Dundee take on Buckie Thistle at Dens Park on Saturday in the Betfred Cup and here we round up everything you need to know ahead of the match.
Match Info
FIXTURE: Dundee v Buckie Thistle
COMPETITION: Betfred Cup Group C
DATE: Saturday 22nd August 2017
KICK-OFF: 3.00pm
VENUE: Dens Park
Opposition Info
FORMED: 1889
STADIUM: Victoria Park
CAPACITY: 5,000
PITCH SIZE: 109 yards x 73 yards
MANAGER: Graeme Stewart
PRESIDENT: Garry Farquhar
NICKNAME: The Jags
CLUB COLOURS: Green and White
HONOURS: Highland Football League winners: 1919/20, 1926/27, 1927/28,
1933/34, 1936/37, 1953/54, 1956/57, 1957/58, 2009/10,
2010/11, 2016/17
Highland League Cup winners: 1953/54, 1955/56, 1956/57,
1957/58, 1960/61, 1979/80, 1986/87, 2011/12
Scottish Qualifying Cup (North) winners: 1952/53, 1953/54,
1958/59, 2003/04
Aberdeenshire Cup winners: 1936/37, 1938/39, 1945/46, 1952/53,
1953/54, 1954/55, 1956/57, 1984/85, 1986/87, 2005/06, 2007/08,
2009/10, 2016/17
RECORD ATTENDANCE: 8,156 v Falkirk, 1/3/1958, Scottish Cup
RECORD WIN: 10-0 v Huntly, Highland League, 15/4/1953
CLUB WEBSITE: www.buckiethistle.org
Getting to the Ground
The full address of Dens Park for Sat-Nav is Dens Park, Sandeman Street, Dundee, DD3 7JY
The city centre of Dundee can be reached easily by both road & rail. From Dundee City Centre you can use the no 1A or no 24 National Express Dundee bus service, both of which can be boarded at the Albert Square. For a taxi to the ground, call Tay Taxis on 01382450450.
Match Officials
REFEREE: Craig Charleston
ASSISTANT REFEREE: Andrew McWilliam
ASSISTANT REFEREE: David Doig
Ex-policeman Craig Charleston joined the SFA Referees list in 1997 and became an SFL referee in 2005. He joined the SPL list in season 2012/13 and although he refereed the Buckie v Dunfermline Scottish Cup tie last season, he last officiated a Dundee match three years ago in a 1-1 Premiership match with Partick at Dens.
Head to Head v Buckie Thistle
DEWAR SHIELD: Won 0, Drawn 1*, Lost 0
FRIENDLIES: Won 3, Drawn 0, Lost 0
TOTALS: Won 3, Drawn 1, Lost 0
*Dundee won on the toss of a coin
Last Four Dundee v Buckie Thistle Matches
3/5/1958 | Away | Dewar Shield | Drew 1-1 | 2,000 | Cox
30/4/1951 | Away | George Tough Testimonial | Won 1-0 | 1,500 | Christie
13/4/1935 | Away | Friendly | Won 3-0 | 1,800 | Pollock, Coats, Guthrie
19/4/1932 | Away | Friendly | Won 4-2 | 2,400 | Robertson (3), Campbell
Last Meeting
Dundee and Buckie Thistle have met competitively just once before in the 1958 final of the Dewar Shield; a competition played for between the winners of the Aberdeenshire, Forfarshire, Perthshire, and Stirlingshire Cup winners.
After defeating St Johnstone 6-3 in the semi-final at Muirton (in which Alan Cousin scored a hat-trick), there were some famous Dundee names in the lineup for the final at Buckie’s Victoria Park including League Cup winners Bert Henderson and George Christie and future Championship winners Pat Liney, Alex Hamilton, Bobby Cox and Hugh Robertson.
Bizarrely however the match against Buckie was Dundee’s second Dewar Shield Final in 24 hours, having defeated Fraserburgh 3-2 at Bellslea Park the day before in the delayed 1957 final.
A crowd of 2000, paying £592, rolled up to see if the Highland League Champions could pull off a notable victory and win the Dewar Shield for a second time while Dundee were looking for their eighth victory in the competition, having last won it the previous day,
Willie Thornton’s Dundee expected a tough task and they got it against the northern champs who had more of the play and more of the chances in what was an overall gruelling slog of a match. It was hard to tell at times who were the Highland League and who were the Scottish League Division One team, with the teams being evenly matched for most of the game
The first half was goal-less but if Buckie been their normal deadly selves in front of goal they would have lead at half-time. George Andrews, who hit 51 goals that season, blazed a great chance wide after just six minutes. He later missed another great chance, as did Grant Craigie. At the other end McGrory had a great chance for The Dee but shot straight at Johnny Low, The Jags keeper later founded the Ashvale Fish Restaurant chain!
