Everyone at Dundee Football Club were saddened to learn of the death of former player Hugh Reid who passed away last week. .
Reid was a right back who was at Dens Park for 12 years during a golden era for the Club and made 146 appearances between 1954 and 1966.
Reid joined Dundee from Junior side Carnoustie Panmure and made his Dark Blue debut on March 19th 1954 against Stirling Albion at Dens Park. In a side full of Dundee legends such as Bill Brown, Tommy Gallacher and Doug Cowie, Reid came in to replace the injured Davie Gray at right-back and played his part in the 4-1 win.
The following season Reid established himself as the first choice right back, making 29 appearances ahead of ex Rangers defender Gray who had been manager Willie Thornton’s first signing at Dens Park after he had taken over from George Anderson.
Reid had missed the 3-2 win Scottish Cup replay win over Dundee United in February after playing in the 2-2 draw at Tannadice but seven months later was part of one of the most famous Dark Blue derby wins of all time. On September 12th 1956 Reid played in the Dundee side which defeated United 7-3 in the League Cup quarter-final and the match has been immortalised in the Johnnie Scobie song that is still sung today.
The 1956/57 season also saw Hugh score his only goal for the club when he scored the winner against Raith Rovers in a 2-1 win in Kirkcaldy.
That season also saw the debut of left back Bobby Cox and Reid would partner Cox at full back 26 times. By then future championship winners Alan Cousin and George McGeachie had made their debuts and in August 1957 another one, Alex Hamilton would make his debut.
From then one Reid and Hamilton vied for the right back spot and from January Hamilton had established himself as first choice with Reid unlucky to become back up to most capped player in the club’s history.
They shared the right back duties in season 1958/59 playing around 20 games each but in the next three seasons, after the arrival of manager Bob Shankly, Hamilton missed just seven games and was ever present in both the 1959/60 and 1961/62 seasons.
Despite having been at Dens for eight seasons by the time Dundee became champions of Scotland, Reid failed to contribute to the title season with Hamilton playing ever game in league and cup and Reid can consider himself unlucky not to get a league winners medal.
In the European Cup season Reid played four times in the league and six times the year after, three of which came in the Summer Cup.
After the signing of right-back Bobby Wilson from Cowdenbeath, Reid fell further down the right-back pecking order and in the summer of 1966 was released after 12 years of excellent service to the Club.
Hugh was a steady full back who never let anyone down when he played and was an excellent squad player during Dundee’s title winning season. He always tried to play football, with his catchphrase being “kill and despatch” as in control the ball and pass it to a team mate. He experience became invaluable to the youngsters coming through the reserves and he served the dark blues with honour and distinction.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.
