Tannadice St clashes now century old

THE postie in Tannadice Street hasn’t been required to drop off telegrams from the Queen and it’s an anniversary that’s passing has gone largely unnoticed — but this season has seen competitive Dundee derbies, of sorts, reach the grand old age of 100.

Indeed, exactly a century ago today, the outfit known as Dundee Hibs were hosting more illustrious neighbours Dundee in an East Division fixture at Tannadice, the visitors winning 2-1.

That clash was the fourth and final league meeting of the season and victory in three of them played a major part in the Dark Blues taking the title on goal difference from Cowdenbeath.

That Dundee were playing in a regional league was down to a need to reduce unnecessary travelling during the First World War.

The previous season they’d been in Division One of the national leagues but, with most of the outfits involved west-coast based, along with Aberdeen and Raith Rovers, they were asked to resign and play more locally.

A positive of that was the first competitive league clashes with the team from over the road. A rivalry that has produced great memories for both sets of fans was effectively born.

Initially, the meetings didn’t last long and after that one successful season in the regional competition, Dundee went into abeyance and didn’t return until the First Division got up and running again in 1919-20.

With Dundee Hibs never reaching that level, it meant the next competitive derby was not until November 1925, when the newly-promoted Tannadice outfit, now renamed United, earned a credible goalless draw at Dens Park.

It was a valuable point for while they lost the return at Tannadice, United stayed up by the skin of their teeth. The following year they’d win at Dens for the first time in the top division but ended bottom of the table.

Derby fans then had to make do with a couple of Scottish Cup meetings, both won by Dundee in replays, until United returned to the top flight in 1929/30 but only for a season.

They would be back for another