New Firm (Scotland)

Last updated

New Firm
LocationNorth-east Scotland
Teams Aberdeen and Dundee United
Latest meeting17 May 2025
Dundee United 2-1 Aberdeen
Scottish Premiership
Next meetingTBD
Statistics
Meetings total254
Most winsAberdeen (101)
Uniforms
Scotland location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Aberdeen
Orange pog.svg
Dundee United

The New Firm is the term used, hailing from the 1980s, to describe the rivalry between Scottish football clubs Aberdeen and Dundee United. Both clubs are located on the east coast of Scotland, in the third and fourth most populous cities respectively.

Contents

Although not traditionally a derby, with 65 miles separating both teams, the fixture was seen as a North-east of Scotland derby between the two most successful teams in Scotland outside of the Old Firm during the 1980s. Dundee United also have a more traditional rivalry with their close neighbours Dundee.

History

The term originated in the 1980s, when both clubs challenged the Old Firm for domestic trophies. [1] The term was used by Evening Times and The Glasgow Herald . [2] [3]

The Old Firm have more often than not been the dominant force in Scottish Football, however throughout the 1980s both Aberdeen and Dundee United were more than a match for them, regularly beating them home and away and winning many of the trophies on offer.

Aberdeen were to win the Scottish Premier Division three times, the Scottish Cup four times, the Scottish League Cup twice, the European Cup Winners' Cup and the European Super Cup, all within the 1980s. In this same period, Dundee United won the Scottish Premier Division once and the Scottish League Cup twice, as well as reaching the Scottish Cup final four times, the 1987 UEFA Cup Final, and the semi-final of the 1983–84 European Cup. Not only were the Old Firm not dominating the title race, but for three seasons in a row, 1983 through to 1985, the league title went to either Aberdeen or Dundee United, meaning for the first time two other teams were dominating Scottish Football.

Both sides' success was limited as they entered the 1990s, with Aberdeen winning both cups in 1989–90, reaching both finals in 1992–93, as well as almost winning the league in 1991, while Dundee United were Scottish Cup finalists in 1991 and finally winners in 1994. However, in the 1994–95 season both sides fought relegation (with United going down), and although Aberdeen won the Scottish League Cup in 1995 and Dundee United the Scottish Cup again in 2010, neither side has managed to be a consistent force for Rangers and Celtic to reckon with, and Aberdeen's league success in 1984–85 is the last time a non-Old Firm club won the Scottish league title.

Since 2010 however, the sides have seen a divergence in fortunes, as Aberdeen capitalised on Rangers' implosion to win the Scottish League Cup in 2014 and finish runners-up behind Celtic for four years running between 2014–15 and 2017–18 (losing three cup finals to the same club in that period), while Dundee United were relegated from the top flight in 2016 having lost the 2014 Scottish Cup Final to a local rival, St Johnstone.

Domestic head-to-head

In domestic head-to-head matches, the teams have played each other 254 times, Aberdeen winning 101 compared to United's 82. [4] Aberdeen have won more league and Scottish Cup matches while United have won more League Cup matches between the two.

Given their mutual success particularly in the 1980s, it is perhaps surprising that the only major final featuring both clubs is the 1979–80 Scottish League Cup Final, won by Dundee United in a replay at Dens Park after a draw in Glasgow.

After 17 May 2025: [5] [6]
TeamLeagueScottish CupLeague CupTotal
Aberdeen80129101
Draw579571
Dundee United6471182
Totals2012825254

League competition

Scottish Premiership Table (2013/14-present – 5 Seasons)

As of 16 May 2018:
ClubSeasonsPlayedWDLGFGAGDPts
Aberdeen 51901113049302191111363
Dundee United 3114412251168176−8142

SPL Table (1998/99-2012/13 – 15 Seasons)

ClubSeasonsPlayedWDLGFGAGDPts
Aberdeen 15566188143235651785−134707
Dundee United 15566173162231674845−171681

European competition

As of 9 August 2012:
TeamTPWDLFA
Dundee United 26110463034168116
Aberdeen 27109442837160130

Players at both clubs

Nine players have signed for Dundee United directly from Aberdeen, the last being in 2000. Ten have made the opposite journey from Tannadice to Pittodrie, with five since August 2005.

