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.

MINISTERS v BUTCHERS - 1979

Another challenge match, this time at Tannadice, and a game that took place on 30th April 1979 between Ministers & Butchers.

My local butcher, Mr Grossett (Arbroath Road), was playing.

Part of the extra entertainment laid on included "Pubby Tuggy", a tug-o-war contest involving over a dozen local pubs, all of which are listed in the centre spread above.

Goalkeepers, Hamish McAlpine (DUFC) and Ally Donaldson (DFC) were the linesmen.

Does anyone remember who won? Did the Butchers make mincemeat of the opposition, or were the Ministers the ones blessed with football skills?!!

Click programme images to enlarge.

Thanks to DD

GUSSIE PARK CORNER - 1965

There is a picture of Gussie Park carnival in my October 2008 Archives from further up Fairbairn Street, this one here being down at the corner area.
Back in the old Teddy Boy days, they once held a Jivin' contest on the Dodgems floor! It took a little while for the city centre ballrooms to adjust to this young, rowdy, wild teenage scene called Rock'N'Roll, so Gussie Park was one of the first places in Dundee where you could listen to & dance to the music.
In the 60's, I remember there being a huge "MAFIA" piece of graffiti on the perimeter wall, but this corner area in the photo seems to have got off lightly. However, the building on the other side of the park, in front of the Tannadice stairs, has got a large "King Billy" painted on it's wall. Yes it was pots of paints in those days, not spray cans. You'll need to zoom in though.
When I went to the carnival in the 70's, there was definitely more stuff on offer than there is in this shot. It used to fill the entire area. Eh mind being on the Big Wheel for example.
Look at the overgrown shrubbery on the back slope at Tannadice. When you got fed up of the futba on the pitch, you could go look for birds nests..!!
Click on the picture to have a look around the large version.
Photo by D C Thomson.

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.