motherwell’s first Fir Park defeat in over a year with a blistering firsthalf display. Only the brilliance of goalkeeper Peter McCloy kept the score down to a thirdminute header from Scott. After the break, United’s defence took centre stage before Alan Gordon broke clear to seal the win four minutes from time.

1989 – United 2–0

Aberdeen | League (Premier Division)

Jim McInally made a habit of scoring in this fixture, with six of his 22 United goals coming against the Dons.

Under the watchful eye of Antwerp coach Dimitri Davidovic, United produced their best performance of the season, dominating their New Firm rivals. The deadlock, so often the hallmark of this fixture, was broken just before half-time when Darren Jackson’s pass found Kevin Gallacher, who flicked on for McInally to charge through and fire past Snelders. Seven minutes into the second half, Dave Bowman’s free kick was partially cleared, and Maurice Malpas’ shot rebounded off Michael O’Neill. The skipper reacted brilliantly, diving to head the ball home. Aside from a late Aberdeen flurry, United remained in control to claim all three points.

1997 – Dunfermline

3–3 United | League (Premier Division)

Robbie Winters bagged a brace, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.

United stormed into a 3–0 half-time lead

thanks to two goals from Winters and one from Andy McLaren, seemingly cruising to their first victory of the season. However, with the wind at their backs, the hosts launched a spirited second-half comeback, as Smith, French and Bingham all found the net to complete a dramatic fightback.

2008 – United 2–1 Inverness CT | League (SPL)

Lee Wilkie found the net at both ends.

United dominated the first half and finally took the lead five minutes before the break with a goal made and finished in Dublin. Sean Dillon’s pinpoint cross was met by Jon Daly, who rose majestically to head home his fifth goal of the season. United’s second came after 65 minutes when Paul Dixon’s cross was nodded across goal by Darren Dods, allowing Wilkie to head in off the bar from close range. A late Barry Wilson delivery deflected off Wilkie and into his own net, denying United a fourth consecutive clean sheet but not the points.

FIXTURES AND RESULTS

Sibbald Camarà Dol

Sibbald Camarà

Sibbald Camarà Ševelj

Sibbald Ferry

YEVHENII KUCHERENKO (GK)

RYAN STRAIN

BERT ESSELINK

IURIE IOVU

VICKO ŠEVELJ

ROSS GRAHAM

KRISTIJAN TRAPANOVSKI

PANUTCHE CAMARÁ

ZAC SAPSFORD

WILL FERRY

CRAIG SIBBALD

AMAR FATAH

IVAN DOLČEK

DARIO NAAMO

KRISZTIAN KERESZTES

DAVE RICHARDS (GK)

RICHARD ODADA

MILLER THOMSON

LEWIS O’DONNELL

RUAIRIDH ADAMS (GK)

OWEN STIRTON

CHARLIE DEWAR

MAX WATTERS

SAM CLEALL-HARDING

SCOTT CONSTABLE

CALVIN BEATTIE

ISAAC PAPPOE

NIKOLAJ MÖLLER

LIVINGSTON

CAMMY KERR

ADAM MONTGOMERY

SHANE BLANEY

RYAN MCGOWAN

AIDAN DENHOLM

MAHAMADOU SUSOHO

SCOTT PITTMAN ROBBIE MUIRHEAD

CAREY

MCLENNAN

HAMILTON

SMITH

WINTER

MAY JEREMY BOKILA

FINLAYSON

JUNIOR ROBINSON ANDREW SHINNIE BROOKLYN KABONGOLO

MOHAMAD SYLLA

MACAULAY TAIT

CRISTIAN MONTANO

DANNY WILSON

JEROME PRIOR

EVAN MYLES

TETE YENGI

SAMSON LAWAL