Matty Harris recalls Dundee United playing a couple of games at Dens Park within months of each other — but they were not against Dundee.
“This came up in a discussion with friends,” said Matty, of St Mary’s, Dundee.
“It was just after the war and I was just a young boy at the time.
“It was very unusual.
“I’m sure one of the teams United played against was Rangers but I don’t remember the reason why.
“My friend reckons it was when United were building a stand and they had to be decanted out.”
It was nothing to do with the building of a new stand. Indeed, that didn’t happen at Tannadice until the early 1960s.
United took on Raith Rovers in two-leg first-round B Division Cup ties, losing 4-1 at Tannadice but winning 3-0 at Stark’s Park.
This meant a replay on February 6, 1946.
It took place at neutral Dens Park and, amazingly, the teams still could not be separated.
The Dens encounter ended in a 3-3 draw, with, staggeringly, the teams having amassed the same amount of corner-kicks each (four).
The team with the most corners would have progressed under cup rules at that time.
A report at the time read: “To the annoyance of the 9,745 crowd, the game was settled by a toss of the coin.”
Raith won, with United putting in a failed protest to the Scottish League.
Karma, perhaps, came in the second round as Raith and Airdrie couldn’t be separated after three games, with the Diamonds progressing by eight corners to five!
It was a year later, in March 1947, that United met Rangers at Dens.
It was the second leg of a League Cup quarter-final and Tannadice was snowbound.
The game ended 1-1 but Rangers progressed as they had won the first leg 2-1 at Ibrox.
* Bob Scoular read previous BwB tales of junior grounds being officially opened by senior teams.
He said: “My dad Bert used to follow Downfield but I never heard of any gala game being mentioned.
“I’ve seen stories in your column about other grounds being opened by Dundee, Dundee United and select sides. Was this also the case with Downfield Park.”
Indeed it was, and the Spiders’ ground was officially opened by Dundee and Hibs.
This took place on August 31, 1953, and the game ended 2-2.
More significantly, there was a crowd of over 8,000 at the game.
Irvine and a McFarlane og counted for Dundee, while McDonald netted a brace for the Hibees.
Dundee Lord Provost William Black performed the opening ceremony.
Andy Irvine’s goal for Dundee was reported as a “65-yard shot, his first goal for Dundee.”
He was presented with a half tea-set!
Dundee fielded a ‘Newman’ in goal but I don’t have any details of who the goalkeeper was.
Can any BwB reader help?
Dundee — Newman; Massie, Irvine; Ziesing, Malloy, Cowie; Toner, Turnbull, Merchant, Todd, Stables.
Hibs — Hamilton; McFarlane, Boyle; Gallacher, Ogilvie, Ward; McDonald, Gray, D’Arcy, Anderson, Henry.
Referee — D Graham.
[Formstack id=2098397 viewkey=k4fkCZ4KtH]
This article originally appeared on the Evening Telegraph website. For more information, read about our new combined website.