2008–09 Dundee United F.C. season

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Dundee United
2008–09 season
ChairmanEddie Thompson (to 15 October 2008)
Stephen Thompson (from 21 November 2008)
ManagerCraig Levein
Scottish Premier League5th
Scottish CupFifth round
League CupSemi-finals
Top goalscorerLeague:
Francisco Sandaza (10)
All:
Francisco Sandaza (10)
Highest home attendance14,077 (v Rangers, 24 May 2009)
Lowest home attendance5,926 (v Inverness, 14 February 2009)
Away colours

The 2008–09 season covers the period from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009 and is the club's one hundredth season, having been founded as Dundee Hibernian in 1909.

Review and events[]

The pre-season period began with a number of new signings at the club. Dundee midfielder Scott Robertson was one of three players to agree pre-contract deals in June and he was followed by fellow player Paul Dixon shortly afterwards. Willo Flood returned on a second successive season-long loan and fellow Cardiff City player Warren Feeney followed on a similar deal, with Spanish striker Francisco Sandaza and Irish forward Roy O'Donovan (loan) the final signings.

A number of players who were out of contract left the club following the end of the 2007–08 season, including Christian Kalvenes who moved to Burnley, and Mark Kerr, who followed Lee Mair, Stuart Duff and Lee Miller in recent years by signing for New Firm rivals Aberdeen. Last season's top scorer Noel Hunt left in July to join his brother Stephen at English side Reading.

Chairman Eddie Thompson died of prostate cancer on 15 October.

Chronological list of events[]

This is a list of the significant events to occur at the club during the 2008–09 season, presented in chronological order. This list does not include transfers, which are listed in the transfers section below, or match results, which are in the results section.

  • 22 July: The club reject a £500,000 bid from Reading for striker Noel Hunt.[1]
  • 23 July: Reading's increased offer for Hunt – thought to be about £600,000 – is considered.[2]
  • 28 July: Former United player and manager Paul Sturrock announces he has Parkinson's disease, just days before United face his club Plymouth Argyle in a friendly.[3]
  • 28 August: United reject an approach from former manager Craig Brewster – now at Inverness CT – for Darren Dods.[4]
  • 31 August: Former United player Jamie Dolan dies of a heart attack whilst out jogging.[5]
  • 04 September: Garry Kenneth scores in Scotland under-21s 3–1 win against Slovenia. David Robertson also appeared as a late substitute.[6]
  • 06 September: Winger Craig Conway extends his contract until 2011.[7]
  • 09 September: Garry Kenneth's eighth Scotland under-21 cap ends in disappointment as defeat in Denmark ends their hopes of qualifying for the 2009 European Championship.[8]
  • 10 September: Director John Bennett resigns from the board with immediate effect.[9]
  • 20 September: Defender Mihael Kovačević suffers a fractured cheekbone during the closing stages of the 1–0 win at Aberdeen.
  • 15 October: Chairman Eddie Thompson dies after losing his battle with prostate cancer.[10] The match against Rangers, scheduled for three days later, is postponed as a mark of respect.
  • 20 October: The club announce admission for the upcoming match against St Mirren will be only £5 to allow as many as possible to pay their respects to late chairman Eddie Thompson.[11]
  • 22 October: The funeral of late chairman Eddie Thompson is held in Broughty Ferry with around 1,000 supporters attending.
  • 03 November: Rangers chairman David Murray apologises after suggesting abuse between some United and Dundee fans on certain websites was "just as bad" as between Celtic and Rangers.[12]
  • 05 November: Young striker Ryan Dow is named the SPL 'Rising Star' for September.[13]
  • 14 November: Stephen Thompson, son of late chairman Eddie, is officially named as the club's new chairman.
  • 15 November: Scott Robertson is named in the Scotland squad to play Argentina, being called up as a late replacement due to injuries.
  • 18 November: David Goodwillie makes his Scotland under-21 debut as a half-time substitute in the friendly defeat to Northern Ireland.
  • 19 November: Robertson becomes the 19th United player to be capped by Scotland, appearing as a 59th-minute substitute for Barry Ferguson.
  • 28 November: Manager Craig Levein turns down an approach from Football League Championship side Watford.
  • 02 December: Levein signs a new contract until May 2012, with coaches Peter Houston and Gary Kirk following suit.
  • 18 December: Lukasz Zaluska announces he will leave the club at the end of his contract, expecting to join Celtic.
  • 08 January: Captain Lee Wilkie signs a new three-year contract.
  • 12 January: Full-back Sean Dillon joins Wilkie in signing a new three-year contract.
  • 17 January: The contract renewals keep on coming with Garry Kenneth and David Goodwillie signing until May 2012, and David Robertson and Kevin Smith signing until May 2011.
  • 22 January: The seventh, eighth and ninth contract extensions this year are announced, with new deals for Darren Dods, Prince Buaben and Morgaro Gomis.
  • 12 March: The club announce Nike will be the official kit supplier for the next four seasons from 2009–10.
  • 11 April: United's 1–0 victory at Hamilton Academical secures a top-six finish for the second successive season.[14]
  • 18 April: Striker Kevin Smith suffers a broken leg and dislocated ankle while on loan at Raith Rovers, ruling him out for six months.[15]

