Former Dundee United goalkeeper Sandy Davie has featured in this column on quite a number of occasions.
We even cleared up the big debate as to why he was in a team photo with Dundee’s championship-winning team of 1961-62.
A cutting, dated May 16, 1972, revealed his return for a second stint as a Dundee United player. It read:
Sandy Davie is back at Tannadice Park.
Last night, team manager Jim McLean completed a transfer deal for the big goalkeeper, an ex-Scotland U/23 cap.
It’s three-and-a-half years since Davie (above) left United for Luton Town for a transfer fee of £8,000.
He then joined Southampton two years later.
The circle was completed yesterday when Sandy returned for his second spell with United.
There was no fee involved.
After the transfer, Davie, now 27, said: “I can hardly believe this.
“The move came right out of the blue.
“I’ve been hoping to get away from Southampton for some time, simply because of the consistency of Eric Martin (ex-Dunfermline) gave me little chance of a first-team place.
“In my term there, I played just four games for the league side.
“But the transfer deadline came and passed, and so did the end of the season.
“I thought my chances of an early transfer were slender.
“Even at that, I never dreamed that Dundee United would come for me again.”
Sandy is married with two young sons.
He’ll sell his Southampton house and move north as soon as possible.
He’ll be a very valuable member of the Tannadice pool. A point stressed by Jim McLean.
Said the boss: “With Donald Mackay away, I need another experienced goalkeeper to join Hamish McAlpine.
“Sandy Davie fits the bill.”
When Davie left Tannadice, McAlpine was the No 3 keeper, just beginning to challenge Davie and Mackay.
McLean also announced that Davie will go on tour with United to Nigeria next week — provided all formalities can be completed in time.
Soon after signing, Davie was on the receiving end of ‘jags’ for the trip.
It means that 17 Tannadice players will now be making the tour, and it’s an ideal opportunity for Davie to get into the swing of things.
On leaving Tannadice for a second time a year later, he emigrated to New Zealand, and played for North Shore United, Mount Wellington and Napier City Rovers.
Davie was also capped for New Zealand on 11 occasions.
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