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Latest Update

By News, Uncategorized

February 26th Update

A very brief update mainly to bring you the excellent news that over the last 48 hours our membership numbers have swelled by more than 25%.

A very warm welcome to our new members, it is great to have your support and backing and the increase in numbers this weekend has greatly encouraged us. A big thank you too to all of our members who have helped to grow the Foundation by sharing the information with their friends and family.
Getting the message out about the Foundation to all United fans is vitally important and while we try to use social media as best we can, sometimes ‘word of mouth’ is more effective. So please help us to keep the momentum going by enlisting your Arab friends.

We can help by providing publicity material, and we are willing to attend any meetings or informal gatherings you may want to organise where we can talk about the Foundation face to face and answer questions anyone may have.

On the subject of spreading the word we will be doing a further leaflet drop outside the ground before Tuesday’s game v Queen of the South so if you can spare an hour before the game to help out please email us.

 

Foundation Funds Continue to Grow

Membership is currently sitting at 355 and cash at bank is £40,010

The only ongoing payment is a £96 monthly cost for maintenance and security of the website. Other costs are in administration such as postage and stationery, and rewards merchandise. We are trying to keep these costs to the absolute minimum.

All of your member subscription contributions are going directly into the Foundation bank account minus a 2% fee for GoCardless transactions and around 5% for PayPal.

 

Survey Response

By News

Following a survey of our members the Dundee United Supporters’ Foundation has voted overwhelmingly (more than 80%) not to support the current board of Dundee United Football Club by means of any monetary donation or loans.

There is real concern amongst the DUSF members that any money donated to the club will disappear into the big black financial hole that currently exists. Therefore monies raised and held by the Foundation will not be allocated to the current Board and may be used when the crisis, which appears inevitable, hits the football club.

Today’s news regarding the potential sale of the club’s GA Arena academy facility, only adds to the financial uncertainty at the club. The sale of an asset, that’s development was partly funded by supporters’ donations, raises a number of questions we will look to formulate with the other fans’ groups in the coming days

Member’s Survey

By News

A survey asking a few questions on the progress of the DUSF so far has been emailed to all members. So please take a few minutes to have your say. The survey will remain open until midnight on Wednesday 14th February.

December 12th 1979 – Dundee United 3 Aberdeen 0. League Cup Final

By News

Our historic first major trophy win came on December 12th 1979 with a 3-0 drubbing of Aberdeen in the League Cup Final Replay – Dundee United 3 (Pettigrew 2, Sturrock) Aberdeen 0

UNITED: McAlpine, Stark, Kopel, Fleming, Hegarty, Narey, Bannon, Sturrock, Pettigrew, Holt, Kirkwood Subs: Philip, Payne
Dens Park, Dundee, Referee Brian McGinlay (Balfron) Attendance 28,933

After a dull 0-0 draw on the Saturday the SFA for once saw sense and agreed to stage the replay at Dens Park. Under the floodlights this became a momentous night in our history as an inspired United trounced their New Firm rivals. 70 years after being founded as Dundee Hibernian, Dundee United,  under manager Jim McLean had won their first major trophy .

We asked the two goal hero that day and Honorary Member of the DUSF Willie Pettigrew of his memories of that famous night 38 years ago……….

 

“The first game was one of the worst finals ever. I remember Jim McLean laid into me at full time for not tracking back after Stuart Kennedy, probably one of the first overlapping full backs. I argued with Jim “Do you want me to be an attacker or a defender!” I fell out with him which was not a wise thing to do, but thankfully he picked me for the replay. That game was the highlight of my career, my first winners medal. The reason I joined United was the quality of players they had and the team ethic, and what a team it was. Sturrock, Narey, Hegarty, Bannon, Payne, Kopel, Holt, Hamish, fantastic players, you could go through the whole team, all great characters. Even the less well known players played an important part. George Fleming for example did an important job and he was a great talker and motivator on the park. When Eamonn Bannon and I joined it seemed to complete the jigsaw It was a privilege to play with them all.