Match results[]

Dundee United have played a total of 44 competitive matches during the 2008–09 season,[16] as well as six first team pre-season friendlies. The team finished fifth in the Scottish Premier League.

In the cup competitions, United lost to Celtic in the League Cup semi-final, while they were beaten by Hamilton Academical in the Scottish Cup fifth round.

Friendlies[]

The club began pre-season by winning the Keyline Cup in Oban on 12 July[17] before embarking on a short trip to Dublin where they played two friendlies against local sides.[18] Upon returning to Scotland, United beat Raith Rovers 4-0 and fellow Fife side Dunfermline Athletic 3-2[19] before a match against Barcelona for the second year running.[20] The friendlies culminated in a win at Plymouth Argyle where United faced former Terror Paul Sturrock.[21] United also sent sides to play in victories against Cowdenbeath,[22] Arbroath,[23] Forres Mechanics,[24] Dundee North End[25] and Blairgowrie.[26] A final friendly was planned against Lochee United[27] but was postponed due to heavy rain. In April, the club racked up an 8–0 win at Brora Rangers to mark the opening of the ground's new floodlights, with Andis Shala scoring a hat-trick.[28]

14 July 2008 Friendly Univ. College Dublin Republic of Ireland 2–1 Scotland Dundee United UCD Bowl
McNally 54' (pen.)
77'		 Hunt 35' Attendance: 500
Referee: D Coombes
16 July 2008 Friendly Tolka Rovers Republic of Ireland 2–3 Scotland Dundee United Frank Cooke Park
Kelly 2'
Connor 33'		 Wilkie 11', 83'
Hunt 85'
19 July 2008 Friendly Raith Rovers Scotland 0–4 Scotland Dundee United Stark's Park
Feeney 8', 14', 60' (pen.)
Hunt 70'
22 July 2008 Friendly Dunfermline Athletic Scotland 2–3 Scotland Dundee United East End Park
Thomson 58'
Phinn 67'		 Sandaza 60', 63'
Robertson 86'		 Referee: S Finnie
26 July 2008 Friendly Dundee United Scotland 1–5 Spain Barcelona Tannadice Park
Buaben 25' Henry 26'
Messi 55', 76', 78'
Eto'o 61'		 Attendance: 12,000
2 August 2008 Friendly Plymouth Argyle England 0–1 Scotland Dundee United Home Park
Sandaza 47' Attendance: 4,120
Referee: S Tanner
21 April 2009 Friendly Brora Rangers Scotland 0–8 Scotland Dundee United Dudgeon Park
McCord 5'
Shala 7', 31', 77'
Swanson 13'
Dillon 16'
Goodwillie 54', 83'

