Voting is now open for the Dundee FC Hall of Fame 2015.
For full details of the event and how to buy tickets – click here
Below are the nominees –
Legends Award Nominees:
Criteria – A Legend of Dundee Football Club making from 1945 – present, making a significant contribution as player (now retired) or manager.
Bill Brown
Bill Brown was one of the greatest Scottish goalkeepers of the post-War period and is a legend at Dens Park as a member of the 1951 League Cup winning side. He represented Scotland in the 1958 World Cup as a Dundee player and his legacy at Dens is 274 appearances, making sixty-two shut outs, winning one major trophy, gaining thirteen international caps at various levels and a host of memories of a keeper who was elastically agile, endowed with remarkably sharp reflexes and never less than impeccable for The Dee. Bill went on to achieve legendary status with Spurs in their double winning side of 1960/61 playing 292 times for the London club up to 1966.
John Duncan
Local boy made good John Duncan was one of the privileged few who got to play for the club he loved and repaid that by scoring goals for fun. In a seven year Dens Park career he scored 109 goals in 188 appearances, including forty in season 1972/73 where he finished as Scotland’s top scorer. The following season he was part of the team to win the League Cup against Celtic at Hampden while in European competition he is revered for his hat-trick against Cologne in 1971 in one of the greatest games Dens Park has ever seen. He was signed by Spurs in 1974, where his goal scoring feats continued, scoring 73 goals in 148 appearances over 5 seasons.
Billy Pirie
There has barely been a more prolific scorer in the Dark Blues’ history than Billy Pirie and his 106 goals in 138 games is a phenomenal ratio. At his peak he looked one of the sharpest strikers around and finished as Dundee’s top goal scorers three years on the trot including forty-four in season 1976/77 which is yet to be bettered by any player who has followed. The memories of Billy terrorising First Division defenders live long in the mind of all who saw him.
Bert Slater
Before joining the Dark Blues in 1962, Bert Slater had already won a Scottish cup winners medal with Falkirk in 1957 and a Division 2 Championship medal with Liverpool in 1962 under Bill Shankly. He wrote his name into Dundee folklore when his magnificent performance in the 1964 Scottish Cup Final meant the match would forever be known as the ‘Bert Slater Final.’ This wasn’t the first time he had performed heroics for The Dee as his performances in the run to the European Cup semi-final in 1963 had already him legendary status. The first round tie against Cologne saw the Germans target Dundee’s agile shot stopper and after being stretched off with blood pouring from his head, he refused to go to hospital and returned in the second half to play on the wing in these pre-substitute days. Twenty-one clean sheets in 114 appearances wasn’t the end of Bert’s love affair with The Dee after he returned as Chief Scout and coach twenty-two years after he first left.
Charlie Cooke
Signed from Aberdeen in 1964 to replace Alan Gilzean, Charlie Cooke’s became an instant favourite of the fans, scoring and laying three for Alex Harley in a 4-0 win in his debut against Airdrie. His close control and electrifying pace made him unplayable at his best and he was always excellent entertainment value. In February, 1965, he scored twice against Kilmarnock, the eventual champions, in a 4-1 win at Rugby Park and was inspirational in the team that beat Hearts (the runners up) 7-1 at Tynecastle two weeks later. Unfortunately, Charlie’s time at Dens was too short and he played 59 times for the Club scoring 11 goals before being signed by Chelsea in 1966. Interrupted by a short spell at Crystal Palace, he went on to make 373 appearances for Chelsea. He was capped 16 times for Scotland.
Heritage Award Nominees:
Criteria – A former player, manager member of Club official who played a significant part in the formation/history of the club from pre 1945.
Alec Troup
Wonderfully tricky left-winger whose sparkling play, gentlemanly demeanour and extremely likeable personality brightened up many a troubled heart during the dark days of the First World War and the years that followed. Playing over 300 times during two spells for Dundee, scoring 47 times, ‘Wee Troupie’ won four Scotland full caps and two Scottish League caps while at Dens.
William Wallace
William Wallace is Dundee’s first and to date longest serving manager having been in charge for twenty years. During that time he led the Dark Blues to three Scottish League Championship runners-up spots and to the Club’s first major honour when they won the Scottish Cup in 1910. He took over in 1899 in turbulent times with the Club recovering from the brink of extinction and finishing bottom of the Scottish League and after overseeing the Dundee’s move to a new ground at Dens Park, he transformed the Dark Blues into a major pre-War Scottish footballing force.
Sandy MacFarlane
Sandy MacFarlane is a legendary figure in the annals of Dundee FC with a career that spanned over a quarter of a century as both a player from 1901 to 1913 and as a manager where he had two spells between the Wars. The clever inside-forward made 333 appearances for Dundee, scoring 71 times and his time at Dens saw him win eight international honours, be a Scottish League Championship runner-up three times and was a key figure in Dundee’s 1910 Scottish Cup win.
David “Napper” Thomson
Signing from Fairfield Juniors Thomson was a talented and popular defender for Dundee between 1913 and 1928 making 385 appearances scoring 16 goals. Nicknamed Napper on account of his cool play he was a full back ahead of his time always trying to find a team-mate with a pass rather than lumping the ball forward. Amazingly, he had just a single cap for Scotland though many considered him to be superior to his Old Firm rivals. Dundee was his only senior club.
Modern Moments Nominees:
Criteria – A player (not a current Hall of Fame inductee) who has contributed to a significant moment is recent times which is held in high regard by Dundee supporters.
James Grady
The already popular pint-sized striker etched himself in to Dundee folklore, latching on to a Eddie Annand flick on before producing a stunning half volley that gave Jocky Scott’s Dark Blues a 1-0 victory against Dundee United at Tannadice in November 1998. Playing nearly 100 times for the Dark Blues, he was an integral part of the team that won the Scottish First Division and secured promotion back to the Premier League in season 1997/98.
Neil McCann
With the Dark Blues in administration, struggling to field a team, and battling against a 25 point deduction, manager Barry Smith called on friend and former team mate Neil McCann – then a 36 year old television pundit who hadn’t played a competitive game in nearly 2 years – to take a jersey as a triailist. Dundee were trailing at home 1-0 to Raith Rovers before a Gary Harkins free kick levelled the score with 6 minutes remaining, then substitute McCann popped up 5 minutes in to injury time to secure a precious 3 points.
Kyle Letheren
Paul Hartley’s team went in to the last game of the 2013/14 season needing a victory at home to Dumbarton to win the Championship. A draw would have handed the trophy to Hamilton Accies, who were incredibly winning 10-2 vs Greenock Morton. With the score at 2-1 in Dundee’s favour and just minutes remaining, Kyle Letheren dived low to his left to produce a simply stunning save to deny Brian Prunty. It turned out to be the last chance of the game, and moments later the capacity crowd at Dens Park erupted as the referee blew the final whistle. Dundee were back in Scottish Football’s top flight.
