A young Gordon Strachan as a Dundee player. Image: SNS
A young Gordon Strachan as a Dundee player. Image: SNS
Gordon Strachan has recalled being exiled by Dundee aged just 15 after scrapping with TWINS in a reserve team derby against United.
Strachan, currently the Dark Blues’ technical director, came through the ranks at Dens Park as a youngster before enjoying a stellar playing career with Aberdeen, Manchester United and Leeds United.
In a discussion about present day youth development trends on the Open Goal podcast, Strachan recalled his earliest experiences of playing against adult opponents for the Dee.
While an early challenge from Rangers legend John Greig was his first taste of the physicality involved in the game, an incident in a reserve derby clash with United stands out as the moment he learned to stand up for himself.
And the consequences of doing so were also made plain in the aftermath.
Gordon Strachan in action for Dundee against Ayr United in 1975. Image: SNS
Strachan said: “I played my first reserve game when I was 15. I was nine stone two.
“I played against Harry Hood, Lou Macari, all these. John Greig – THE John Greig – I played against him at Ibrox, he was coming back from injury.
“I kid you not, he smashed me. I was 15. I actually thought I’d lost my teeth, it was that bad a tackle.
“You learn to look after yourself.
“I just wanted to go home, I wanted to see my mum after that tackle.
“My first full game was against Dundee United, 15, it was a New Year’s Eve, there were 10,000 people for a reserve game at Tannadice.
“They had twins called Joe and Sandy White, one was left back, one was left wing.
Dundee FC technical director Gordon Strachan. Image: SNS
Dundee FC technical director Gordon Strachan. Image: SNS
“They both played for Scotland U/23s, they weren’t bad. Joe and Sandy White, identical twins.
“So, one of them kept fouling me. It was near the end of the game and one of them walloped me; halved me in two.
“I was lying there in the rain and there’s a bit of snow coming down. I got up and the two of them were standing there looking at me.
“I didn’t know which one it was, so I punched one and kicked the other and got sent off at 15!
“I never played again for four months. I had to clean the boots and do the terracing for four months, because I got sent off.”