Pride - In Victory and Defeat (1987 Uefa Cup Final) - Dundee United v IFK Göteborg

In football - the action contained within the 90 or 120 minutes of play or the tension of penalty shootouts to resolve a stalemate provides the result and the winners and the losers. However, the aftermath of such victories and defeats are often overlooked. The football supporter experiences the aftermath -- the joy and the sadness. European finals are unique events. Even more unique is to witness a European final in your home town and at the home of your own team with that team competing.

Rarely in football do we find pride in both victory and defeat. In many senses the final whistle that ended the 1987 Uefa Cup Final 2nd leg between Dundee United and IFK Göteborg signalled many emotions. Both teams had a real feel of that matching pride of victory and defeat. It was hardly surprising that the first FIFA Fair Play Award was awarded to Dundee United. This recognition of a unique pride had clearly reached the highest levels in football.

Less than a year later - after this final was completed, I had an interview with the BBC in Glasgow. I always wanted to work for them. As I walked through the office I noticed all the reporters and presenters on Reporting Scotland. The interviewer - a guy called Cargill, sat me at the end of a large room and put a spotlight on me and asked me to speak about myself for twenty minutes. I was not able to show "Little Giants" - as I would have needed a projector and screen to show the film. I think my work would have spoken for itself. A film is worth a thousand words. I did not get the Job at the BBC! But now pride in defeat.

See the trailer for the full film of this game "Little Giants" at
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CKOwYLQleqw

Match Details
Date: 20th May, 1987
Place: Tannadice Park, Dundee, Scotland
City: Dundee - Approximate population - 180,000 (in 1987)
Attendance: 20,911

Teams
Dundee United
Billy Thompson; Maurice Malpas, John Clark, David Narey, John Holt (Paul Hegarty); Jim McInally, Ian Ferguson, Billy Kirkwood; Paul Sturrock, Ian Redford (Eammon Bannon), Kevin Gallacher

IFK Göteborg
Wernersson; Carlsson, Hysen, Larsson, Fredriksson; R. Nilsson (Johansson), Tord Holmgren, Andersson, Tommy Holmgren (Mordt); Pettersson, L. Nilsson

Filmed and Edited by
Graham Duncan, Dundee, Scotland

Teams Dundee United met in 1986-87 Uefa Cup:-

First Round - RC Lens (France)
Second Round - Universitatea Craiova (Romania)
Third Round - NK Hajduk Split (now Croatia - then part of Yugoslavia)
Quarter Final - FC Barcelona (Spain)
Semi Final - Borussia Monchengladbach (West Germany)
Final IFK - Goteborg (Sweden)

These teams also beat the following in that Uefa Cup:-

IFK Goteborg beat SK Sigma Olomouc, BSV Brandenburg (East Germany), KAA Gent (Belgium), FC Internazionale or Inter Milan (Italy), FC Tirol Innsbruck (Austria)

Borussia Monchengladbach beat FK Partizan (Yugoslavia) and Feyenoord (Holland), Glasgow Rangers (Scotland) and Vitória Guimarães (Portugal)

Barcelona beat Flamurtari Vlora (Albania), Sporting Lisbon (Portugal) and Bayer Uerdingen (Germany)

NK Hajduk Split beat OFI Crete FC (Greece) and PFC Botev Plovdiv (Bulgaria)

Universitatea Craiova beat Galatasaray SK (Turkey)

Similar teams such as Ipswich Town, Middlesbrough and AZ Alkmaar have made the United form of impact in the Uefa Cup.

Notes from 2007 -
The 2007 Champions League Final is between AC Milan and Liverpool. The Media had made much of the potential all British Final between Liverpool and Manchester United. In 1984, Dundee United met Roma and won the first leg 2-0 but lost the second leg 0-3 and lost the tie. United would have met Liverpool in the final. This year another United (Manchester) won the first leg against AC Milan 3-2 but lost the second leg 0-3 (the same sencond leg score and Dundee United!). Manchester United would have met Liverpool in this years final. Instead of those two all British Finals they were and are - Roma v Liverpool and AC Milan V Liverpool.

In 2008 we do have a all English Champions League Final - Manchester United v Chelsea in Moscow! Good luck Manchster United!

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[solefthanded2]

Cheered the Swedes to victory that night!!

Only a f**king DAB could celebrate geating beat. real fans are crying into their beer - but not DAB's, oh no, they're celebtrating!!!

Losers are just that - losers.

[negba]

They did not get beat - they drew!?

They did not win the game but they won respect - FIFA respect - we could do with that right now. A bigger award from FIFA and not just for Fair Play. Football is football - it is about losing as well as winning - and doing both with pride.

[solefthanded2]

@negba

yawn.

[negba]

Like the Europa League - yawn!

[DundeeArabBastard]

I have watched this a few times now and my mates agree there is something ghostly about this it makes the spine tingle, it realy is a great video mate.

[Johnstone72]

This was the saddest and proudest day in our clubs history. A group of players on not much more than a working mans wage, the sportsmanship and humility. These were the things to be proud of. The modern game has much to offer by way of entertainment and spectacle, but at what cost? It has become a corporate citadel where mediocre players command fortunes, megga stars writhe in agony at every opportunity. While the great unwashed sit in front of the Sky+ in isolation from our past glories.

[ddeeguy34]

solehanded2 only a fuckin bluenose who knows sod all about football or sucess could make a comment like that, you assholes will rot in division one and no doubt youll be in administration again in 5 years ,tinky bastards

[shedboyroy]

such an emotional night, and still effects me now watching it back. I was a 12 year old boy there that night in my usual spot in the 'seggy' (just left of the camera position). If i was a year older, i would have been a ball boy that night, year above me at my school got that honour.

so near, yet so far. ever to be repeated? doubt it.....

[solefthanded2]

@discodivastu

Quality reply -- provided one handed, no doubt.

[discodivastu]

@solefthanded2 haha you fud.