Dundee United FC Official Web Site - Legends

There are probably lots of people who have had songs written about them but it is unlikely to apply to many sports personalities, let alone football players and especially goal-keepers – yet Hamish McAlpine is such a unique character that he can lay claim to that accolade. ‘Hamish’ was written by local musician Michael Marra and appears on his album ‘On Stolen Stationery’. The song relates the exploits of the goalie many would say was the best United ever had. Certainly he was one of the longest serving keepers at Tannadice.
A career which began when he made his debut in a match against Hearts in 1968-69, and went on almost uninterrupted for more than 16 years, and ended with his last game, unfortunately a 1-0 defeat by Aberdeen at Pittodrie in the second leg of a League Cup semi-final.

At the time Hamish signed for United in 1966 from local junior side North End, the goal-keeping position was more or less shared between Donald Mackay and Sandy Davie whilst Hamish spent most of his early time at Tannadice in the reserve side learning his trade. To gain further experience he was also loaned out to Montrose for a large part of season 1967-68 and whilst there he made 26 appearances. After Davie left to try his luck in Australia, Hamish was given his chance in the first team and made his competitive debut on 8th March 1969 at Tynecastle in a 1-0 defeat by Hearts. Hamish had in fact already made a first team appearance for United in 4-4 draw away to Hartlepool in a friendly at the beginning of the season.

Further progress as the first team keeper was hindered by a knee injury which sidelined him for about half of the following season. It was not until season 1970-71 that Hamish had a decent run in the side. During that season he played in all four of the Club’s Scottish Cup ties, going out in the fourth round to Aberdeen after a replay. In the League Campaign he took the number one jersey from Mackay in October and went on to play in all bar ten League games. This season also witnessed Hamish’s debut in Europe when he turned out in the 1-0 away win against Sparta Prague on 4th November 1970.

Hamish remained the first choice keeper for the next two seasons and in 1971-72 he missed only five domestic games. At the end of the season Donald Mackay left and Sandy Davie returned. Hamish held on to the number one jersey for all but ten of the matches in 1972-73 and from the kick-off the following season he was still first choice. However, Davie forced himself back into the reckoning as the season progressed. After the mid way point Hamish found himself back in the reserves until March when he played a League match against Hearts. He turned out in both games against Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup quarter final. Davie then regained his place and it was he and not Hamish who travelled to Hampden for the final against Celtic. There were no substitute goalies then so Hamish had to be content to watch from the stand.

Season 1975-76 dawned with Hamish back in goal. From the first match against Motherwell at Tanndice until the arrival of Peter Bonetti for his short spell at Tanndice at the beginning of 1979-80, Hamish was an ever present in the side in all competitive domestic and European games. In fact from August 1974 until May 1984, the name of Hamish McAlpine appeared on the team sheet in all bar fourteen competitive games. Apart from the short tenure of Bonetti, only injury prevented this record being even more remarkable. Indeed when Hamish missed a handful of games in 1980 it was as a result of a life-threatening injury sustained in a League match at Ibrox. An accidental clash left him with a burst blood vessel in a leg but Hamish was unaware of the seriousness of the problem. Fortunately medical attention later that day saved not only his career but quite possibly his life.

By the time the Premier League came into being Hamish had gone on to become captain of Dundee United. He also attained a record which it is unlikely will ever be equalled. He became the Tangerines’ top-scoring goal-keeper! United were having a run of very little success from spot kicks and it was an astonished crowd who watched as Hamish ran the length of the pitch to take the kick awarded in the League match against Hibernian at Tanndice on 28th April 1976 and he scored. However, a goal-keeper taking penalty kicks has its own draw backs. This was shown in the last match of the season at Ibrox with United needing at least a point to ensure Premier League survival. United were awarded a penalty and Hamish of course ran up to take the kick but unfortunately he hit it off the post. Then the team had a frantic couple of minutes while he tried to get back to his own goal and Rangers tried to take advantage of the situation. In the following season he scored twice more from the spot, once against Hearts at Tynecastle in a 2-1 win for United and the other against Rangers at Ibrox in a 3-2 United success. However the responsibility of penalties was soon taken on by others such as Paul Hegarty and George Fleming and so the scoring exploits of Hamish ended as far as United was concerned.