Scottish Premier League[]

Main article: 2008–09 Scottish Premier League
Action during the 2–0 SPL home win against St Mirren
League positions

United began the season with a televised match away to promoted Hamilton Academical, which – despite taking the lead – they lost 3–1. Subsequent 1–1 draws at home to Celtic – another televised match in which Francisco Sandaza scored his first goal – and away to Motherwell produced the first points of the season but a home defeat to Kilmarnock and narrow defeat away to Hibernian left United bottom of the league after five matches. United's third televised match of the season saw them pick up their first league win at Aberdeen and was the first of four successive league victories, preceding home triumphs against Hearts, Inverness CT and St Mirren. The run of victories saw first league goals for summer signings Scott Robertson and Roy O'Donovan, with three clean sheets for goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska. The St Mirren match was played three weeks after the Inverness match following the death of chairman Eddie Thompson, which led to the match against Rangers being postponed. As the St Mirren match was the first match following the death of the chairman, prices were reduced to just £5, prompting over 11,000 fans to attend and pay their respects with a minute's silence. United failed to make it five league wins in a row when they drew 0–0 at Falkirk but kept their unbeaten run going with an exciting 3–3 draw against Rangers at Ibrox and got back to winning ways with home wins over Aberdeen and Hibernian. A second successive 2–0 defeat to Kilmarnock – this time away from home – preceded a 1–1 draw at home to Hamilton, before wins at St Mirren and Inverness brought United back-to-back away victories for the first time since April 2007. United were involved in another high scoring match against Rangers in a 2–2 draw at Tannadice and followed it up by holding Hearts to a 0–0 draw at Tynecastle, closing 2008 with a home win against Falkirk.

