2012

In 2012, the Club inducted the following players into the Hall of Fame:- Arthur Milne, Jim Irvine, Billy Kirkwood, Billy Thomson, Brian Welsh and Kjell Olofsson.

ARTHUR MILNE
Total Apps: 111   Goals: 109

Arthur signed from Brechin Victoria in 1934 and made a sensational debut; scoring four goals to set the trend for the high scoring centre. He struck up an immediate understanding with Bobby Gardiner and the pair soon became known as “the mighty midgets”.

Arthur ended all four of his seasons at United as top scorer. He went to Liverpool on loan in March 1937and due an administrative error, became a free agent and was signed by Hibs. In November 1939 he returned to United, featuring regularly in the side during 1939-40 and he was in the side for the Emergency War Cup final in May 1940.

JIM IRVINE
Total Apps: 160   Goals: 76

Jim signed from Whitburn Juniors in August 1959. He went on to become an important player in the 1959-60 campaign, becoming top scorer that season and helping to take United into the First Division. Jim remained with United for the next four years, filling all of the forward positions and scoring regularly. In May 1964, he left United to join Middlesbrough for a fee of around £25,000.

BILLY KIRKWOOD
Total Apps: 399   Goals: 70

Billy was initially signed provisionally in May 1975 from Cornbank Boys Club and he started his career at United as an attacker. In 1977-78, he made the breakthrough into the first team and for the next eight years he was a regular in the line up. In his first two seasons, he was top scorer. He collected winner’s medals in the League Cup finals of 1979 and 1980, although in the latter match, he remained on the bench. He also has runners-up medals from two other League Cup finals and two in the Scottish Cup. In 1982-83 Billy was in the United side that won the Scottish League championship. 

He left to join Hibs in mid 1986 but returned in December and went on to collect a runners-up medal in the UEFA Cup final before joining Dunfermline Athletic in September 1987.

In March 1995, he returned to Tannadice as Manager and successfully took United back into the Premier League after a year in the First Division, but was replaced by Tommy McLean early in 1996-97.

BILLY THOMSON
Total Apps: 234   Goals: 0

Billy was a Scotland international who had been with Partick Thistle and St Mirren, before signing for United in 1984. After a brief run in the team, his first season was spent mainly as understudy to Hamish McAlpine. In 1985-86, he became firmly established as the first choice keeper and held the No. 1 jersey for four seasons. 

Billy collected two runners-up medals in Scottish Cup finals and a UEFA Cup final. In October 1989 he lost his first team place and was only in the side occasionally over the next two years and had a spell on loan at Clydebank. He left to join Motherwell in July 1991 for around £55,000. 

BRIAN WELSH
Total Apps: 117   Goals: 14

Brian was signed from Tynecastle Boys Club in 1985. He started in United youths and reserves and was a Scotland schools, Under-16 and youth international. In competition with several established first team players, he did not gain a regular starting slot until 1990-91. In season 1993-94, he was a first choice and scored crucial goals, en route to collecting a winner’s medal in the Scottish Cup final. He was a regular in the side which encountered relegation and after a tough campaign in the First Division, Brian netted what was arguably his most important goal for United, in the play-off second leg against Partick Thistle. At the beginning of the next season, he left to join Hibs for a fee of around £200,000.

KJELL OLOFSSON
Total Apps: 119   Goals: 46

Formerly of Västra Frölunda, Warta, Örgryte and Moss, Kjell had gained one cap in the Swedish Olympic side. He was initially on a short-term deal from Moss in 1996, but was quickly signed on a longer term deal.

Kjell was a regular in the side for the next three years, becoming top scorer in 1996-97 and 1997-98. He collected a League Cup runners-up medal in November 1997. When his contract expired in May 1999, Kjell returned to Norway, where he again joined Moss.