This week we are taking a big step back in time to look at one of the most iconic strips in Scottish football history.
We are talking about Dundee United’s home strip that was worn between 1979 and 1983, when the Arabs achieved glory in both the league and league cup.
The kit itself featured the now iconic tangerine and black colourway, along with Adidas’ classic three-stripe trademark.
The club emblem on the shirt was an embroidered ‘DUFC’ logo, situated on the upper left-hand side of the jersey, with the Adidas ‘Trefoil’ logo on the right.
The Arabs won the Scottish League Cup two years in a row whilst wearing this magnificent kit. The first cup win came in 1979 when United beat Aberdeen 3-0 in a replay at Dens Park, with the initial final finishing in a 0-0 draw.
Paul Sturrock scored one and Willie Pettigrew bagged a brace against a Dons side managed by Sir Alex Ferguson - a side who were on their way to becoming champions of Scotland that season.
United successfully defended the trophy the very next year, defeating city rivals Dundee on their own turf at Dens Park. The result was again 3-0, with Davie Dodds opening the scoring at the end of the first half before Paul Sturrock bagged a brace after the break.
Despite experiencing the jubilation of winning the League Cup, United were defeated in the Scottish Cup final in the same 80/81 season. The Arabs lost 4-1 to Rangers in a cup final replay after the teams played out a 0-0 draw initially.
As well as finding fortune in the League Cup, United experienced their first and only top-flight triumph whilst playing in this famous kit.The Tannadice side won the 1982/83 Scottish Premier Division, ending the season just one point ahead of Celtic and Aberdeen who were both on 56 points. United actually won less games than both of their title rivals, but suffered fewer defeats, proving that consistency is key to any title challenge.
Jim McLean's men clinched the title on the final day of the season with a 2-1 win in the Dundee derby at Dens Park. Winning the league meant that United qualified for the European Cup the next season, where they made it all the way to the semi-final stage before a 3-2 aggregate loss to Roma.
The kit is definitely one to remember and is a symbol of the most successful period in the club’s history. Fans will be hoping their club can make a swift return to the Premiership this season and maybe their new kit will be as lucky as this one!
