As many people know we received some sad news that on April 16th 2014 that the beloved Frank Kopel passed away after his long fight with Alzheimers. Frank was only 65 when he passed away. However, this blog was written to celebrate his life and the amazing achievements he had throughout his life.
Frank was born March 28th 1949, in Falkirk, Scotland. Frank became a very well known footballer during the middle 60s where he started off his professional career with Manchester United. Frank had a short three year spell at Manchester United before moving onto Blackburn Rovers until 1972.
In 1972, Frank became Jim McLean's first signing at Dundee United and for almost a decade was a fixture in the side at left-back. In his ten years at Tannadice, his steady, reliable performances contributed to the success of Dundee United throughout the 1970s. His status as a legend was of course secured as part of the side which won the Club's first major trophy in 1979, but even before that he was an integral part of the side which continued to ensure United's place in the top flight of Scottish football. In particular he played an important part as United held on to Premier League status in the very difficult season 1975-76. In total, Frank made 407 appearances for Dundee United, which ranks eleventh in the Club's all time list of appearances. His outstanding contribution to Dundee United was rightly recognised by his induction into the Club's Hall of Fame in 2011.
Recommended to United by Ian Mitchell, who like Frank hailed from Falkirk, he was signed by Jim McLean on New Year's Day 1972. Although a defender, he made his debut in midfield against Morton in the league on 29th January 1972. And the highlight of a quiet start to his Tannadice career was netting five times in a couple of Forfarshire Cup ties, including a hat-trick against Arbroath.The following season he established himself as the regular left-back, a position that, other than through injury, he rarely relinquished over the next nine years.
A member of the United side that reached the Scottish Cup final for the first time in 1974, he was an ever present in the team but unfortunately had to settle for a runners-up medal, as again was the case in the 1981 final. Sandwiched between those disappointments, however, he collected two winners' medals in the Scottish League Cup after wins over Aberdeen in December 1979 and again twelve months later when retaining the trophy against Dundee.
In February 1982, he was released to be appointed player/coach at Arbroath, but returned to United for short spells on three subsequent occasions, to help out with the reserves. And indeed on occasions he turned out alongside his son Scott, who was also a United player at that time.
Understandably, as a defender, he was not renowned for his goal scoring, but undoubtedly his most important goal - and probably the best scored by a Dundee United player on foreign soil - came in October 1979 in Anderlecht. His stunning late strike in a UEFA Cup tie against the Belgian club - against whom he made his European debut in 1968 - took United into the next round on the away goals rule and is part of United's European folklore.
In 1991, he spend a short spell at Forfar Athletic being assistant manager. This would be the last involvement of football Frank would have.
In 2008, Frank was sadly diagnosed with vascular dementia. This would see his life completely change. His wife Amanda, done everything she could to try and make his life as easy as possible. In his name she set up a campaign to try and get someone in Parliament to realise how serious this illness was.
In 2014, Dundee United took it on themselves to raise money for Frank. They done a bucket collection, where United legends who had played alongside Frank, stand with buckets to collect money for the cause. They also organised a sponsored walk around Tannadice pitch. A golf day was also arranged which the money that is raised from that will go to the payment of the treatment and care Frank needed.
In my opinion, Frank is going to always be in the hearts of Dundee United fans as well as many other football fans. I was lucky enough to take part in the walk around Tannadice. It was so amazing to have managed to see how much this man meant and still does to so many football fans.
On April 17th, a banner was placed in the stands during the Tayside Derby in memory of Frank. Also at Station Park there was a minute silence held in memory of Frank between Forfar and Arbroath where Frank also had connections. Once the Terrors had returned to Tannadice, April 26th Dundee United held a minutes applauses for Frank. Both of these events were executed fantastically, I am very pleased that everyone who attend these games had the respect that Frank deserved.
RIP Frank Kopel. Gone but Never Forgotten.
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