Complete list

In addition, other players have played for both clubs without moving directly between them. A list of all players to have played at least one first-team game for both clubs is displayed below.

Player records

A list of players to have scored in derby matches between the two from 27 August 1994 up to 20 November 2021 is below:

Partial game list

Fixtures from 27 August 1994 to the present day featuring League games, Scottish Cup and League Cup matches. [26] [27] [28] Aberdeen wins are coloured in red, United wins in tangerine and draws are grey.

DateCompetitionVenueResultCrowdScorers (Aberdeen)Scorers (United)
27 August 1994 Premier Division Tannadice 2–19,332 Grant Welsh, Brewster
29 October 1994 Premier Division Pittodrie 3–011,744 Kane (2), Booth
2 January 1995 Premier Division Tannadice0–010,560
6 May 1995 Premier Division Pittodrie2–120,124 Dodds, Shearer Winters
28 September 1996 Premier Division Tannadice1–010,359 McSwegan
16 November 1996 Premier Division Pittodrie3–313,807 Kiriakov, Kombouaré, Dodds McLaren, Winters, Olofsson
1 January 1997 Premier Division Tannadice4–09,736 Winters, Pressley (2), Olofsson
15 March 1997 Premier Division Pittodrie1–113,645 Windass Olofsson
30 August 1997 Premier Division Pittodrie1–112,060 Dodds Winters
15 October 1997 League Cup SF Tynecastle 1–310,456 Windass Winters (2), Easton
9 November 1997 Premier Division Tannadice5–07,893 Olofsson (2), Zetterlund, McLaren, Easton
3 January 1998 Premier Division Pittodrie1–017,025 Windass
24 January 1998 Scottish Cup R3 Tannadice 1–011,488 Winters
11 April 1998 Premier Division Tannadice0–09,155
4 October 1998 Premier League Tannadice 1–08,933 McSwegan
28 November 1998 Premier League Pittodrie 0–311,964 Olofsson, J.Miller, Easton
20 February 1999 Premier League Tannadice3–08,309 Olofsson, Dodds, Hannah
17 April 1999 Premier League Pittodrie0–411,603 Dodds (2), J.Miller, Olofsson
18 September 1999 Premier League Pittodrie1–211,814 Dow Hannah, Dodds
6 November 1999 Premier League Tannadice3–18,170 Solberg Dodds (2), Paterson
27 December 1999 Premier League Pittodrie3–116,656 Zerouali, Belabed, Stavrum Hannah
13 February 2000 League Cup SF Dens 1–09,500 Stavrum
12 March 2000 Scottish Cup QF Tannadice 0–16,738 Jess
25 March 2000 Premier League Tannadice1–16,723 Stavrum Ferraz
23 September 2000 Premier League Tannadice3–57,699 Winters (3), Young, Jess Easton, McConalogue, Hannah
17 March 2001 Premier League Tannadice1–18,457 Winters C.Miller
4 April 2001 Premier League Pittodrie4–19,962 Stavrum (3), Young Griffin
20 May 2001 Premier League Pittodrie1–211,633 Stavrum Venetis, Lilley
15 September 2001 Premier League Pittodrie2–112,948 Winters, Zerouali McIntyre
15 December 2001 Premier League Tannadice1–19,129 Winters Easton
16 February 2002 Premier League Pittodrie4–013,612 Winters, Young (2), Mike
11 September 2002 Premier League Pittodrie1–210,724 Mackie Thompson (2)
30 November 2002 Premier League Tannadice1–18,621 McGuire Hamilton
16 February 2003 Premier League Pittodrie3–09,146 Sheerin (2), McGuire
24 May 2003 Premier League Tannadice0–28,516 Mackie, Tosh
18 October 2003 Premier League Pittodrie0–111,234 McLaren
17 January 2004 Premier League Tannadice3–28,888 Booth, Clark Robson, C.Miller, Dodds
3 April 2004 Premier League Pittodrie3–08,449 Hinds, McGuire, Sheerin
11 September 2004 Premier League Tannadice1–110,995 Mackie Wilson
27 November 2004 Premier League Pittodrie1–012,038 Tosh
27 February 2005 Scottish Cup QF Tannadice 4–18,661 Byrne Archibald, Grady (2), Crawford
2 March 2005 Premier League Tannadice1–26,688 Diamond, Stewart Scotland
30 July 2005 Premier League Tannadice1–112,404 Nicholson L.Miller
