Although the same standard as the previous season was not achieved in season 1966-67 (the Club could finish only ninth in the League) yet another run to the Scottish Cup semi-final was achieved. United again fell at the penultimate hurdle. This time Aberdeen were 1-0 winners courtesy of an unlucky own goal by Tommy Millar in a game which perhaps they should have won. The other domestic Cup yielded the usual disappointment for Doug and his team mates but it had been a tough section. The most memorable of Doug’s 48 games in all competitions that year must surely be the tie against Spanish giants and Fairs Cup holders Barcelona. United were victorious home and away and the reward for knocking out the holders was a tie against Italian aces Juventus. Unfortunately the Tannadice outfit went out despite a spirited win in the second leg at home.

1966-67 was also the first time United participated in a lengthy close season tour. They played in the North American Soccer League as Dallas Tornados, beginning an association with then Dallas Tornados American Football team owner Lamar Hunt, a connection which is maintained to this day.

1967-68 was another disappointing season with Doug again an ever present in the side. For the second season in a row United went out of the League Cup in the group stages in another tough section. Whilst in the Scottish Cup, after getting past St Mirren, the Terrors fought out an enthralling game at Tanndice, eventually losing to Hearts by the odd goal in eleven! During the League Cup run Doug netted his second goal for United in a 2-2 draw against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

The League campaign the following season saw an improvement in form. United finished fifth to earn another crack at Europe. In the Scottish Cup a promising start to the tournament was blighted by a poor home defeat by Morton in the quarter-final. The League Cup was over before it really began, after United lost their first three games in the group stages, but then won the next three. For the first time in a while Doug missed a game in the League Cup allowing a young Stewart Markland to make his debut.

The Fairs Cup drew United a plumb tie against Newcastle United. The English side was too good for United and they lost both home and away, albeit narrowly. The League Cup and Scottish Cup brought more disappointment for Doug, but at least the League position of fifth was again the outcome of the campaign with Europe beckoning again. Doug also managed another goal this term in a 5-4 win over Morton at home.

Until now all three of Doug’s goals were scored from open play but all that was to change in 1970-71 when Doug became the recognised penalty taker. In yet another season as an ever present he netted five from the spot in the League and one in the League Cup. The season overall was poor, with early exits from both domestic Cups and in Europe. A League placing of sixth meant United lost out on Europe but instead went into the Texaco Cup.

Doug’s goal tally increased again in 1971-72 as he scored two more penalties. For the first season in his long career he was out of the side through injury and missed nine League games in all. The Club finished in mid table. In a lacklustre League Cup United again failed to advance from the group stages, and in the Scottish Cup Aberdeen again knocked the Terrors flying from the competition. In the Texaco Cup Doug played in the 2-6 away defeat at Derby but missed the home leg.

An improvement in 1972-73 saw a sixth place finish again and Doug made 31 League appearances netting another five penalties. Three more spot kicks were converted by Doug in the League Cup in which United at last reached the quarter final stages only to be knocked out by Hibs. The Scottish Cup ended in a 1-0 defeat at Ibrox. In the Texaco Cup, Doug scored from a penalty in the 2-2 home draw against Leicester. United drew 3-3 on aggregate and exited in a penalty shoot-out.

1973-74 may have been Doug’s finest season, although the League campaign again saw only a mid table finish, with the centre half making 26 appearances and scoring three penalties. He netted another in the League Cup as United’s interest in the tourney ended again in the group stages. In the Texaco Cup Doug played in the ties against Sheffield United and Leicester City to set up a semi-final against Newcastle United. Doug did not turn out in either of the two legs as United fell 4-3 after extra time in the away leg of the tie.

In the Scottish Cup however, Doug proudly led his team mates to a Hampden final against Celtic. En route he had netted twice from the spot, one crucially in the semi-final replay against Hearts.

In season 1974-75 Doug’s appearances became fewer. He started only twenty of the 34 League matches and came off the bench twice. He managed only one penalty goal that season in a 5-0 demolition of Motherwell in the first game of the season. It proved to be his last goal for United. Doug also played in two of United’s three Scottish Cup ties and turned out in all six games of yet another group stage League Cup exit. However, Doug did manage to make his mark in yet another European competition as he played in all four of the Cup Winners Cup ties. A fourth place earned entry to the next season’s UEFA Cup in which Doug played twice, once as a substitute. Three League Cup ties and seven in the League was Doug’s tally for the season. On 31st January 1976 Doug played in his last game for United, a 2-1 defeat at Celtic Park, although he remained until the end of the season helping develop young talent in the reserve side. In a mark of gratitude for his service to the Club the Directors awarded him a Testimonial match. In front of 5,000 spectators his Guest XI for the game included, Ron Yeats, Dennis Gillespie and Jimmy Briggs along with Bobby Lennox of Celtic, Ally Donaldson of Dundee, Joe Harper and Willie Miller of Aberdeen and Tommy McLean of Rangers. It says much that opponents of this calibre were prepared to honour Doug in this fashion.

Although he never attained national League or Cup silverware or international honours, Doug Smith was never one to mourn what he had not attained. He retired from the game with one major distinction which will likely never be repeated by another Scottish player. In all of his eighteen year playing career during which he turned out in 628 competitive matches he was never once cautioned! The feat is all the more remarkable for Doug being a central defender, a position which generally sees more bookings than most. Rated the best uncapped player in Scotland at the time Doug said of his career “I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and only gave up the game when the years caught up on me. I certainly have no regrets about being a one club man, though had I played in the modern game with the way contracts are these days things might well have been different” As a player Doug Smith was the perfect professional and was totally committed to Dundee United during his long career and fully deserves to be classed as ---- A Legend.

 

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