2009 began with a draw at Celtic Park, despite being two goals behind but United's next match saw a 4–0 home collapse against Motherwell, only the club's second defeat in the previous 17 league matches. An exciting 3–2 win at home to St Mirren preceded a 2–0 defeat against Rangers at Ibrox, before draws at home to Inverness and away to Aberdeen. Rivals for third place Hearts won at Tannadice before United won away at Falkirk, with a defeat at Motherwell tempered by a home draw against Celtic. After conceding first at home for the seventh time in eight matches, United came from two goals down to draw with Hibernian, before beating Hamilton for the first time this season, securing a top six league finish. In the final match before the league split, United failed to gain further ground on Hearts for third place, being held at home by Kilmarnock to a goalless draw, ensuring United failed to score against the Ayrshire side all season. In the first match after the split, United's dominance of the entire match earned a win against Hibernian at Easter Road, before missing the chance to go third after a home draw against Aberdeen. United's final trip to Glasgow resulted in a narrow 2–1 loss against Celtic, with defeats against Heart of Midlothian and Rangers to close the season.
11 August 2008 SPL 1 Hamilton Academical 3–1 Dundee United New Douglas Park
Stevenson 29'
McArthur 39'
Graham 63'		 McLaughlin 23' (o.g.) Attendance: 4,385
Referee: S Dougal
17 August 2008 SPL 2 Dundee United 1–1 Celtic Tannadice Park
Sandaza 80' Hartley 51' Attendance: 11,648
Referee: C Richmond
23 August 2008 SPL 3 Motherwell 1–1 Dundee United Fir Park
Sutton 34' Wilkie 40' Attendance: 5,149
Referee: D McDonald
30 August 2008 SPL 4 Dundee United 0–2 Kilmarnock Tannadice Park
Skelton 40'
Invincible 59'		 Attendance: 6,823
Referee: M Tumilty
13 September 2008 SPL 5 Hibernian 2–1 Dundee United Easter Road
Fletcher 22', 63'
Bamba Yellow card 68' Red card		 Wilkie 45' Attendance: 13,390
Referee: D Somers
20 September 2008 SPL 6 Aberdeen 0–1 Dundee United Pittodrie Stadium
Sandaza 47' (pen.) Attendance: 11,041
Referee: C Murray
27 September 2008 SPL 7 Dundee United 3–0 Hearts Tannadice Park
Conway 39'
Daly 50'
S Robertson 60'		 Jónsson Yellow card 74' Red card Attendance: 8,004
Referee: D McDonald
4 October 2008 SPL 8 Dundee United 2–1 Inverness CT Tannadice Park
Daly 40'
Wilkie 65'		 Wilkie 89' (o.g.) Attendance: 6,279
Referee: I Brines
25 October 2008 SPL 9 Dundee United 2–0 St Mirren Tannadice Park
O'Donovan 85'
Conway 90'		 Attendance: 11,378
Referee: B Winter
1 November 2008 SPL 10 Falkirk 0–0 Dundee United Falkirk Stadium
O'Donovan Red card 57' Attendance: 5,608
Referee: I Brines
4 November 2008 SPL 11 Rangers 3–3 Dundee United Ibrox Stadium
Davis 11'
Papac 37'
Thomson 90'		 Sandaza 17', 28'
Robertson 59'		 Attendance: 48,686
Referee: C Thomson
8 November 2008 SPL 12 Dundee United 2–1 Aberdeen Tannadice Park
Sandaza 8'
Feeney 14'		 Mackie 66' Attendance: 9,490
Referee: W Collum
12 November 2008 SPL 13 Dundee United 2–0 Hibernian Tannadice Park
Dods 54'
Sandaza 60'		 Attendance: 7,390
Referee: E Smith
15 November 2008 SPL 14 Kilmarnock 2–0 Dundee United Rugby Park
Hamill 45' (pen.)
David Fernández 61'		 Attendance: 4,652
Referee: E Norris
22 November 2008 SPL 15 Dundee United 1–1 Hamilton Tannadice Park
Easton 90' (o.g.) Offiong 8'
Mensing Yellow card 84' Red card		 Attendance: 6,108
Referee: C Allan
29 November 2008 SPL 16 St Mirren 0–2 Dundee United St Mirren Park
Daly 37', 88' (pen.) Attendance: 4,013
Referee: C Murray
6 December 2008 SPL 17 Inverness CT 1–3 Dundee United Caledonian Stadium
Rooney 73' Daly 51', Conway 64', D Robertson 71' Attendance: 3,560
Referee: B Winter
13 December 2008 SPL 18 Dundee United 2–2 Rangers Tannadice Park
Wilkie 50'
Feeney 54'		 Boyd 11'
Lafferty 76'		 Attendance: 11,362
Referee: I Brines
20 December 2008 SPL 19 Hearts 0–0 Dundee United Tynecastle Stadium
Attendance: 16,442
Referee: W Collum
27 December 2008 SPL 20 Dundee United 1–0 Falkirk Tannadice Park
S Robertson 21' Barr Yellow card 82' Red card Attendance: 7,972
Referee: C Boyle
3 January 2009 SPL 21 Celtic 2–2 Dundee United Celtic Park
Samaras 12', 57' Dixon 59'
Feeney 77'		 Attendance: 59,558
Referee: S Conroy
18 January 2009 SPL 22 Dundee United 0–4 Motherwell Tannadice Park
Fitzpatrick 23'
Klimpl 27'
Clarkson 33'
Porter 63'		 Attendance: 7,090
Referee: E Smith
24 January 2009 SPL 23 Dundee United 3–2 St Mirren Tannadice Park
Feeney 71' (pen.), 84'
Buaben 82'		 Ross 17'
Mehmet 73' (pen)		 Attendance: 6,556
Referee: S O'Reilly
31 January 2009 SPL 24 Rangers 2–0 Dundee United Ibrox Stadium
Fleck 78' (pen.)
Lafferty 90'		 Attendance: 49,918
Referee: I Brines
14 February 2009 SPL 25 Dundee United 1–1 Inverness CT Tannadice Park
Wilkie 79' Odhiambo 16'
Duncan Red card 71'		 Attendance: 5,926
Referee: C Thomson
21 February 2009 SPL 26 Aberdeen 2–2 Dundee United Pittodrie Stadium
Severin 46'
Diamond 72'		 Sandaza 10' (pen.)
D Robertson 56'		 Attendance: 14,673
Referee: W Collum
28 February 2009 SPL 27 Dundee United 0–1 Hearts Tannadice Park
Sandaza soccer ball with red X Stewart 62' Attendance: 8,529
Referee: E Smith
3 March 2009 SPL 28 Falkirk 0–1 Dundee United Falkirk Stadium
Conway 27' (pen.) Attendance: 4,385
Referee: D McDonald
14 March 2009 SPL 29 Motherwell 2–1 Dundee United Fir Park
Sutton 25'
Clarkson 75'		 Sandaza 51' Attendance: 4,798
Referee: D McDonald
22 March 2009 SPL 30 Dundee United 2–2 Celtic Tannadice Park
Sandaza 47', 58' McDonald 23'
Naylor 81'		 Attendance: 12,043
Referee: S Conroy
4 April 2009 SPL 31 Dundee United 2–2 Hibernian Tannadice Park
Conway soccer ball with red X
Kenneth 53'
Goodwillie 90'		 Nish 6', 10' Attendance: 6,623
Referee: E Smith
11 April 2009 SPL 32 Hamilton Academical 0–1 Dundee United New Douglas Park
Conway 4' Attendance: 3,025
Referee: C Murray
18 April 2009 SPL 33 Dundee United 0–0 Kilmarnock Tannadice Park
Dixon Red card 85' Attendance: 6,627
Referee: W Collum