25 October 2005 Premier League Pittodrie2–010,720 Smith, Crawford
7 January 2006 Scottish Cup R3 Tannadice 2–38,218 Crawford (2), Nicholson Fernandez (2)
21 January 2006 Premier League Tannadice1–19,936 Mackie Archibald
21 October 2006 Premier League Pittodrie3–110,747 Mackie, Nicholson (2) Robson
30 December 2006 Premier League Tannadice3–112,329 Severin Samuel (2), Robson
7 April 2007 Premier League Pittodrie2–412,148 Lovell, Mackie Daly, Hunt, Cameron (2)
4 August 2007 Premier League Tannadice1–012,496 D.Robertson
3 November 2007 Premier League Pittodrie2–011,964 Aluko, L.Miller
19 January 2008 Premier League Tannadice3–08,579 Hunt, Robson (2)
5 February 2008 League Cup SF Tynecastle 1–412,046 Considine Dods, Kalvenes, Conway, Gomis
3 May 2008 Premier League Pittodrie2–110,312 Foster, Touzani Swanson
20 September 2008 Premier League Pittodrie0–111,041 Sandaza
8 November 2008 Premier League Tannadice2–19,490 Mackie Sandaza, Feeney
21 February 2009 Premier League Pittodrie2–214,673 Severin, Diamond Sandaza, D.Robertson
7 May 2009 Premier League Tannadice1–110,407 L.Miller Goodwillie
24 October 2009 Premier League Pittodrie0–211,776 Casalinuovo, Gomis
2 January 2010 Premier League Tannadice0–110,032 Mulgrew
20 March 2010 Premier League Pittodrie2–29,316 Diamond, Paton Daly (2)
11 September 2010 Premier League Tannadice3–19,793 Vernon Daly, Howard, og, Goodwillie
1 January 2011 Premier League Pittodrie1–112,487 Maguire Goodwillie
7 March 2011 Premier League Tannadice3–17,416 Magennis Douglas, Conway, Swanson
15 October 2011 Premier League Pittodrie3–110,256 Árnason, Mawéné, Considine Dalla Valle
2 January 2012 Premier League Tannadice1–211,471 Chalali, Árnason Daly
7 April 2012 Premier League Pittodrie3–18,439 Mackie, Clark, Jack Daly
20 October 2012 Premier League Tannadice1–19,858 McGinn Rankin
2 January 2013 Premier League Pittodrie2–213,176 Vernon, McGinn Gunning, Langfield, og
6 April 2013 Premier League Tannadice1–08,577 Boulding
19 October 2013 Premiership Pittodrie 1–012,654 Zola
1 January 2014 Premiership Tannadice 1–212,601 Robson, Pawlett Souttar
29 March 2014 Premiership Pittodrie1–114,627 McGinn Paton
6 May 2014 Premiership Tannadice1–38,677 Vernon (3) Dillon
10 August 2014 Premiership Pittodrie0–316,471 Dow, Mackay-Steven, Erskine
13 December 2014 Premiership Tannadice0–211,196 Rooney (2)
31 January 2015 League Cup SF Hampden 2–129,608 Daniels Morris, Ciftci
18 April 2015 Premiership Pittodrie1–012,619 Rooney
2 May 2015 Premiership Tannadice1–08,686 Muirhead
2 August 2015 Premiership Tannadice0–110,706 McLean
7 November 2015 Premiership Pittodrie2–012,805 Rooney, Hayes
2 March 2016 Premiership Tannadice0–19,737 Church
11 February 2018 Scottish Cup R5Pittodrie4–211,611 Rooney, Mackay-Steven (2), McLean Stanton, McMullan
17 October 2020 Premiership Tannadice0–0
2 January 2021 Premiership Pittodrie0–0
20 March 2021 Premiership Tannadice1–0 Spörle
25 April 2021 Scottish Cup QFPittodrie0–3 McNulty (2), Edwards
1 August 2021 Premiership Pittodrie2–06,305 Hayes, Ramirez
20 November 2021 Premiership Tannadice1–09,927 Harkes
26 February 2022 Premiership Pittodrie1–118,719 Edwards, og McNulty
8 October 2022 Premiership Tannadice4–011,010 Behich, Watt, McGrath, McCrorie, og
12 November 2022 Premiership Pittodrie1–017,035 Miovski
4 March 2023 Premiership Tannadice1–311,048 Duk, McCrorie, Watkins McGrath
26 October 2024 Premiership Pittodrie1–019,274 Ambrose
29 December 2024 Premiership Tannadice1-013,581 Holt
2 March 2025 Premiership Pittodrie2-217,862 Nisbet (2) Ševelj, Dalby
17 May 2025 Premiership Tannadice2-111,490 Okkels Gallagher, Dalby

