The latest chapter of Dundee United”s footballing story was launched with a signing ceremony in the city on Saturday.
However, it wasn’t a new multi-million pound player putting pen to paper. Instead, club historian Steve Gracie signed copies of his new book at the Waterstone’s store on Commercial Street.
The Shed Go Marching In is the third in his series on the history of the Tannadice team and follows the Tangerines during their 30 seasons of ups and downs from 1979 to 2009.
Steve, who also works for the club as a lounge steward on match days, was joined by former players Ralph Milne and Kenny Cameron as he signed copies for fans.
He said, “It’s like meeting old friends. I’ve even had a couple of people coming back to buy the third in the series that I recognise from the first two.”
The work follows the format of Steve’s earlier books, A Passion for Survival and The Rise of the Terrors, charting the club’s fortunes season-by-season and including a wealth of statistics.
But the author said he believes the 2009-2010 season not included in the book could yet prove to the club’s best in a generation.
“I wish I could have held off a bit and added this season in, but then maybe that would be tempting fate,” he said.
“To my mind this is our best season for more than 20 years.
“It depends on how the cup final pans out, but if we were to win then it would certainly be on a par with 1982-83 when we won the league.
“For so many seasons we’ve come close and underachieved. But if we can add the cup this season then it will be our best since the early 80s and I would include our cup win in 1994 in that.”