Post-split (Top six)[]

2 May 2009 SPL 34 Hibernian 1–2 Dundee United Easter Road
Fletcher 40'
Hogg Red card 85'		 Feeney 28'
Goodwillie 89'		 Attendance: 10,591
Referee: S O'Reilly
7 May 2009 SPL 35 Dundee United 1–1 Aberdeen Tannadice Park
Goodwillie 38' Miller 33'
Kerr Red card 75'		 Attendance: 10,407
Referee: C Boyle
12 May 2009 SPL 36 Celtic 2–1 Dundee United Celtic Park
Loovens 22'
Samaras 52'		 D Robertson 57' Attendance: 57,407
Referee: S Dougal
16 May 2009 SPL 37 Hearts 3–0 Dundee United Tynecastle Stadium
Wallace 11'
Aguiar 26'
Jónsson 79' (pen.)		 Attendance: 15,664
Referee: B Winter
24 May 2009 SPL 38 Dundee United 0–3 Rangers Tannadice Park
Lafferty 6'
Mendes 45'
Boyd 52'		 Attendance: 14,077
Referee: D McDonald
Upcoming Scottish Premier League fixtures are the intellectual property of the Scottish Premier League. For upcoming Premier League fixtures, see the official Dundee United FC website

Scottish Cup[]

Main article: 2008–09 Scottish Cup
United players warming up before the cup match against East Stirlingshire

United beat East Stirlingshire 4–0 at Ochilview Park in the Scottish Cup fourth round, with goals from Prince Buaben, Darren Dods, Jon Daly and Johnny Russell. Shortly before the match, United were drawn away to Hamilton Academical in the fifth round, where they were narrowly beaten 2–1, despite leading at half-time.