Three minutes into the second half Dundee had a massive escape as Martin Buchan (father of Martin Junior who played for Aberdeen, Manchester United and Scotland) headed a corner past Pat Liney only to see left-back Hugh Reid clear off the line.
Grant Craigie then missed another great chance and Thistle paid for this on the hour as the Dens Park side took the lead with a great strike. Three defenders failed to clear allowing McGrory to set up Dundee legend Bobby Cox, (playing at left-half) who crashed home a stunning 25-yard effort.
However, Buckie wasted no time in drawing level and ten minutes later, a cross from George Andrews found Ivor Smith who smashed home a 25-yard drive. Late on there was some great action with Johnny Low brilliantly denying Harry Sneddon on two occasions whilst at the other end Pat Liney did well to get to a drive from Ivor Smith.
In the end, a draw was about right but it had been agreed beforehand that there would be no extra time and the destination of the Dewar Shield, in these pre penalty shoot out days would be decided on the toss of a coin. In the absence of captain Doug Cowie, George Christie went into the centre circle for the toss of the coin and was victorious when the Buckie skipper chose wrong.
The Dewar Shield was heading back south to Dens Park after their double success in the Highlands.
Buckie Thistle: Low, Stewart, Reid, Hendry, Dutch, Rose, Buchan, Craigie, Andrews, Smith and Christie
Goals: Smith (70)
Dundee FC: Liney, Hamilton, Reid, Stewart MacKenzie, Cox, Robertson, Henderson, McGrory, Sneddon and Christie
Goals: Cox (60)
Crowd: 2000
Buckie Thistle’s Season So Far
Buckie Thistle enter the Scottish League Cup for the first time as the champions of the Highland League are now invited into the group stages of the Betfred Cup. Buckie prepared for this with a number of pre season friendlies where results were mixed. They opned with a 2-1 defeat to Cumbernauld Colts at Broadwood, then lost 3-1 at home to Rothes, followed by a 4-0 defeat at Dyce Juniors and then a 6-0 win at home to Dufftown.
Buckie started their competitive season away at Cowdenbeath in their first Betfred Cup group C match and gave the league side a fright by taking the lead after just five minutes. Cowdenbeath fought back before half time, to go 2-1 ahead at the break but Buckie equalised six minutes into the second half.
The Fife side however scored twice to win the game 4-2 but the Highland side showed they would be no pushovers.
Buckie’s next match was at home to Dundee United on Wednesday and the Championship side proved too strong for The Jags when three first half goals gave The Arabs a 3-0 win.
Top Scorers
DUNDEE: Moussa, Hendry 1
BUCKIE THISTLE: Dorrat, Copeland 1
Ticketing Information
Prices for the match against Buckie Thistle on Saturday 22nd of July, 3pm, will be £10 for Adults and £5 for all concessions (Over 65, Under 18 and full time students).
As is usual the Bobby Cox Stand and South Enclosure will be admission by ticket only and these can be bought online at www.dundeefc.co.uk, in person at the ticket office at Dundee Direct or by phone on 01382 767309
Match Programme
For the 2017/18 season Dundee have again teamed up with Curtis Sport to produce our match programme and for the Buckie Thistle game it will be a special 22 page edition priced just £2.
This special Betfred Cup edition is packed with news, views, features and exclusive interviews which this week include:
A message from manager Neil McCann
This Week in History
Continuing our series of articles looking at the players who have worn the different squad numbers over the years, this week featuring number 19
Profile on visitors Buckie Thistle
A look back at previous clashes between the sides
Where are they now?
The programme will be available in the club shop and also in and around the ground from 2pm
How To Watch
Fans from outside of the UK who are virtual season tickets will be able to watch the Buckie Thistle match live on DEETV or alternatively they can view it for just £5.
The full ninety minutes of the match will be available to every subscriber of DEETV on Saturday evening while a shorter highlights package will be available to view during the weekend alongside exclusive post match interviews with the manager and players.
The pre-match press conference is also available to view on DEETV from Friday.
You can sign up for DEETV for just £5 a month on the official website where you will have access to Highlights, Interviews and all the Dundee FC goals at the click of the button.
