PELE AT DENS PARK - 1989

Probably the most famous footballer the world has ever known is Brazilian superstar, Pele, and he paid a visit to Dens Park one summer in June 1989.
He was there to present a "Man Of The Match" award when Dens was hosting a Group C section of the Under 16's World Cup tournament - Group C consisting of Argentina, Nigeria, Canada and China.
Before the football action, he had a "meet the locals" kind of PR stint at the ground, signing autographs, having his photo taken, that sort of thing, and the picture above is of him in the middle of a Q&A session with a group of kids from Hill Primary School.
The then Scotland manager, Andy Roxburgh, is alongside him.
Photo by DC Thomson.

INNER CITY SOUND AD - 1982

An ad from 1982 for Inner City Sound recording studios in Dens Street.
It lists the gear on offer for all your recording needs & requirements, and at very competitive rates too!
Needless to say, local acts took advantage of their facilities...all sorts of bands ranging from Lowland Folk to Pigs Are Cute.
The boss at the controls was Mafia man, Allan McGlone.

70'S AIR SHOTS - 2 KINGSWAY SEGMENTS

The top section of the Kingsway has Maryfield Hospital, bottom right of the image.

The central area is Caird Park golf course with the Kingsway Tech next to it.

Off into the background is Kirkton & Downfield.

The second image is looking in the opposite direction, with the golf course at the bottom.

The main road off the Kingsway, to the left, is Graham Street where you can make out St Michaels School.

And in the distance, top left, are Tannadice and Dens.

JIM WILKIE - ACROSS THE GREAT DIVIDE

The cover photo of the 2nd Jim Wilkie book informs you that the content is about the 2 Dundee teams. It see-saws from Dundee FC to Dundee United in equal measure as it delves into the history of both clubs in tandem. Year by year bites of interesting information on and off the field of play. So you get accounts of matches - player performances- transfer details and all the goings on behind the scenes. In between all the retro football facts are occasional reminders of what is happening elsewhere in the world to give you a bit of background knowledge.
The original version came out in 1984 but this one here is the latest revised edition which brings you up to date with events in the new millennium.
Available from most main booksellers.

THE THREE PARKS - 60's & 70's

Dens Park, Tannadice Park and Gussie Park together form Dundee's "Bermuda Triangle" with the ongoing mystery of the disappearing football crowds.!!

Gussie Park was where the opposition buses would park on match days, leading to many lively clashes around this area amongst fans.

One quirky story from this area in the 60's is the time when Gary Glitter stayed in Fleming Gardens (orange roofs, top right corner of the picture). Local musician, Doug Martin, was in a band and they were sometimes called upon to back visiting acts. One such act was Paul Raven (later Gary Glitter) but who then fell ill and was nursed back to health by Doug's mother in Fleming Gardens.

Doug also worked at Gussie Park carnival on the dodgems in his youth, and when I used to go to the carnival a few years later in the early 70's in my young teenage years, one of the highlights was the sound of Gary Glitter records blasting out the PA systems.

The carnival wasn't there when the colour photo was taken in early 70's but it does appear in the black & white image taken a decade before.

TANNADICE STREET - 1970

This photo of Tannadice Street was taken in 1970. It has changed a wee bit since then. Gussie Park carnival would have been there, as well as the Angus Jute Works, and obviously the other 2 "Parks", Tannadice and Dens, have now become Stadiums.
I reckon if they moved the cars out of the way, this would be the ultimate spot for Dundee kids to play Kerby! A backdrop like that would surely inspire a few good throws to get those "half-roadies".
Stats show that Dundee FC and United were eeksie-peeksie around this time.
The 1969/70 season had United finish in 5th position on 38 points and Dundee in 6th with 36 points.
The 1970/71 season saw Dundee finish 5th on 38 points and United in 6th spot with 36 points.
The cool piece of film below was taken a year or so earlier and shows the comings & goings at Tannadice on match day.

PETER LORIMER - FOOTBALLER

Hailing from Broughty Ferry, Peter Lorimer's schooldays were spent at Stobswell, and needless to say, he played football for the Stobbie too. He was so good, it wasn't long before he was playing for Dundee Schoolboys and the big name teams came looking for him. He ended up signing for Leeds United. In fact he was thrown straight into the deep end as he actually played in Leeds full team when he was just 15. He also played for Scotland, and is now a Leeds (and Scottish) "Legend".
I can remember watching him on tv a lot. He had a helluva shot and banged in loads of goals from long range.
Going back to his schooldays...Stobswell were playing Linlathen at Caird Park one time - Peter took a free kick from 20 yards out - ended up breaking the keepers fingers!!
He has played at Dens Park, not for Dundee but against. He was in the Leeds team that Dundee met in the Fairs Cup semi final in May 1968. That was a 1-1 draw but Leeds progressed to win the trophy.
There was also a Testimonial at Dens in April 1978 featuring the Peter Lorimer XI. The XI winning it 3-2.
There's no doubt about it, Leeds were a fantastic team back in the late 60's & early 70's and here below is Peter (#7) getting a hat-trick in the Leeds demolition of Southampton in 1972.
Incidentally, ex Dee, Jim Steele, is playing for the Saints and can be seen wandering around in a daze!

ROD STEWART IN DUNDEE - 1974

The picture here shows part of the crowd outside Bruce's record shop in Reform Street, waiting to catch sight of Rod Stewart opening the store on 14th Dec 1974.

I'm somewhere in the crowd too, wearing my Dundee FC scarf, because the team were playing Celtic that day.

Incidentally, Rod didn't have a gig in town, he was actually playing at the Glasgow Apollo that night, so he did travel through especially to do the biz at Bruces.

However, because Rod turned up late for the shop opening, I, along with many others, had to make a last minute mad dash up to Dens Park to catch kick-off.

Rod also made that same dash up to Dens for the game, getting the V.I.P. treatment in the directors box. Unfortunately, Rod didn't get to see the Dee on a good day - Kenny Dalglish was in scintillating form that afternoon and Dundee were hammered 6-0!

Kenny got a hat-trick and the footage below captures 2 of his goals from the match.

Rod & Bruce then had to scarper quickly back to Glasgow to make it in time for the start of his concert!

Yes things were pretty hectic the day Rod came to town in '74.

 

Photo by DC Thomson.