Dundee derby
Dens Park and Tannadice Park viewed from Dundee Law in 2014 | |
| Location | Dundee, Scotland |
|---|---|
| Teams | Dundee Dundee United |
| First meeting | 21 November 1925 Scottish Division One Dundee 0–0 Dundee United |
| Latest meeting | 26 April 2026 Scottish Premiership Dundee United 3–0 Dundee |
| Stadiums | Dens Park (Dundee FC) Tannadice Park (Dundee United) |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 182 |
| Most wins | Dundee United (84) |
| All-time series | Dundee: 52 Drawn: 46 Dundee United: 84 |
| Largest victory | Dundee 5–0 Dundee United Scottish Division One (28 August 1926) Dundee 0–5 Dundee United Scottish Division One (11 September 1965) |
The Dundee derby is the title given to any football match contested between Dundee and Dundee United, the two professional football clubs in the city of Dundee, Scotland. The first competitive fixture between the sides was held at Dens Park in the 1917–18 season.[1]
Due to Dundee's smaller population and size, especially in comparison to the Edinburgh derby and Glasgow's Old Firm, it is considered a friendlier rivalry; families are split in terms of the club they support, and both groups of fans are known to socialise on match days.[2][3] It is also a notable derby geographically, as both clubs are located just 183 metres apart, making them the closest city rivals in Britain and one of the closest city rivals in world football.[4]
History
[edit]
Dundee is the older of the two, having been founded in 1893, compared to Dundee United which was founded in 1909 as Dundee Hibernian following the demise of Dundee Harp, a club founded by Irish immigrants in 1879. While United's origins stem from Irish immigration, the rivalry is not sectarian in the manner of the Old Firm.
Dundee had long been the more successful club, playing more seasons in the top flight than their rivals and winning one League title, one Scottish Cup and three League Cups before United lifted a major trophy. However, from the 1970s under Jim McLean the tide turned in the city's footballing rivalry. United would go on to be a major force in Scottish football in the 1980s, winning their first three major honours at Dens Park including a League Cup win against Dundee in 1980; the 1983 league title was also won there. Their rivalry with Aberdeen, who also lifted several trophies during the period, was entitled the New Firm. In 1994 United won their first Scottish Cup, and their second in 2010, in doing so drawing level with Dundee on five major trophies won.
The two grounds are the closest football grounds in Britain (holding the world record until 2009)[5] and with it a unique rivalry has developed, though it is one often deemed more amicable than most; similar to the Merseyside derby, Derby della Madonnina in Milan, and the Derby della Lanterna of Genoa with many families split down the middle in support.[citation needed]
The two clubs even had a combined hooligan 'firm', known as the Dundee Utility, which was formed to stand up to the larger firms of the Glasgow and Edinburgh clubs.[6]
Statistics
[edit]Head-to-head
[edit]In head-to-head, United are quite far in front; the teams have played each other 182 times, Dundee United winning 84 compared to Dundee's 52. A total of 46 matches have ended in a stalemate.[7] Dundee United have won more league, Scottish Cup and League Cup matches.
- As of 26 April 2026
| Team | League | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Total | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dundee wins | 43 | 4 | 5 | 52 | 233 |
| Dundee United wins | 69 | 8 | 7 | 84 | 302 |
| Draws | 35 | 7 | 4 | 46 | N/a |
League placing comparison
[edit]1975–2000
[edit]| P. | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| D2 | 5 |
2000–2026
[edit]| P. | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | 7 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | 10 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | 11 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| D2 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| D2 | 3 |
Full game list
[edit]| Dundee won |
| Dundee United won |
| Drawn |
Fixtures from 1925 to the present day featuring League games, Scottish Cup and League Cup matches. Friendlies, testimonials and other non-competitive games are not included.[8][9] Dundee wins are coloured in blue, United wins in tangerine and draws are grey. Note that United played in white until 1969 but tangerine is used throughout for ease.
Honours
[edit]Both clubs have won five major Scottish football trophies.
| Club | League titles | Scottish Cups | Scottish League Cups | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Seasons | Total | Seasons | Total | Seasons | ||
| Dundee | 1 | 1961–62 | 1 | 1909–10 | 3 | 1951–52, 1952–53, 1973–74 | 5 |
| Dundee United | 1 | 1982–83 | 2 | 1993–94, 2009–10 | 2 | 1979–80, 1980–81 | 5 |
Team records
[edit]The following are records just for the Dundee derby itself:
- The longest unbeaten run in all matches is 13, held by United, this was between December 1979 and September 1983, 11 of these were Wins.
- The longest unbeaten run in home matches is held by Dundee when United failed to beat them for 14 games between November 1925 and August 1962.
- The longest unbeaten run in away matches is held by United with a 12 match run at Dens Park between April 1963 and April 1971 which included 8 victories.
