It’s great to have New Firm fixture back says ex-Utd and Dons star

AS someone who starred for both sides, Mark Perry is relishing the return of the New Firm derby.

After four years away, Dundee United are back in the top flight and can resume their rivalry with Aberdeen.

The first Premiership clash between the sides since March 2016 is set for October 17.

Perry was with the Tangerines from 1988-1998 before making the move to join the Dons and spent two-and-a-half years playing for his boyhood club.

The former defender believes the return of this heavyweight tussle is good news for the two clubs and Scotland’s top flight.

The 49-year-old said: “It was a fixture that was always great to play in as a player.

“When I was at United, coming up to Pittodrie as the opposing team it was always tough but great games to be involved in.

“There were quite a few memorable games when I played, 3-3 draws and 4-0 and 5-0 wins.

“A 5-0 win at Tannadice sticks out which was one of my favourite games and that was for United against Aberdeen.

“I’m an Aberdeen supporter and I have been from a young age so when I was at United it was good to come up and play at Pittodrie in those New Firm games.

“It’s great that these games are back. It’s a good fixture for both clubs.

“They’re good spectacles and that’s something Scottish football needs after how it’s been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.”

When he played in the fixture Perry tended to have more success with Dundee United than for Aberdeen. He played for the Arabs as they thumped the Reds 4-0 in January 1997 and 5-0 in November of that year.

But his last involvement in the fixture was the memorable 5-3 win for Aberdeen at Tannadice in September 2000.

As a lifelong Dons fan, was it strange playing against them and beating them?

Perry added: “It wasn’t strange. I’ve supported Aberdeen all my career, but, at that time, I was a United player so it was just another game. Coming to Pittodrie was just another away game.

“It was always special playing at Pittodrie because I had friends and family who were all Dons fans coming to the game. But you just treat it as another game.

“Then when I joined Aberdeen, if we were playing United at Tannadice, I just had to treat that as another away game going back to my old club.

“I have good memories of both clubs but, in terms of the fixture, I maybe had better luck with United. Playing for Aberdeen and scoring at Pittodrie was great but maybe things didn’t quite go as I might have hoped.

“But when things are going well Aberdeen is a great club to play for and I was lucky to play for Aberdeen and Dundee United.”

Perry believes this season the Dons will start as favourites in the matches against their newly-promoted opponents but warned they’ll have to keepan eye on United’s main man.

United’s Premiership preparations were also disrupted by Robbie Neilson returning to manage Hearts, with Micky Mellon brought to Tannadice as his replacement.

Perry said: “Dundee United have Lawrence Shankland who is a very good goalscorer. I didn’t realise how good he was until I saw him more regularly for United and Scotland last season.”

Mark Perry played for United from 1988-1998.