UEFA Cup 1986-87

It is hard to believe Dundee United's epic UEFA Cup run of 1986-87 came only 11 years ago. Many younger Arabs, including myself - I saw my first match that season but didn't go regularly till the following year - have never experienced the heady nights of European success which United fans took almost for granted in the late 70s and early to mid 80s. Jim McLean's men reached the UEFA Cup final against IFK Gothenburg, focusing the eyes of Europe on Tannadice Park for the second leg. Although ultimately vanquished, after a 1-0 defeat in Sweden followed by a 1-1 draw at Tannadice, United earned the admiration and respect of the worldwide football community. In particular, the fans' behaviour in sportingly applauding the Swedes as they lifted the trophy earned United the UEFA Fair Play Award. The prize money was spent on ground improvements - providing a roof to the old enclosure on the south-west side of the ground, fittingly where the Gothenburg supporters had celebrated their victory. Although the terracing has gone in the wake of the Taylor Report, the achievment is remembered by way of the new "Fair Play Stand", which now, along with the old Main Stand on the same side of the ground, houses away supporters.

1st Round

RC Lens (France) 1 v 0 United

United 2 v 0 RC Lens

2nd Round

United 3 v 0 Univ Craiova (Romania)

Univ Craiova 0 v 0 United

3rd Round

Hadjuk Split (Croatia) 0 v 0 United

United 2 v 0 Hadjuk Split

Quarter Final

United 1 v 0 Barcelona (Spain)

Barcelona 1 v 2 United

Semi Final

United 0 v 0 Borrusia Moenchengladbach (Germany)

Borrusia Moenchengladbach 0 v 2 United

UEFA Cup Final

First Leg

Ullevi Stadium, Göteborg, 6th May 1987.

Attendance: 50.053

IFK Göteborg 1 (Petterson 38)

Dundee United 0 Teams

IFK Göteborg Wernersson; Carlsson, Hysen, Larsson, Fredriksson; Johansson (R. Nilsson), Tord Holmgren (Zetterlund), Andersson, Tommy Holmgren; Pettersson, L. Nilsson

Dundee United Billy Thompson; Maurice Malpas, David Narey, Paul Hegarty (John Clark), John Holt; Jim McInally, Billy Kirkwood, Dave Bowman, Eammon Bannon; Paul Sturrock (David Beaumont), Ian Redford

Second Leg

Tannadice Park, Dundee, 20th May 1987.

Attendance: 20.911

Dundee United 1 (Clark 60)

IFK Göteborg 1 (Nilsson 22)

Teams

Dundee United

Billy Thompson; Maurice Malpas, John Clark, David Narey, John Holt (Paul Hegarty); Jim McInally, Ian Ferguson, Billy Kirkwood; Paul Sturrock, Ian Redford (Eammon Bannon), Kevin Gallacher

IFK Göteborg

Wernersson; Carlsson, Hysen, Larsson, Fredriksson; R. Nilsson (Johansson), Tord Holmgren, Andersson, Tommy Holmgren (Mordt); Pettersson, L. Nilsson

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