- The longest unbroken winning run in all matches belongs to United with 7 between March 1988 and April 1989.
- The longest unbroken winning run at home belongs to United with 6 between September 1974 and September 1981.
- The longest unbroken winning run away from home belongs to United who scored 8 consecutive victories at Dens Park between December 1980 and November 1984.
- The record home victory in a league match is 5–0 recorded by Dundee at Dens Park in August 1926
- The record away victory in a league match is 5–0 recorded by United at Dens Park in September 1965.
- The highest scoring match was in September 1971 when Dundee won 6–4 at Dens Park.
- Paul Sturrock of United holds the mark for the most derby goals with 14, 2 of these came in United's 3–0 League Cup Final win over Dundee at Dens Park in December 1980.
- Record Attendance:
- 29,106 at Dens Park, 14 May 1983 (Premier Division)
- 21,325 at Tannadice, 3 January 1966 (old Division One)
- Lowest Attendance:
- 9,185 at Tannadice, 12 December 1999 (SPL)
- 7,645 at Dens Park, 29 January 1994 (Premier Division)
Players at both clubs
[edit]
16 players have signed for Dundee United directly from Dundee, with 10 making the opposite journey from Tannadice to Dens Park. Only players who have played at least one first team game for both clubs are currently included.
Dundee to Dundee United[edit]
|
Dundee United to Dundee[edit]
|
Complete list
[edit]In addition, other players have played for both clubs without moving directly between them. A list of all players to have played at least one first-team game for both clubs is displayed below.
Goal scorer records
[edit]| Scorer | Team(s) | League | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dundee United | 11 | 1 | 2 | 14 | |
| Dundee Dundee United | 7 1 | – 3 | – 1 | 12 | |
| Dundee United Dundee | 6 2 | – – | – 2 | 10 | |
| Dundee United | 8 | – | 1 | 9 | |
| Dundee United | 7 | 2 | – | 9 | |
| Dundee | 8 | – | – | 8 | |
| Dundee | 8 | – | – | 8 | |
| Dundee United | 8 | – | – | 8 | |
| Dundee United Dundee | 5 2 | – 1 | – – | 8 | |
| Dundee | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
| Dundee United | 5 | – | 1 | 6 | |
| Dundee Dundee United | 6 - | – – | – – | 6 | |
| Dundee Dundee United | 5 1 | – – | – – | 6 | |
| Dundee | 4 | – | 2 | 6 | |
| Dundee United | 5 | 1 | - | 6 | |
| Dundee United | 1 | 4 | - | 5 | |
| Dundee United | 5 | – | - | 5 | |
| Dundee United | 5 | – | - | 5 | |
| Dundee United | 5 | – | - | 5 | |
| Dundee | 5 | – | - | 5 |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Dundee United – Fast Facts". DundeeFC.co.uk. Dundee, Scotland: Dundee F.C. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ↑ Grant, Michael (8 December 2012). "Dundee v Dundee United: Respect, rivalry but no rancour in 'big village'". The Herald. Glasgow, Scotland. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ↑ "Football, comics and Brexit: What divides Dundee?". BBC Radio 5 Live. London, England: BBC. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ↑ Strain, Aaron (29 March 2019). "Stone's Throw: Eleven Of World Football's Closest Neighbours". Balls.ie. Dublin, Ireland. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ↑ Strain, Aaron (29 March 2019). "Stone's Throw: Eleven Of World Football's Closest Neighbours". Balls.ie. Dublin, Ireland. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
- ↑ Didcock, Barry (8 May 2005). "Casuals: The Lost Tribe of Britain". Sunday Herald. Archived from the original on 24 September 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
- ↑ "All time results between Dundee and Dundee United". Soccerbase. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 July 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ↑ "Dundee Home Page for the current 2015-2016 season". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Dundee United A to Z (D)". Dundee United F.C. Archived from the original on 10 April 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
- ↑ John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ↑ "Glenrothes Arabs Player A to Z: Iain Phillip". Glenrothes Arabs. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
- ↑ "Glenrothes Arabs Player A to Z: Neil Duffy". Glenrothes Arabs. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
- ↑ "Dundee United seal Robertson deal". BBC Sport website. 3 June 2008.
- ↑ "Dixon delights in Dundee Utd move". BBC Sport. 23 June 2008. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2008.
- ↑ "Glenrothes Arabs Player A to Z: Tommy Coyne". Glenrothes Arabs. Archived from the original on 15 October 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
- ↑ "The Internet Soccer Database: Jim McInally". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 28 February 2005. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
- ↑ "Dundee: Craig Curran swaps Dundee United for Tayside rivals". BBC Sport. 5 January 2019. Archived from the original on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
- ↑ "Dundee: Paul joins on loan". 26 January 2021. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021 – via dundeefc.co.uk.
- ↑ "Dundee: Paul signs permanent deal with club". 11 June 2021. Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021 – via dundeefc.co.uk.