It had the look and feel of a royal visit.
A prince of Denmark had returned to a land where he once reigned and, even decades later, is still worshipped through story and song.
Whereas Hamlet’s tale is a tragedy, this is a Dundee United romance with the legendary Finn Dossing in the leading role.
The great Dane was on a tour of Tannadice, where once he ruled supreme as the club’s number nine.
As if in a show of defiance aimed at his 76 years, he had a glint in his eye, was sharp of mind and managed the numerous stadium stairs without too much trouble at all.
Dossing loved the impressive display of memorabilia from his era that was on show and his only two real pauses for breath were for a cup of tea in the boardroom and a chat with yours truly in the home dressing room.
It was a fitting setting for the interview, a place he graced from the day he walked through the door on December 2, 1964, before heading back to his homeland three years later.
“It is always a pleasure to return to Tannadice,” said Dossing.
“After all these years, I still recognise it as my club.
“I was even excited when we parked the car and I could see the stadium out of the window.
“I was so looking forward to coming and I still have many friends here.
“Dundee United are in my heart and will always have a special place there.
“It is maybe a funny thing to some people that after all those years the club means so much to me but it just feels right.
“I still look for the result every Saturday. It is one of the things I do and it’s part of my routine.”
With United having struggled for goals at times in the Championship, it is maybe a bit vulgar to mention how many Dossing scored in his heyday.
Along with his fellow Scandinavian stars – Orjan Persson, Lennart Wing, Mogens Berg and Finn Seemann – he lit up Scottish football and helped create the first United team that regularly went toe to toe with the top sides at home and abroad.
Dossing’s official record stands at 76 goals in 115 appearances, although he himself claims three more.
He netted the quickest-ever United goal after just 14 seconds of a game against Hamilton Accies.
Famously – or infamously if you hail from the dark blue half of the city – Dossing scored the most celebrated hat-trick in the Tangerines’ history.
It was the 11th of September, 1965, a day United fans of a certain vintage will all remember, when Dossing was at centre and scored three against Dundee.
A penalty from Wing and strike from Dennis Gillespie completed the scoring in what lives on in club folklore as the Dens Park Massacre.
Fittingly, one of Dossing’s duties on his Tannadice visit was to autograph a giant photograph of his goal celebration from that day that adorns one of the corridor walls.
Nicknamed the “Mighty Finn” (name not nationality), he also grabbed the winner in United’s 1-0 home leg win over Italian giants Juventus in the Fairs Cup in 1966 in front of a 27,000-plus crowd.
Perhaps his greatest feat of all, though, was scoring in no fewer than 13 consecutive matches for United in a run that stretched from December 19, 1964, to March 27 the following year.
Even this humble, unassuming man thinks that is a club record that will never be bettered.
“I am not too good at talking about myself but what I will say is that I am proud of the goals I scored for United,” said Dossing.
“I had 79 goals and scored in 13 games in a row and I don’t think that will be beaten.
“I had other special matches, for example when I scored the winner against Juventus.
“Also, I remember that we beat Celtic twice in the year when they were champions of Europe in 1967.
“They only lost two games and both were against United. That is an achievement that maybe is not given the attention it deserves.”
Many United fans will be surprised to hear that Dossing, being a gentleman, doesn’t use the term Dens Park Massacre to describe THAT derby.
“I don’t call it that,” he said.
“Dundee were a good team at that time and I won’t say anything bad about them.
“I just call it a great game for us.
“We had a day when everything went right for United.
“We had some great players, for example Doug Smith and Dennis Gillespie as well as the Scandinavians.
“United had chances and we scored each time. Everything worked out right for us.”
Sitting inside the Jerry Kerr Stand, it was right and proper that Dossing highlighted the pivotal role his manager played in his career and revealed one language lesson in particular.
“Everybody can have ups and downs as players and managers but I respected Jerry Kerr,” he said.
“He did one thing that was very clever.
“He got the Scandinavian guys together and told us that if we wanted to speak then we had to do it in Scottish.
“That meant we learned very quickly all your Scottish words. That was very important because it helped us mix and feel welcome.
“My Scottish maybe nowadays is not so good but I can still remember some phrases. Maybe we should not say what they are!”
Dossing still meets up with Wing, Persson and Berg (Seemann passed away in 1985) to talk about old times and catch up on news of family and friends.
He explained: “Once a year the four of us meet and it’s always a wonderful occasion.
“We change the venue around so that one time it is in Denmark then in Sweden next and so on.
“We have a good night together talking about old times and then all go home the next day.
“That has been the case for decades now.”
His affection for football is still strong and his family are season ticket holders at local club Viborg FF.
“I still go to watch matches because I love the game,” added Dossing.
“You can say I have two teams – one in Scotland and one in Denmark!”
You get the feeling, though, that it is the one which plays in tangerine and black that holds pride of place.
He considers himself to be a United fan and Dossing has given his backing to the recently-formed Dundee United Supporters’ Foundation by becoming an honorary member, along with former players Willie Pettigrew and Billy McKinlay, as well as the family of late United director Derek Robertson.
“The relationship between the club and fans is very important,” said Dossing.
“What would happen if you looked at a game and there were no people there? There would be no point in playing.
“I think the United fans love their club and want it to be successful.”
Like every supporter, Dossing is willing Ray McKinnon’s team on to get promoted at the end of this season.
If they do clinch the title, then there will be a wee party held over in Denmark.
“It will come again for the club,” said Dossing.
“The most important thing for United is to go back up again and I will be cheering them on from back home.
“I think this is too big a club to stay in the lower league.
“Also, people should remember that not too long before we Scandinavians arrived the club was near the bottom of the league and not playing that well.
“After a little while, though, the team was on the way up.
“I hope they will win the league and make it a fantastic season.”
To be or not to be? That may be the question but the only one I was left asking was: “What would United give now to have a young Dossing in their side?”