It was a terrible wet night at Dens and I remember my first goal. I actually missed the ball with my left foot but it stuck in the mud, landed at my right and I put it away. My second, a header, came from a great cross from Paul Sturrock and I stuck it past Bobby Clark. Paul was a great provider for me! Eamonn Bannon played a major role in that goal with a typical mazy run across the park. It was a great victory as Aberdeen were firing on all cylinders at that time. I remember Jim McLean talking to Directors Bill Littlejohn and Johnston Grant in the Boardroom after the match with them saying it was the best day of their lives as they never thought United would win a major trophy.
I didn’t celebrate too much after the game as my wife Audrey was pregnant with my son Craig and I wanted to get back to her, but I made up for it the following year when we retained the trophy and I have a picture of Craig in the League Cup! I still think of that when I see players drinking out the cup after they’ve won it!

The United fans were always great with me and I’m delighted to be involved with the Foundation and will do what I can to help. At Motherwell it was a slow start and it took a while to get going but it is thriving now, and I am sure the United Foundation will be the same. It is all about helping the club and I am sure it will get there.”

Many thanks to Willie for taking the time to speak to us, a true gent and club legend.

Enjoy the goals at a muddy Dens Park.
Then click here to join the  DUSF

The Perfect Xmas Gift!

By News

Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells! Jingle all the way! Oh what fun it is to gub the Dees on New Years Day (6-2)!!

Looking for the perfect Xmas gift for the Arab in your life? Look no further. How about a membership to the United Supporters’ Foundation starting from as little as a tenner a month or £2:50 for Juniors? DUSF the gift that keeps on giving!

November 16th 1966 – Dundee United 2 Barcelona 0

By News

United : Sandy Davie, Tommy Millar, Jimmy Briggs, Tommy Neilson, Doug Smith, Lennart Wing, Finn Seeman, Billy Hainey, Ian Mitchell, Dennis Gillespie, Orjan Persson

Attendance: 28,000. Goals: Mitchell (18) Hainey (49)

 

One of the greatest results in our history. The foundation of which was built by the Taypools scheme which was vital in providing a flow of cash in the 50s and 60s to provide funds to redevelop Tannadice and buy players.

BARCA 1966With your backing we believe the DUSF can be just as important today in re-establishing United to the top level in Scottish football.

Please consider giving it your support by joining at www.dusf.scot/pledge/

We love the photo in the dressing room with the players drinking booze and smoking fags, but there are only 10 players, who is missing?

 

Tommy McKay – Latest Honorary Member

By News

As the DUSF is a fan run organisation we felt we should have a fan as our next Honorary Member so we are delighted that Tommy McKay has accepted our invitation

Tommy, from Monifieth lost his leg at the age of nine to bone cancer, and he exploded on the scene last November when a video of his fantastic lobbed goal during a half time challenge at a game versus Dunfermline went viral. His spectacular chip over the keeper even won the SPFL goal of the month.

Since then Tommy has helped raised the profile of amputee football in Scotland has been instrumental along with the United Community Team in setting up the first Dundee United amputee team.

Tommy’s great year was capped when he was picked for Scotland’s first international fixture against Holland in October. His ‘can do’ attitude is a great inspiration to us all, and he has been a great ambassador and role model for all Arabs and the club. We are proud to have Tommy as our latest Honorary Member .

Tommy said “I don’t know what to say, I’m speechless. I’ve never had such an honour in my life. I think the work that the Foundation people are doing is essential to the future of our club, and I’d encourage all United fans to get in touch with them to find out more. I’d love to take up the  invitation even though to be amongst such esteemed company is something I don’t deserve.”

See Tommy in action here;

Spread the Word

By News

If you can help raise awareness of the DUSF
by putting up a poster in your local pub, club
or shop etc please email us  and we can send
you a few posters and leaflets.
Many thanks.

FINN AND WILLIE SIGN FOR UNITED!

By News

We caught up with Honorary Members Finn Dossing and Willie Pettigrew last week to ask them to sign the 50 plus Founder Member Certificates for the packs that are being put together.

Both were very interested on the progress of the Foundation and are keen to help out in any way they can. It was great to hear from two real gentlemen and true legends of the past that still have a deep affection for Dundee United, and we are extremely grateful for their support and encouragement. Thanks guys!

To join Finn and Willie just go to our Pledge page now.