Over the coming weeks, I’ll share some of the information unearthed when perusing through our cuttings files.
Snatching a player from under the nose of Chelsea turned out to be a masterstroke for Dundee United legendary manager Jim McLean.
A cutting, dated January 6, 1972, read:
Having failed with bids for Doug Houston (Dundee) and Archie Knox (St Mirren), Dundee United boss Jim McLean is still trying to sign a midfield player before Saturday.
“With Morris Stevenson injured, I have only one genuine midfield player in Jim Henry. I’ll keep trying until I get someone whom I feel can improve our position.”
Alan Gordon, carried off against Dundee on Monday with a leg injury, has made a rapid recovery.
“He was able to do some light training today,” continued manager McLean. “In view of the improvement, there’s a chance he may be fit for Saturday’s game against Hibs at Easter Road.
“I’ll see how he is tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, the United boss has made another ‘S’ signing.
He is St John’s HS centre-half David Narey, who also plays for St Columba’s BC.
David was recently a guest of Chelsea.
History now shows that Narey turned out to be a brilliant signing and, indeed, is one of United’s greatest-ever players.
Jim McLean got his other men, too.
Knox signed later that month for £3,000, but he had to wait another two years before Houston arrived at Tannadice. By then, he had already left Dens to join Rangers, but life at Ibrox lasted around a year before United swooped to bring him back to the city.
Knox was McLean’s first senior signing, and was part-time with the Paisley club, but the 24-year-old gave up his job as a surveyor with Dundee Corporation to go full-time at Tannadice.
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