Legend of Scotland - David Narey

David (Dave) Narey is a legend around Tannadice Park and in Scotland. Narey was born June 12th 1956, through everything he has earned a MBE for his work in sporting and other things. Narey was born and raised in Dundee, Scotland. This allowed him to spend the majority of his career at Dundee United.

Dave Narey signed his contract at United January 6th 1972 at the young age of 15. During these years, players done apprenticeships, Narey began his May 11th 1973 at the age of 16. Before signing for United he played for St. Columba's Boys Club. Within a few months of signing for United he had joined the ground staff but continued to play for St. Columba's Boys Club. On his 17th birthday, he became a professional footballer. Three months later on November 21st 1973, he got his first team debut at the age of 17, this was against Falkirk. His progress showed how good of a footballer he was and by the end of his first season he was listed at number 15 in the squad which represented United in the Club's first ever Scottish Cup Final on 4 May 1974. 

Before I get into the details about Narey's career in Football, I would like to mention a bit about his playing style. He was one of the most talented and versatile defenders of his time and could play anywhere in the back four. He could also operate in midfield, which he did on many occasions for Scotland, and he started his United career in this area of the team. From 1979 onwards he formed a formidable partnership with Paul Hegarty at the heart of the defence and it was this pairing which was fundamental to the success of United for over a decade. Although both were capped many times for their country it's a curious fact that they only played twice together for Scotland; in 1979 against Argentina and four years later against Northern Ireland. 

'The Narey' approach was to go about his job with the minimum of fuss which sometimes led him to being underrated by opposition fans who only saw him once or twice a season, but he was certainly not underrated by teammates, opponents or United fans. His individualistic style truly set him aside as a player of distinction. His efforts and energy were always contained, unfluried and unflamboyant but he had great pace and athleticism when required, unerringly accurate distribution skills and his unrivalled reading of the game and positional play contributed to many perfectly timed interventions.

photo;head shot


Back to his first season at United and the difference between his debut and the cup final The atmosphere generated by the 75,959 who watched the 1974 Scottish Cup Final made a stark contrast to the crowd of only 1,250 who saw Dave Narey make his first team debut in a 2-1 win over Falkirk on 21 November 1973. The poor attendance, reputedly the lowest at Tannadice since the War, was caused by the match having to be played on a Wednesday afternoon due to a Government floodlights ban which was prompted by a miners strike at the time. Also in his first season saw him make ten starts in the first team and two appearances as a substitute. For the next sixteen years he would be a virtual ever-present in the tangerine ranks. In September 1974 Dave made his European debut in the Cup Winners' Cup and scored in a 3-0 home leg win over Jiul Petrosani in a match which also marked the first-team debut of a certain Paul Sturrock. 

Back in November 1977 a sixty-eight year old Club ambition was achieved when Dave Narey became the first-ever Dundee United player to be selected for Scotland and such was the pride of everyone at Tannadice that the Lion Rampant was flown from the roof of the Main Stand. David Narey went on to play thirty-five times for Scotland although some commentators felt he could have amassed a greater number of caps. He was famously quiet at international training camps and it is claimed by some that his preference to stay in the background and a general lack of assertiveness held him back. Certainly other players might have been less willing to lay their reputations on the line by being continually played out of position for Scotland but, as usual, Dave let his skills talk for him.

As a central defender it would be unfair to expect too many goals from the Narey boots and head, although his European total of six goals outshines many a famous striker's Euro total. It is all the more ironic that, after years of establishing himself as just about the coolest and most able defender you could wish to see, his lasting fame is linked with one goal. 

photo;Scotland 1982


A few stats for his Scotland International Career:

Scotland Under 21's (Five caps)
1976/77 Czechoslovakia, Switzerland
1977/78 Switzerland, Czechoslovakia
1978/79 Norway
Scotland Under 23's (Three caps)
1974/75 V USSR
1975/76 V Denmark (twice)

Scottish League (One cap)
1978/79 v Irish League

Scotland (35 caps)
1976/77 v Sweden (sub)
1978/79 v Portugal, Northern Ireland (sub), Argentina
1979/80 V Portugal, Northern Ireland, Poland, Hungary
1980/81 v Wales, England (sub)

photo;Scotland's first goal

This was some record for a central defender who was the first person in a clubs 68 years history who got a Scotland cap. Along with some stats from his career at Dundee United:

Appearances:

Scottish League; 612 with 22 goals

Scottish Cups; 70 (which is a club record) with 6 goals

League Cup; 108 (another club record) with 1 goal

European; 76 (yet again another club record) with 6 goals

In total that is 866 appearances with 35 goals in his 22 year career at Dundee United

Medals he received:

Scottish League Championship Winners (Premier League Now); 1983 with 1 goal

Scottish League Cup Winner; 1979 and 1980 with 2 goals

UEFA Cup Finalist; 1987 with 1 goal

Scottish Cup Finalist; 1981,1985,1987, 1988 and 1991 with 5 goals

Scottish League Cup Finalists; 1981 and 1984 with 2 goals

Narey modesty surfaced again when it was announced in 1992 that he had been awarded an MBE for his services to football. "I'm only a footballer" was the gist of his response. He wasn't only a footballer. He was one of the most respected footballers in Scotland and there were thousands of United fans who were delighted when on 18 November 1992 at Buckingham Palace he received his MBE. 

photo; '83 team

In his last season at Tannadice there was a long spell when he did not feature in the first team but in the Scottish Cup Fourth Round replay at Fir Park on 1 March 1994 he returned to action, strolled through the game and stole the show.

On 21 May 1994, an amazing 20 years after Dave Narey had first been associated with United in a Cup Final, United finally won the Scottish Cup The scenes at the end included the sight of Dave Narey dancing about like a sand boy. There were no show of envy towards the players who had won the one honour which had eluded Dave after 22 years and five final defeats. What made his evident pleasure in the joy of others so remarkable was that he had been given a free transfer by United the day before the Final.

This wasn't the last of the amazing Dave Narey, but there was one more episode. In Season 1994/95 he joined Raith Rovers and within four months was a League Cup winner all over again with a classy display for the Kirkcaldy men in the final at Ibrox against Celtic.