2008

In 2008, the Club inducted the following players into the Hall of Fame:- Dennis Gillespie, Doug Smith, Finn Dossing, Dave Narey, Maurice Malpas, Paul Hegarty and Jimmy Briggs.

DENNIS GILLESPIE
Total App: 455   Goals: 115

Dennis was signed from Alloa Athletic just after the start of season 1959-60 and turned out to be one of Jerry Kerr’s most inspired acquisitions, becoming a vital member of the side that won promotion to the First Division. He was top scorer in the next season, and was a regular in the side during his twelve years at Tannadice. He became the first Dundee United player to turn out at senior international level for Scotland when he played for the Scottish League against the League of Ireland in 1961. 

A big favourite with the fans, in the mid 1960s he took more of a supporting role, often playing in the half back line. He spent his last two years at the Club playing mainly in the reserves, passing on the benefit of his experience to the younger players. In April 1972, he left to join Brechin City .

DOUG SMITH
Total Apps: 628   Goals: 27

Doug Smith is a Dundee United legend. He made his first appearance as a trialist and was soon signed, and for the next two years was understudy to Ron Yeats. When Ron left to join Liverpool in July 1961, Doug was his natural successor. Over the next fifteen years, he was a mainstay in the side and became Club captain. 

Recognised as one of the country’s best uncapped players, he led United out for the Club’s first Scottish Cup final in 1974. He was released in May 1976. 

Although he left without winning a major honour, Doug had one major distinction – he was never booked in a career spanning 628 games in major competition.

FINN DOSSING
Total Apps: 115   Goals: 76

Finn signed from Viborg, along with Orjan Persson, for a total fee of around £10,000. He went on to become a Tannadice scoring sensation and was largely responsible for turning a relegation-threatened 1964-65, into a memorable one. 

Finn was top scorer in his first two seasons with United and scored one of the most famous hat-tricks in United history when he netted three against Dundee in a 5-0 win. He also holds the record for the fastest goal scored by a United player, netting after just 14 seconds against Hamilton Academical on 16th October 1965. 

When his contracted ended he returned to Denmark in December 1967.

DAVE NAREY
Total Apps: 872   Goals: 36

Dave began his career as an S signing whilst with St Columba’s Boys Club. In season 1973-74 he signed professionally, and after he made his debut he went on to set the appearances record for the Club over two decades.

He collected a Scottish League Championship medal in season 1982-83 and four Scottish Cup runners-up medals. He also took part in four League Cup finals with United, collecting a winner’s medal in 1979 and 1980. Dave was also a runner-up in the 1987 UEFA Cup final. After playing for Scotland at youth, Under-21 and Under-23 levels, Dave had a distinguished full international career and he was the first Dundee United player to be honoured at that level for Scotland. He also turned out once for the Scottish League side. 

In 1992, he received an MBE for his services to football. In season 1990-91 Dave was hampered by a back injury but returned to the side frequently in the two seasons that followed. At the end of 1993-94 it was announced that he had been released and he joined Raith Rovers.

MAURICE MALPAS
Total Apps: 830   Goals: 26

Maurice is United’s record holder for league and Scottish Cup appearances. He signed from Leven Royals on an ‘S’ form in 1978 and went on to spend his entire playing career of more than twenty years at Tannadice. 

Maurice was in the squad that won the Scottish Premier League championship in 1982-83 and he collected a Scottish Cup winner’s medal in 1994. He also holds runners-up medals from four other Scottish Cup finals and three League Cup finals (one as unused substitute). 

He was recognised first at schoolboy, youth and Under-21 level, and then at full international level and went on to collect 55 Scotland caps, the record for a player whilst with Dundee United. 

By the time his playing career ended in 2000 he was on the United coaching staff but in 2003, with the departure of the entire management team, Maurice ended an association with the Club going back 25 years. 

PAUL HEGARTY
Total Apps: 707   Goals: 82

Formerly a youth player with Tynecastle Boys Club, “Heggie” left his first professional club, Hamilton Academical, to sign for United.

He was gradually bedded in to the attack and in 1975-76, he was a regular in the side. In November 1976, in a friendly against Everton, he took on a central defensive role as an experiment but that soon became his normal position and he quickly formed a partnership with Dave Narey on which the foundation of United’s successes were built over the next decade. Paul was rarely out of the side for the next thirteen years, captaining United from 1978 to 1986.

He collected a winner’s medal in the League Cup in 1979 and 1980 and a League Championship medal in 1982-83. He also has runners-up medals from four Scottish Cups, two League Cups and a UEFA Cup. He gained eight Scotland caps and he became the first United player to captain the national side. Paul also played for the national Under-21 side as an over-age player and once represented the Scottish League side. After a long career with United, he was released to join St Johnstone in January 1990.

In October 2002, he was appointed Caretaker Manager at United and in February 2010 he returned as Assistant Manager. He was once again appointed caretaker manager at United after the departure of Peter Houston in 2013, before Jackie McNamara was offered the full-time job.

JIMMY BRIGGS
Total Apps: 401   Goals: 33

Jimmy signed from St Mary’s Youth Club in June 1955. He soon became a regular in the side but was called up for national service in 1958. After demob he was immediately back in the line up, and for the next eight years hardly a week went by without his name being on the team sheet, until he was sidelined after breaking a leg in January 1968. Later that year he suffered another break to the same leg and then rarely turned out for the first eleven. Jimmy was released in May 1970.