THE WEE RED BOOK - 1973

Here's a reminder of how the popular Wee Red Book looked in the 1973-74 season, the year we lifted the League Cup.

Under it, Tommy Gemmell parades the trophy at Hampden with Thomson Allan alongside.

DEE FANS LEAVING HAMPDEN - 2003

And so the Dundee supporters pour out of Hampden and make their way to the buses to head back home.
Perhaps it wont be too long to the next visit.

2003 CUP FINAL RADIO BROADCAST

They gave it a good go but Dundee finished runners up in the 2003 Scottish Cup final. Here is the team going over to applaud the Dee fans who travelled through to Hampden for the occasion.
If you weren't in amongst the 20,000 Dundee supporters at the match, you probably watched it live on television. Below, however, is a rare recording of the radio coverage. Although I have the full match, this is only the first 10 minutes of the broadcast to give you an idea how it sounded across the airwaves.

DEE FANS PREPARE FOR KICK OFF

This is the scene building up to the Scottish Cup final at Hampden 2003 with Dundee supporters enjoying the pre-match entertainment.

DEE FAN CHECKING THINGS OUT!

"Eh'm the king o' the castle!"

DEE FANS - THE NEXT GENERATION

Here's the new generation of Dundee supporters having a bit of fun down at the side of the pitch at Hampden in 2003.
I couldn't help notice the scoreboard - Dundee 5 Rangers 4 - I must have missed that game!!

DEE FANS FLY THE FLAG - 2003

In amongst all the various DFC flags is the unmissable and rather wonderful Billy Steel banner in full flow!

DEE FANS AT HAMPDEN - 2003

Dundee supporters giving Gers fans the scarf twirling treatment!!

DEE FANS IN 2003

This stripey trio of Dundee supporters were captured by my brother on the way to Hampden for the Scottish Cup Final against Rangers in 2003.
I have a batch of other photos from the final at Hampden I will be putting on view over the next few days. So stay tuned, you may spot yourself!

DFC IN THE NEWSPAPERS: #3 - 1973

King Gordon is of course, Gordon Wallace, the scorer of the only goal in the League Cup final against Celtic at Hampden. 16 December 1973 is the date on the Sunday Post and the stories in it give a reminder of the conditions behind the scenes which played a part in the game's early kick-off - i.e. power cuts, weather and strikes.
Sunday's SCOTSPORT, who showed the League Cup final highlights, was broadcast at 2.05pm, in between The Saint and the Galloping Gourmet!
A couple of more pages below.

THE DEES CHRISTMAS #1 - 1973

Slade were top of the charts in December 1973 when Dundee were top of the stairs in Hampden collecting their League Cup winners medals. Every year since, when I hear that #1 tune "Merry Christmas Everybody" blasting out during December, I always remember the #1 team in the '73 Final.
Below is some rare footage of the extended version of the medal ceremony where every DFC player gets a mention in a roll-call of honour.

DUNDEE'S LEAGUE CUP WIN - 1973

It was 35 years ago today Dundee won the Scottish League Cup. 15th December 1973 was the big day and it was a match I was at. I'd be aged 15.
I remember making a customised scarf for the special occasion. I came up with the idea of adding the words "DUNDEE FC" to my regular dark blue scarf, so what I did was get on old white pillowcase, cut all the letters out from it then painstakingly sew them all onto the scarf. Took me all evening but the end result was pretty smart!
We Dundonians were up against the odds that day - Celtic being in their 9 in-a-row season. We were up against the elements too - the atrocious winter weather nearly had the game cancelled, and we were up against the government - there were power cuts and transport strikes all over Scotland. Despite all that was chucked at us, we still came out on top.
Here below is a wee film that gives a glimpse as to what the Dees trip to Hampden was like on the day we beat the odds!
Photo by DC Thomson.