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 His first season saw him make ten starts in the first team and two appearances as a substitute. For the next sixteen years he would be a virtual ever-present in the tangerine ranks. In September 1974 Dave made his European debut in the Cup Winners' Cup and scored in a 3-0 home leg win over Jiul Petrosani in a match which also marked the first-team debut of a certain Paul Sturrock. The successful 70's and 80's team was beginning to take shape. Trophy successes, European glory nights and international honours followed. The Club reached previously undreamed of heights and no one did more to scale these new peaks than Dave Narey. Until April 2000 he held every possible United appearance record and only Maurice Malpas's tally of League appearances denies Narey a clean sweep.  Some of the Narey figures such as seventy Scottish Cup ties are simply
astounding and the seventy-six European games for United in the three
European competitions is a Scottish record for a player with one club.
This colossal total is unlikely to be surpassed as players change clubs
more frequently and Scottish clubs find it harder each year to make
significant progress in such competitions. The outstanding displays which brought international recognition in the late 70's also brought interest from other clubs and during the 1978 close season it was reported that several English clubs had tried to lure Narey south. The height of this transfer speculation came in September 1978 when Derby County Assistant Manager Frank Blunstone was fined for making an illegal approach for Narey's services Around this time the Club decided to instigate a system of long-term
endowment policies for certain vital players which would provide a large
lump sum for them when their playing days at Tannadice were over. Narey
was one to benefit as he signed a long term contract. Years later he
recalled this period in his career "I was kept informed of moves
which were made for me over the years. I remember being told that Southampton
were interested and also Leeds United while Jock Stein was there but
I never went knocking on the manager's door wanting to find out if clubs
were making enquiries. I suppose the fact that I had never lived anywhere
but Dundee helped United hold on to me. I didn't push for a transfer
because I wasn't sure if would settle elsewhere. The money might have
been better but I wonder if I would have had the same peace of mind."  He was quick to add at the time of his 1988 testimonial that money and bonuses had been good at Tannadice "but the main reason I stayed was because we have had successes over the years." Some of that success was in Europe. Prior to the 1987 UEFA Cup run Dave Narey usually quoted the 1981 demolition of Borussia Moechengladbach by five goals to nil as one of his career highlights. It was certainly a club landmark. Up until then United's European record, Barcelona and Juventus apart, had been indifferent. Suddenly the Club's name became known throughout Europe and, after that, United confidently represented Scotland to great effect year after year. The high point of course was reached during the 1987 run to the UEFA Cup Final and for Dave Narey, captain for most of that season due to Paul Hegarty experiencing a series of injuries, the script could have been bettered. Dundee's greatest-ever footballer had the honour of leading out his home town team in a European final in Dundee. There will always be justifiable pride from everyone with United affiliations about Season 1986/87 but there is no hesitation by Narey when asked his biggest disappointment, "Losing to Gothenburg in the UEFA Cup Final at Tannadice". That verdict is a measure of how far he and the Club's ambitions had grown.  Back in November 1977 a sixty-eight year old Club ambition was achieved when Dave Narey became the first-ever Dundee United player to be selected for Scotland and such was the pride of everyone at Tannadice that the Lion Rampant was flown from the roof of the Main Stand. David Narey went on to play thirty-five times for Scotland although some commentators felt he could have amassed a greater number of caps. He was famously quiet at international training camps and it is claimed by some that his preference to stay in the background and a general lack of assertiveness held him back. Certainly other players might have been less willing to lay their reputations on the line by being continually played out of position for Scotland but, as usual, Dave let his skills talk for him. Narey often played as Scotland's anchor man in midfield and after the
Brazil-in-Seville game in 1982 he played a number of times at right
back. In two World Cups and in many other matches he never complained
and he never let Scotland down. He may seldom have been capped in his
own position, where Scottish international fans would have seen him
at his majestic best, but he never looked out of place. He was always
at his best against the best. As a central defender it would be unfair to expect too many goals from the Narey boots and head, although his European total of six goals outshines many a famous striker's Euro total. It is all the more ironic that, after years of establishing himself as just about the coolest and most able defender you could wish to see, his lasting fame is linked with one goal - and what a goal! The 1982 World Cup had drawn Scotland in a group which included Brazil. This is a career highlight for all Scottish players but for Dave Narey the match in Seville provided more than professional satisfaction, it brought him unprecedented fame. Early in the game a switch of play by Graeme Souness found John Wark whose headed pass was latched onto by Dave Narey. Taking the pass in his stride and despite the looming presence of three Brazilians he beat Peres in the Brazilian goal with a sensational right foot shot after just 17 minutes. The look of delight on Dave Narey's face and his jig of happiness were unusual public expressions of joy and satisfaction from the taciturn Dundonian. After the match he was his usual modest self. "I was lucky enough to catch the ball properly with my right foot and it went in."
DAVE NAREY'S INTERNATIONAL RECORD Scotland Under 21's (Five caps) Scottish League (One cap) Scotland (35 caps)
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