Dundee derby
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.
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. 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 the second-closest city rivals in world football after IFK Malmö and Malmö FF in Sweden.
History
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 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.
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.
Statistics
Head-to-head
In head-to-head, United are quite far in front; the teams have played each other 179 times, Dundee United winning 83 compared to Dundee's 51. A total of 45 matches have ended in a stalemate. Dundee United have won more league, Scottish Cup and League Cup matches.| Team | League | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Total | Goals |
| Dundee wins | 43 | 4 | 5 | 52 | 231 |
| Dundee United wins | 68 | 8 | 7 | 83 | 297 |
| Draws | 34 | 7 | 4 | 45 |
League placing comparison
1975–2000
2000–2025
Honours
Both clubs have won five major Scottish football trophies.Team records
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
- * 21,325 at Tannadice, 3 January 1966
- Lowest Attendance:
- * 9,185 at Tannadice, 12 December 1999
- * 7,645 at Dens Park, 29 January 1994
Players at both clubs
Dundee to Dundee United
Dundee United to Dundee
Complete list
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.;
- Scott Allan
- Stuart Beedie
- Kenny Cameron
- Aaron Conway
- Craig Curran
- Jimmy Dickson
- Paul Dixon
- Billy Dodds
- Neil Duffy
- Iain Ferguson
- Flood |Thomas Flood]
- Mark Fotheringham
- Fraser |Scott Fraser]
- Declan Gallagher
- Jock Gilmour
- Gordon |Alan Gordon]
- Grady |James Grady]
- Hamilton |Jim Hamilton]
- Holt |John Holt]
- Kevin Holt
- Mark Kerr
- Billy Kirkwood
- Jim Lauchlan
- Mackay |George Mackay]
- Duncan MacLeod
- Lee Mair
- Collie Martin
- Roy McBain
- Tommy McDermott
- Kevin McDonald
- Jim McInally
- Stewart McKimmie
- Andy McLaren
- McLeod |Gordon McLeod]
- McMullan |Paul McMullan]
- John McQuillan
- Angus Munro">Ian Angus (footballer)">Angus Munro
- Murray |Simon Murray]
- Stephen O'Donnell
- Kinnaird Ouchterlonie
- Iain Phillip
- Redford |Ian Redford]
- Steven Robb
- Scott Robertson
- Bobby Robinson
- Jock Ross
- Craig Samson
- Scott |Ian Scott]
- Rab Shannon
- Smith |Harry Smith]
- Kevin Smith
- Stuart |Alex Stuart]
- Thomson |Billy Thomson]
- Lewis Toshney
- Wallace |Gordon Wallace]
- Lee Wilkie
- Billy Williamson
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- Dragutin Ristić
Goal scorer records
Full game list
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.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.