Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
When tears were Shed over loss of Tannadice terrace
Raucous times recalled 30 years after stand revamp
THE Shed was a favourite spot for Dundee United supporters and capable of acting as the 12th man required to topple Europe’s best.
A home fixture against St Johnstone 30 years ago signalled the end for the famous terrace before the bulldozers moved in.
It was a day of celebration and sadness as, for many, standing on The Shed was all they had ever known.
United became the first Scottish club to operate their own pools in 1956, raising enough money to redevelop the ground.
By coincidence, The Shed had also opened with a visit from St Johnstone on September 21 1957.
The roof helped create a raucous atmosphere at home games and provided some protection from the elements for around 7,000 fans.
The terrace witnessed European competition for the first time in 1966 and the notable scalps of Barcelona and Juventus.
It was absolutely bouncing during the title-winning season in 1982-83.
There was a European Cup semi-final in 1984 and a Uefa Cup final in 1987 during a period of unimaginable success under Jim Mclean.
Screenwriter Neil Forsyth spent his teenage years in The Shed.
The Broughty Ferry native watched Mclean’s men defeat the likes of Barcelona and Borussia Monchengladbach from the concrete steps during the 1980s.
He said: “When I was younger, The Shed was probably the most exciting place in the world.
“There was the football, and the great United teams of the late 1980s, along with the humour and the swearing. It was an intoxicating mix.
“I had a season ticket along with my brother Alan for years then I sold programmes at Tannadice, which meant I got a complimentary ticket.
“There was nothing like being in there for a big game, when The Shed was packed and the famous sway was in full force.
“The noise under the roof was incredible.”
But football grounds had to change.
After the Bradford City fire in 1985 and the Hillsborough disaster of 1989, health and safety laws came in to make grounds all-seated.
April 30 1994 was the final dance for the Shed Boys (and girls) and 10,653 fans filled Tannadice Park to witness it.
“I was selling programmes at Tannadice at the time,” said Neil.
“The club had some special badges made up and before the game Jim Mclean came over to us programme boys and gave us all a badge.
“The loss of terracing has definitely changed the game, maybe for the better in some ways, but I don’t think the atmosphere has ever really matched some of those games with a full Shed at Tannadice.”
Former United historian Tom Cairns was celebrating his eighth birthday when The Shed officially opened with a 2-1 victory against St Johnstone.
He became a Shed Boy from March 1962.
He singled out the arrival of floodlit matches during the early winter of 1962 as some of his favourite memories of watching United from the terrace.
United beat Rangers 2-1 on November 10, followed by back-to-back 3-3 draws under the lights against Kilmarnock and Aberdeen.
“I watched from my usual position, looking down to the right of the goal and around 10 steps back near a steel pillar which is still in place to this day,” he said.
“Through the years from my vantage point I watched United defeat Raith Rovers 8-1, Airdrie 9-1, and Stirling Albion 9-0.
“The 1960s brought the Scandinavian invasion and magnificent talents of Orjan Persson, Finn Dossing, Lennart Wing, Mogens Berg and Finn Seemann.
“Many special European evenings were spent in The Shed as United saw off Barcelona twice, Juventus and countless other first-class teams.”
Liverpool and Manchester City supporters also have the date April 30 1994 etched deep into their hearts and memories.
It was also the final match for the Kop at Anfield and Kippax at Maine Road, with tears shed and many left mourning their loss.
While it was the end of one chapter, Evening Telegraph columnist Steve Finan said the spirit of The Shed lives on.
The Tangerines fan is the author of 14 books about sports nostalgia, including the bestseller Lifted Over The Turnstiles.
“The thing I love about The Shed is the way you can, when you examine it round the edges, still glimpse the pre-1962 Tannadice,” he said.
“The 1957 Shed roof is offset to where the pitch now is because it was built in line with the playing
surface before it was moved 10 yards towards Sandeman Street to make room for the new stand.
“And that still-existing part of the old, all-standing Tannadice – where my father and grandfather watched their team struggle to remain in existence in the hard years – is fascinating.
“I feel closer to them by seeing exactly where they stood.”
Steve said the concrete wall at the back and slanting down the side of The Shed in the Tannadice Street corner has been there nearly 100 years.
He added: “My ancestors leaned on that wall.
“It serves as a continuous link for all supporters over the years.
“It’s one of the main reasons why I hope United never move from Tannadice.
“It would be like abandoning my forefathers’ graves.”