References

  1. ↑ Murray, Ewan (6 February 2008). "Thompson enjoys final reward". The Guardian.
  2. ↑ Davidson, Alan (24 October 1983). "Slump City". Evening Times. Glasgow. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  3. ↑ Paul, Ian (9 December 1983). "New Firm face English draw". The Glasgow Herald. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "All time results between Aberdeen and Dundee United". Soccerbase. Retrieved 18 October 2008.
  5. ↑ "Aberdeen Results List (Filter:vs Dundee United)". AFC Heritage Trust. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  6. ↑ "Dundee United Results List (Filter:vs Aberdeen)". Dundee United Historical Archive. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  7. ↑ Lewis Thom at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
  8. ↑ "Dundee United:1960/61 – 2006–07". neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Retrieved 17 February 2007.
  9. ↑ John Gardiner at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
  10. ↑ Ray McKinnon at Soccerbase
  11. ↑ "The Internet Soccer Database: Stewart McKimmie". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 1 October 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
  12. ↑ "The Internet Soccer Database: Joe Miller". Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 November 2007.
  13. 1 2 "Dundee Utd's transfers in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2007.
  14. ↑ "Dundee Utd's transfers in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Retrieved 23 October 2007.[ permanent dead link ]
  15. ↑ "Jamie Buchan joins United". Dundee United F.C. 8 June 2000. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012.
  16. ↑ "Dons defender Mark Reynolds joins Dundee United on loan". Press and Journal. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  17. ↑ Frank Munro at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
  18. ↑ "Player A to Z: Jim Henry". Glenrothes Arabs. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  19. ↑ "Player A to Z: Mixu Paatelainen". Glenrothes Arabs. Retrieved 17 February 2008.[ dead link ]
  20. ↑ "Player A to Z: Mark Perry". Glenrothes Arabs. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  21. ↑ "Crawford quits Tannadice for Dons". BBC Sport website. 31 August 2005.
  22. ↑ "Dons take Miller from Dundee Utd". BBC Sport website. 31 August 2006.
  23. ↑ "Mair completes Pittodrie switch". BBC Sport website. 1 May 2007.
  24. ↑ "Duff finalises New Firm switch". BBC Sport website. 18 January 2008.
  25. ↑ "Kerr completes Pittodrie switch". BBC Sport website. 7 July 2008.
  26. ↑ "Dundee United 2014-2015 Home - statto.com". Archived from the original on 5 July 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  27. ↑ Ltd, Statto Organisation. "Aberdeen Home Page for the current 2016-2017 season". Statto.com.
  28. ↑ "2015/2016 Premiership | SPFL Archive".
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