Questions and Answers with GORDON WALLACE
What was the highest number of goals you scored in any one season?
I scored 30 goals for Raith Rovers in season 1967/8 my highest for Dundee was in season 1969/70 I got 23 goals.
What is the most number of goals you have scored in any one game?
In professional football, four is the most I have scored, I managed it on five occasions - for Dundee against East Fife at Bayview in 1970 in which we won 5-2. I once scored TEN in a school game.
Were you ever capped at any level for your country?
I never recieved any international recognition at any level.
How many managers did you play under for Dundee?
I played under John Prentice and also Davie White.
Which manager signed you for Dundee FC?
John Prentice in 1969 from Raith Rovers.
What was the best game you played for Dundee?
I honestly enjoyed lots of games for Dundee, the league cup final is an obvious choice, but the second leg against AC Milan at Dens was as good a performance team-wise as I played in.
Who was the greatest player you played alongside at Dens?
I was lucky enough to play with many good young players while I was at Dundee.
John Duncan, Ian Phillip, Jim Steele & Gordon Strachan, but Jocky Scott was the most talented player I played alongside.
What was the highlight of your playing and management career at Dundee?
Playing in and scoring in the 1973 League Cup Final against Celtic.
You can read the actual SPORTING POST cover & match report from 1973 by
Have you spoken to any of the 73 cup winning team recently?
I am good friends with Jocky Scott and I see some of the others at football games around the country. John Duncan looks me up when he comes home. We are so spread out these days - only Jocky, Ian Phillip and myself live in this area.
Who were the jokers in the pack from your playing days at Dens?
We always went about together - for example on a tour of Australia, we would all go out for a beer together all 16 of us ! - joker? probably Bobby Ford, George Stewart and Duncan lambie - they were the wind up merchants.
How many games did you play for Dundee FC ?
I played in 259 league and cup matches and scored 120 goals
Would you go back into club management?
I would not go back into management. I felt I was more suited to coaching than management, I prefer being on the training ground working with the players.
How much was your most expensive signing for Dundee?
I think the most expensive player was Colin West from Chelsea for £100,000 (reguardless of what the papers said)
Who was your best/worst signing for the club ?
My best signing was definately Billy Dodds for £50,000 from Chelsea - Its not fair to name my worst as probably the fans will name a few.
Were you ever sent off during your Dundee career?
I was never sent off in my career or suspended.
Despite finishing top scorer, you were rather shockingly released by the club after we were relegated from the Premier League in 1976. Do you think this may have had anything to do with your visit to your ex-coachs house after the league cup final win?
I dont think so, the team was breaking up, and I think Bobby Wilson (who also left) and myself were the last of the older brigade. Davie White, who agreed to let me go to America back in November was not best pleased about me going with relegation a possibility. As we did not see eye to eye I think the American trip upset him - I had actually signed an agreement to come back to dens the following season, but he released me while I was in America !
AC Milan or Cologne? which result was sweeter for you and why?
The dramatic fashion to the Cologne game, scoring 3 times late on to win 5-4 made it special, but! the teams performance against AC Milan was superb - unfortunately we lost the tie.
When you played in America was it in the same side as Jocky Scott?
I played with Jocky at Seattle Sounders in 1978, but I also went to America in 1976 after leaving Dundee and played with Geoff Hurst, harry Redknapp and Bobby Moore.
What was your finest goal for the club?
It has to be the winning goal against Celtic in the league cup final - Its a schoolboys dream, but I also scored a couple against St.Johnstone at Muirton in different games that I look back on with great satisfaction.
What was the best goal you have ever seen (live or on tv) ?
Marco Van Bastan`s volley in the Euro Cup Final for Holland against Russia.
Do you think Angus Cook was genuine with his attempt to amalgamate the two city clubs?
I think he saw a chance to have only one club in Dundee. Whether he was wanting to amalgamate is another story.
What is your opinion on amalgamation?
From a purely football point of view - a 16 team Premier League made up of side amalgamating could be the answer (EG East Fife, Raith, Cowdenbeath & Dunfermline as one club) But as a Dundonian who really knows about the supporters wanting their own identity - No I dont thinkit will happen,
Can you see Dundee FC lifting silverware in the near future?
I think Dundee have an outstanding opportunity of lifting a trophy the way they are playing just now. With the Old Firm dominating the league, a cup is their best bet.
Well thats the end of the question session I hope the readers can gain an insight into your playing career and would like to thank you for taking the time to compile this interview.
I will take this opportunity to wish you and Dundee FC every success this year in Europe and in the future.
Yours Sincerely
Gordon Wallace.
(c) 2000-2008 Dee-licious Technologies All Rights Reserved (or something along those lines)
Gordon Wallace, (right)
Dundee FC prolific goalscorer from the 70s.
Shares a few moments with the Dee-Licious website and tells us amongst other things, about the Dees last encounter with an Italian team on european duty.
Its been a long time in coming,
but thankfully Dundee have finally returned to the European arena for the first time in 29 years,
We`ll exclude the Interjoko cup (seeing as we got cuffed likes - lol)
On Wednesday 24th September The Dees will welcome Seria A team
FC Perugia, who qualified for the Uefa cup via the Intertoto cup.
The last time an Italian team enetertained the Dees on European duty was way back in the distant 70s. Gordon recalls the lasting impressions the mighty AC Milan made on a then young striker with Dundee.
"In the San Siro we were caught out with deep crosses to Pratti and we also conceded an own goal in our 0-3 defeat in Italy. In the last minute Jim Steele brought out a magnificent save from the Milan goalkeeper which would have given us a vital away goal.
At Dens Park, John Prentice got our tactics spot on - we moved George Stewart to right back to look after Pratti - we played a midfield three of Bobby Wilson, Jocky scott and Duncan Lambie - all good runners with pace! and we had three up front with two wide and myself through the middle. Had we managed to convert another of our many chances I think we would have gone through."
How would you rate the present Dundee teams chances against Perugia both at home and in Italy?
GW :- "For the present sides tie with Perugia, a clean sheet at home and an away goal is the recipe for success in Europe. I would have preferred Dundee to have had more experience of European ties before taking on an Italian side. Never having seen the Italians its difficult to predict, but they qualified by the intertoto cup so they will know whats required. A 1-0 or 2-0 win at Dens would do nicely then hold out over there."
September 1969
A youthful Gordon Wallace is pictured signing for Dundee, from Raith Rovers for a fee of around £14,000. Manager John Prentice saw fit to plunder Raith Rovers for the services of their young striker who in season 1967-68 had rattled in 30 goals and gained himself the Scottish football Writers Player of the year award - the first non-Old firm player to have recieved the honour.
The Managers
John Prentice (left) signed Gordon in 1969 and Dave White - a difference in opinions later in his career would see him released from the club, despite finishing the season as top goalscorer in season 75-76.
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about this article . Cheers (Rod)
Watch the 73 cup final goal and cup presentation by clicking HERE
View the actual sporting post match report by clicking HERE