Hamish also had a great affinity with the support and was often seen conducting Arabs singing, particularly those fans in the Shed. Of his interaction with the fans Hamish once said “You were always aware just how much the results meant to the fans so you always wanted to do well for them and put a smile on their faces. You were also very close to the crowd, about five yards away in fact. That enabled you to get a bit of banter going and it progressed from there on until it was a regular thing. It was another part of the job that was very enjoyable. It was struck up over the course of many years and it was a laugh. Even with the fans from the opposition you had some great banter.”

After around ten years at Tanndice, initially under the guidance of Jerry Kerr but mostly with Jim McLean as his Manager, Hamish was part of the League Cup winning side when United beat Aberdeen in a replay to win the trophy in December 1979. A year later came the proudest moment in the career of Hamish McAlpine. He recalls the moment after United beat local rivals Dundee to lift the same trophy for the second year in a row. “Traditionally, the keeper goes out second , but when we went up to the Director’s Box at Dens to collect the trophy, Paul Hegarty who was captain suddenly stepped aside and ushered me forward to accept the Cup.. All the lads knew about it except me, but it was a great gesture, much appreciated.”

Hamish gained his third national trophy as part of the Championship winning side of 1982-83 a season in which, as already mentioned, he was an ever present in the side. Of the title win he said “I think winning the Championship has to go down as the greatest achievement. Winning the title on the last day of the season in a three horse race which also included Aberdeen and Celtic brings home the magnitude of the achievement.”

As reward for his loyal service to United, Hamish was given a testimonial against Tottenham on 17th August 1983. The sides played out an entertaining 1-1 draw in front of 10,738 fans who turned up to honour a player who by then had made almost 600 appearances for his team. Hamish is also rightly proud of receiving the Player’s Player of the Year and the Football Writer’s Award in his penultimate season 1984-85. He said “There is no greater accolade than to be recognised by your fellow professionals or the press.”

In view of the service Hamish gave to United and the consistency of his performances it is surprising that full international recognition eluded him. The only occasions he turned out in a Scottish jersey were as a Youth international whilst he was with Butterburn Boys Club and much later he made five appearances as an over age player in the Scotland Under-21 side.

No one can play on for ever, although at times it appeared as if Hamish would! His career at Tannadice had to end some time. After sustaining an injury he lost the first team position in 1985-86 to Billy Thomson who had been his deputy in the previous season. Hamish then went on to play once for Dunfermline before a move to Raith Rovers gave him a new lease of life. He spent two seasons at Starks Park making 83 appearances for the Kirkcaldy side. He also kept up his goal scoring record netting once for them in a League match against Kimarnock at Rugby Park on 12th September 1987. The incident was a very rare keeper’s goal scored in open play from a wind-assisted clearance. At the time the sides were locked at 3-3 but Hamish’s goal turned out to be the winner as it bounced over the head of opposite number Barry Holland and into the empty net. Hamish even helped Celtic out of a goalkeeping crisis against Winterthur on 16th July 1988 as he turned out for the Glasgow side during their tour of Switzerland. Hamish finally hung up his boots in season 1988-89 after 12 games for his last club, Arbroath. He did not want to get into the coaching side and initially started his own business running ‘Goalies’ pub in Dundee for several years before finally taking a position as a sales rep with a local firm. He has also been involved with the Dundee United Commercial Department at hospitality events and still regularly attends various supporters’ functions where his rapport with the fans ensures he is always welcomed as what he is - a Dundee United legend.

Honours

League Championship

1982-83

League Cup

Winner 1979, 1980
Runner Up 1981, 1984

Scottish Cup

Runner Up 1981, 1985

International

Under 21 Caps

1982-83 German Democratic Republic, Switzerland (2), Belgium
1983-84 Belgium