The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Pressure grows for statue to United great Jim McLean.
Group hopes to raise £70,000 to honour legend, who was club’s manager for more than 20 years
Fundraising has begun in earnest to build a statue of Dundee United legend Jim McLean.
Volunteers were at Tannadice Park for Saturday’s game against Falkirk to launch the campaign.
They hope to raise £70,000 to erect a statue of the legendary manager outside the stadium.
The plans have been in the pipeline for months, but after agreeing on the finer details, supporters have now officially launched the campaign.
The recently formed Jim McLean Tribute Group, which includes representatives from various fan groups, is organising activities to raise the cash.
Members of the group were at Tannadice on Saturday handing out flyers to supporters and have set up an online JustGiving page.
George Haggerty, chairman of the Jim McLean tribute group, said: “This is a great project to celebrate Jim Mclean’s great contribution to Dundee United. Our target to achieve with this project is £70,000. Help us make this dream a reality.”
Scottish sculptor Alan Herriot, who graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone
Jim McLean is the most outstanding manager that the club has ever had. DAVID DORWARD
College of Art in 1974, has been asked to work on the project. He is currently preparing sketches from some of the most iconic photographs of the manager.
The sculptor has previously immortalised Denis Law in statue form.
The McLean family will give their approval to the final designs before the sculpting begins.
Various fundraising activities are planned for next year. The group will also contact a “range of benefactors” in the club, across Scotland and further afield.
Dundee United Business Club will put on an exhibition for fans in February.
David Dorward, chairman of Dundee United Community Trust, said: “Jim McLean is the most outstanding manager that the club has ever had.
“He inspired people throughout the city and beyond and his legacy is a real asset to the local community.”
McLean’s trophy-laden era saw the side win both the Premier Division and Scottish League Cup, and sweep aside some of the world’s best sides, including PSV Eindhoven and Werder Bremen.
His team also reached the semi-final of the 1984 European Cup and the Uefa Cup final in 1987. And under his tutelage, United famously beat Barcelona home and away in 1986-87, to take the Tannadice side’s record against the Catalans to four wins out of four, after two previous victories in 1966-67.
Although he is closely associated with United’s most successful period, McLean played for Dundee FC for a spell in the 1960s.
Mr McLean has been suffering health in recent years. ill