Floodlights

Lowdon Brothers and Co. erected flood lights in Dens Park.

They were officially opened with a friendly against Liverpool in March 1960, with brothers Bob and Bill Shankly in opposite dugouts.

Dundee won the match 1-0.

TC Keay

Dundee paid £30,000 for floodlights and a vast new covered enclosure.

Jimmy Gabriel was transferred to Everton in March 1960 to recoup some of the costs incurred as a result of costly postponements and a Scottish Cup exit to Hibs.

Team bus

Dundee players pack their luggage for a weekend trip to Pitlochry in February 1961.

The mid-season refreshment was formerly a staple of the Dens Park regimen.

Heading for glory

Ian Ure attempts a header during training in October 1961.

Signed from Ayr Albion in 1958 for £10 per week, he became Dundee’s defensive stalwart before moving on to Arsenal and Manchester United.

Lights, camera, action…

Before facing Raith Rovers at Dens in November 1961, Dundee players were in high demand, with Bobby Cox behind the camera and Alan Gilzean conducting interviews.

They were having a laugh when a TV crew came.

Dundee won the game 5–4.

Memorable night at Dens Park

Dundee players celebrate on the pitch following a 2-0 victory over St Mirren in April 1962.

The result meant they only needed a point in Perth.

They won the title the following Saturday with a 3-0 victory over St Johnstone.

Ian Ure

Ian Ure signs autographs in Dens in April 1962.

Following Dundee’s league victory at Muirton Park, Ure and Alex Hamilton travelled to Glasgow to join Scotland for a friendly against Uruguay at Hampden.

Training session

Dundee’s players worked hard at Dens Park in May 1962.

The TC Keay traditional home end of the ground may be seen in the backdrop.

Bobby Cox

Dundee captain Bobby Cox poses with the league trophy in August 1962.

The Dark Blues relied on Cox as their driving force.

Dundee FC are league winners…

Dundee’s best team poses with the league trophy ahead of the upcoming season.

Bob Shankly’s team pursued European Cup success after winning the title.

They were paired against West German champions Cologne in the preliminary round.

Karl Fröhlich

In August 1962, Cologne Assistant Secretary Karl Fröhlich arrived on a scouting mission and finalised training facility arrangements.

Bob Shankly gave him a tour of the Dens.

Pitch inspection

Zlatko Čajkovski, Cologne’s manager, assesses the Dens Park pitch with players Anton Regh and Karl-Heinz Ripkens after heavy rain in Dundee.

The Cologne players were promised a £45 bonus if they beat Dundee.

Dundee destroyed Cologne

Dundee defeated Cologne 8-1 at Dens on a memorable European night in August 1962.

After cheering their opponents up the tunnel, Dundee won 8-5 on aggregate.

Hat-trick high jump

Dundee met Sporting Lisbon next, but lost 1-0 in the first leg.

Back at Dens, Alan Gilzean scored three goals in a 4-1 victory over the Portuguese champions, but 38-year-old winger Gordon Smith stole the show.

The Big Freeze

Dens Park groundsmen shovel snow from the surface in January 1963.

It was one of the worst winters on record. The Big Freeze continued until March.

Anderlecht

The Big Freeze postponed Dundee’s quarterfinal against Anderlecht until March 1963.

They advanced to the semi-finals by winning 4-1 in Brussels and 2-1 at Dens.

AC Milan

Dundee fans gather before the semi-final second leg against AC Milan in May 1963.

Despite winning 1-0 in Dens, Milan advanced to the Wembley final after a 5-1 first-leg triumph.

Tunnel vision

The view from the Dens Park Tunnel in March 1964.

Dundee scored 156 goals across all competitions that season, contended for the title, and advanced to the Scottish Cup Final, when they were defeated by Rangers.

Alex Hamilton

Alex Hamilton leads Dundee out against the Rangers in October 1964.

The right back has 24 Scotland caps. Dens lounge is named for him.

Bobby Ancell

Bobby Ancell takes over at Dens in May 1965.He succeeded Bob Shankly.

Bobby Cox, Andy Penman, Jim Easton, Charlie Cooke, Alex Hamilton, and Bobby Seith flank the former Dundee fullback.

Wilson and Wilson

Dundee received a double Wilson boost in March 1966.

The Dark Blues poured the cash, signing striker Sammy from Falkirk for £10,000 and full-back Bobby from Cowdenbeath for £4,000.

Cover stars

Dundee players pose in the dressing room in April 1968 for an Evening Telegraph supplement ahead of their Inter-City Fairs Cup semi-final against Leeds.

Can you recognise future United manager Jim McLean in the front row?

Leeds United

In the first leg against Leeds in May 1968, Scotland’s Billy Bremner fires a shot while the Dundee defence is paying close attention.

The game concluded 1-1 at Dens.

Leeds edged the return leg to get to the final.

Big crowd

A large crowd gathered on Tannadice Street in February 1968 for the visit of the Rangers.

The Scottish Cup match drew 33,000 supporters.

The game finished 1-1 at Dens, but Rangers won the rematch 4-1 at Ibrox.

Derby day

February 1969 saw New Year’s Derby fever.The youthful fans cheered loudly, but their happiness was fleeting.

United won the match 2-1.

Changing skyline

John Prentice, who succeeded Bobby Ancell in September 1968, poses with his Dundee squad for the traditional team portrait in 1969.

Take note of the Hilltown multis rising in the backdrop.

The Dark Blues would finish sixth and advance to the Scottish Cup semifinals.

This is the final image in our 1960s Dens Park portfolio.

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