11 January 2009 Scottish Cup R4 East Stirlingshire 0–4 Dundee United Ochilview Park
Buaben 15'
Dods 40'
Daly 43'
Russell 55' (pen.)		 Attendance: 2,153
Referee: M Tumilty
7 February 2009 Scottish Cup R5 Hamilton Academical 2–1 Dundee United New Douglas Park
Swailes 47', 55' Grainger 35' Attendance: 3,058
Referee: C Richmond

League Cup[]

Main article: 2008–09 Scottish League Cup

Last season's runners-up United began their League Cup campaign away to Cowdenbeath, where a hat-trick from Jon Daly helped them to a 5–1 win. In the third round, Airdrie United – who United faced in the second round of last year's competition – were beaten 2–0, before a quarter-final win at home to Dunfermline Athletic. United faced Celtic in the semi-finals in late January where they lost11-10 on penalties, a record for a Scottish cup match.

26 August 2008 League Cup R2 Cowdenbeath 1–5 Dundee United Central Park
J Dempster 74' Daly 30', 47'
Goodwillie 41', 60' (80)		 Attendance: 1,423
Referee: E Norris
23 September 2008 League Cup R3 Dundee United 2–0 Airdrie United Tannadice Park
Goodwillie 33'
S Robertson 42'		 Attendance: 3,444
Referee: M Tumilty
28 October 2008 League Cup QF Dundee United 1–0 Dunfermline Athletic Tannadice Park
S Robertson 16' Attendance: 5,350
Referee: D McDonald
28 January 2009 League Cup SF Celtic p0 – 0p Dundee United Hampden Park
Attendance: 19,228
Referee: C Murray

Player stats[]

During the 2008–09 season so far, United have used 26 different players on the pitch. Łukasz Załuska is the only player to have played every minute this season. The table below shows the number of appearances and goals scored by each player.[29]

No. Pos Nat Player Total Clydesdale Bank Premier League Scottish Cup Co-operative Insurance Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Poland POL Łukasz Załuska 44 0 38 0 2 0 4 0
13 GK Northern Ireland NIR Michael McGovern 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 DF Ireland EIR Sean Dillon 24 0 19 0 2 0 3 0
3 DF England ENG Danny Grainger 12 1 10 0 1 1 1 0
4 DF Scotland SCO Lee Wilkie 39 5 35 5 1 0 3 0
5 DF Scotland SCO Darren Dods 23 2 19 1 1 1 3 0
18 DF Scotland SCO Garry Kenneth 29 1 25 1 2 0 2 0
23 DF Scotland SCO Paul Dixon 33 1 29 1 1 0 3 0
24 DF Switzerland  SUI Mihael Kovačević 19 0 17 0 1 0 1 0
6 MF Ireland EIR Willo Flood 23 0 19 0 1 0 3 0
6 MF Scotland SCO Paul Caddis 11 0 11 0 0 0 0 0
8 MF Scotland SCO Scott Robertson 25 5 22 3 0 0 3 2
10 MF Australia AUS James Wesolowski 8 0 8 0 0 0 0 0
12 MF Scotland SCO David Robertson 23 3 19 3 2 0 2 0
14 MF Scotland SCO Danny Swanson 33 0 29 0 2 0 2 0
15 MF Scotland SCO Craig Conway 41 4 35 4 2 0 4 0
16 MF France FRA Morgaro Gomis 43 0 37 0 2 0 4 0
25 MF Ghana GHA Prince Buaben 25 2 22 1 2 1 1 0
29 MF Scotland SCO Ryan McCord 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
7 ST Northern Ireland NIR Warren Feeney 26 6 23 6 1 0 2 0
10 ST Ireland EIR Roy O'Donovan 13 1 11 1 0 0 2 0
9 ST Ireland EIR Jon Daly 26 9 22 5 2 1 2 3
11 ST Spain ESP Francisco Sandaza 35 10 31 10 1 0 3 0
20 ST Germany GER Andis Shala 9 0 8 0 0 0 1 0
26 ST Scotland SCO David Goodwillie 17 6 15 3 0 0 2 3
30 ST Scotland SCO Johnny Russell 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0

Stats[]

Francisco Sandaza was the top scorer with ten goals, with the team totalling 58 goals.[29] During the 2008–09 season, fifteen United players received at least one caution. In total, the team received 60 yellow cards.[29]

