The next time Dundee won a championship was at the end of the Second World War and having been relegated on the eve of the conflict, it was the ‘B’ Division which Dundee won in season 1945/46.
That season however was deemed unofficial by the Scottish League in order to allow clubs to get their house in order with so many players being demobbed and clubs still using guest players.
To get promotion back to the top tier therefore Dundee would just have to win it again and win it they did thanks to three key home wins in the last three games of the season against Dumbarton (4-0), Raith (5-2) and Ayr (6-2). Promotion had been secured some six weeks previously and the ‘B’ Division title was won against Raith in the penultimate game thanks to a hat-trick from Bert Juliussen, and a goal each from Ernie Ewen and Johnny Pattillo in front of 10,000 fans.
Dundee of course famously won the Scottish Championship away in Perth in 1962 so the next league title won at Dens was the 1978/79 First Division. Dundee had been relegated from inaugural Premier Division in 1976 and in 1979 it was third times lucky for promotion after two third place finishes.
With two teams going up, promotion was secured with a 2-0 home win over Raith Rovers in the penultimate game on Tuesday 8th May with 6450 witnessing goals from Ian Redford and Stewart McLaren.
The winter that year had been so severe that Dundee didn’t play for two months between December 23rd and February 21st meaning a huge backlog of fixtures at the end of the season and Dundee had to play four games in eight days to finish the campaign. Two days after the Raith game Dundee met Ayr United and they needed only point to win the title on Thursday 10th May.
Despite the heavy rain the 7692 crowd were in fine voice as the Dark Blues attacked from the start. Ian Redford headed The Dee in front on 40 minutes only for Brian McLaughlin and Jim McSherry to put Ayr 2-1 ahead with just 22 minutes remaining.
In true Dundee fashion The Dee did things the hard way but secured the First Division trophy when Ian Redford headed home a Jimmy Murphy free kick with just twelve minutes left, much to the relief of the home crowd.
Dundee did things the hard way again when they next won the First Division title in season 1991/92 when a disappointing last day defeat didn’t prevent Dundee winning the title. Having been relegated in 1989/90, Dundee secured promotion at the second attempt with a 3-1 home win over Forfar in the penultimate game and with a two point lead (when it was two points for a win) and a seven goal advantage over second placed Partick, only a major reverse on the final day could prevent Dundee finishing as Champions.
A crowd of 6878, Dundee’s largest of the season, turned out for what they believed would be a party against already relegated Montrose but it proved more of a wake as The Gable Endies won 2-1. Jim Leighton saved a penalty from Steve Craib soon after half-time but goals by Colin Maver and Ivo Den Biemen gave Montrose a 2-0 lead.
Eddie Gallagher pulled one back but there was no glory finish for The Dee but with Partick only drawing, Dundee won the First Division by one point and were presented with the trophy at the end.
This weekend therefore Dundee have the unique chance to win both promotion and the second tier title on the same day at Dens and will need as big a home crowd as possible to help get the club over the finishing line.
It’s a massive day in the club’s recent history and promises to be an exciting afternoon. With Dens Park full to the rafters we can roar on the players to victory and then acclaim Gavin Rae as he holds aloft the SPFL Championship trophy before starting to think about the Premiership and the derbies.
Written by Kenny Ross.