Name Goals Bookings Dismissals
Prince Buaben 2 Yellow card 4
Paul Caddis Yellow card 1
Craig Conway 4 Yellow card 5
Jon Daly 9 Yellow card 2
Sean Dillon Yellow card 1
Paul Dixon 1 Yellow card 1 Red card 1
Darren Dods 2 Yellow card 4
Warren Feeney 6 Yellow card 5
Willo Flood Yellow card 7
Morgaro Gomis Yellow card 4
David Goodwillie 6 Yellow card 2
Danny Grainger 1 Yellow card 4
Garry Kenneth 1 Yellow card 2
Mihael Kovacevic Yellow card 3
Roy O'Donovan 1 Yellow card 2 Red card 1
David Robertson 3 Yellow card 2
Scott Robertson 5 Yellow card 2
Johnny Russell 1
Francisco Sandaza 10 Yellow card 6
Andis Shala Yellow card 1
James Wesolowski Yellow card 3
Lee Wilkie 5 Yellow card 8
Own goals 2

Team statistics[]

League table[]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[a]
3 Heart of Midlothian 38 16 11 11 40 37 +3 59 Qualification for the Europa League play-off round
4 Aberdeen 38 14 11 13 41 40 +1 53 Qualification for the Europa League third qualifying round
5 Dundee United 38 13 14 11 47 50 −3 53
6 Hibernian 38 11 14 13 42 46 −4 47
7 Motherwell 38 13 9 16 46 51 −5 48 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round[b]
Source: Scottish Professional Football League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
  1. ^ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last five matches.
  2. ^ Scotland were awarded an additional Europa League place as the association finished in third place of the UEFA Fair Play ranking. Motherwell earned this place as winners of the Scottish Fair Play ranking.

Transfers[]

In[]

United signed eleven players during the season. Midfielder Scott Robertson agreed a pre-contract move from rivals Dundee on 3 June[30] and two players agreed similar moves on 17 June, with Northern Irish goalkeeper Michael McGovern agreeing to move from Celtic[31] and German striker Andis Shala arriving from VfR Mannheim.[31] Less than a week later, United signed a second player from Dundee when Scotland under-21 defender Paul Dixon arrived for around £25,000.[32] Willo Flood returned for a second successive season-long loan when terms were agreed with Cardiff City again on 1 July[33] and Cardiff colleague Warren Feeney followed in a similar deal a week later.[34] Shortly afterwards, Spanish striker Francisco Sandaza arrived on a three-year contract from Valencia Mestalla.[35] In August, Craig Levein's pursuit of Roy O'Donovan ended with a season-long deal for the Sunderland striker,[36] although he was recalled in January, as was Willo Flood, ahead of his transfer to Celtic. On transfer deadline day, Paul Caddis moved from Celtic Park until the end of the season, with Australian midfielder James Wesolowski joining on a similar deal from Leicester City although his spell was cut short by injury. Youngster Jennison Myrie-Williams joined in June following his release from Bristol City.

Date Player From Fee (£)
1 July 2008 Scotland Paul Dixon Dundee £25,000
1 July 2008 Republic of Ireland Willo Flood Cardiff City Loan
1 July 2008 Northern Ireland Michael McGovern Celtic Bosman
1 July 2008 Scotland Scott Robertson Dundee Bosman
1 July 2008 Germany Andis Shala VfR Mannheim Bosman
8 July 2008 Northern Ireland Warren Feeney Cardiff City Loan
11 July 2008 Spain Francisco Sandaza Valencia Mestalla Bosman
8 August 2008 Republic of Ireland Roy O'Donovan Sunderland Loan
2 February 2009 Scotland Paul Caddis Celtic Loan
2 February 2009 Australia James Wesolowski Leicester City Loan
12 June 2009 England Jennison Myrie-Williams Bristol City Free

Out[]

The club sold only one player during the season, with Noel Hunt joining his brother Stephen at English side Reading for around £600,000.[37] Young striker Kevin Smith moved on loan to Raith Rovers until January,[38] with fellow youngsters Johnny Russell and John Gibson moving to Forfar Athletic on similar temporary deals.[39][40] Young left back Sean Fleming followed suit shortly afterwards when he joined Peterhead for four months.[41] Gibson's loan was subsequently extended until the end of the season, with young first team squad member Keith Watson joining him on a short-term loan, shortly afterwards Marco Andreoni undertook a similar deal with Albion Rovers. Sean Fleming moved back out on loan, joining Andreoni at Albion while young midfielder Ryan McCord moved short-term to Stirling Albion and Gordon Pope headed to Montrose. Kevin Smith went back to Raith after returning to Tannadice for a few weeks, with Johnny Russell returning to Forfar in similar fashion. Towards the end of February, midfielder Greg Cameron moved on loan to Irish outfit Shamrock Rovers, managed by former United player Michael O'Neill and Fraser Milligan departed to Montrose on a similar deal shortly afterwards. Youth goalkeeper Gibson signed a one-year deal with Dundee on his return to Tannadice. Similarly, Fleming, Pope and Milligan all penned two-year deals with Montrose at the end of May.

Date Player To Fee (£)
23 July 2008 Republic of Ireland Noel Hunt Reading £600,000
25 July 2008 Scotland Kevin Smith Raith Rovers Loan
20 August 2008 Scotland Johnny Russell Forfar Athletic Loan
28 August 2008 Scotland John Gibson Forfar Athletic Loan
30 August 2008 Scotland Sean Fleming Peterhead Loan
10 December 2008 Scotland Albion Rovers Loan
2 January 2009 Scotland Keith Watson Forfar Athletic Loan
6 January 2009 Scotland Ryan McCord Stirling Albion Loan
6 January 2009 Scotland Sean Fleming Albion Rovers Loan
23 January 2009 Scotland Gordon Pope Montrose Loan
23 January 2009 Scotland Kevin Smith Raith Rovers Loan
23 February 2009 Scotland Greg Cameron Shamrock Rovers Loan
6 March 2009 Scotland Fraser Milligan Montrose Loan
15 May 2009 Scotland John Gibson Dundee Free
29 May 2009 Scotland Sean Fleming Montrose Free
29 May 2009 Scotland Gordon Pope Montrose Free
29 May 2009 Scotland Fraser Milligan Montrose Free

Awards[]

Rising Star[]

September 2008

Playing kit[]

Home colours
Away colours

The jerseys were sponsored for the first time by JD Sports' Carbrini Sportswear label,[42][43] with the firm also sponsoring the shorts. Kitmaker Hummel supplied their last strip after the club announced in March 2009 that Nike would begin a four-year deal for the 2009–10 season.

The club has no third strip, with the last third strip used in the 2002–03 season.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Roache, Ian (22 July 2008). "United reject £500,000 bid for Hunt". The Courier. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
  2. ^ "Reading increase offer for Hunt". The Courier. 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  3. ^ "Argyle's manager has Parkinson's". BBC Sport. 28 July 2008. Archived from the original on 29 July 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2008.
  4. ^ "Inverness Dods approach rejected". BBC Sport. 28 August 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  5. ^ "Motherwell mourn death of Dolan". BBC Sport. 1 September 2008. Archived from the original on 3 September 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
  6. ^ "U21 NEWS – SCOTLAND 3, SLOVENIA 1". Scottish FA. 4 September 2008. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
  7. ^ "Conway agrees new Tannadice deal". BBC Sport. 6 September 2008. Archived from the original on 12 September 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
  8. ^ "U21 NEWS – DENMARK 1, SCOTLAND 1". Scottish FA. 9 September 2008. Archived from the original on 16 September 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2008.
  9. ^ Roache, Ian (10 September 2008). "Departing Bennett in Dens link". The Courier. Archived from the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
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