These forgotten images from DC Thomson’s archives document Dundee’s famous victory over Rangers 30 years ago.
Some have never been seen before.
The 4-3 success on August 15 1992 was among the highlights of the Ron Dixon era and is remembered as much for Dundee manager Simon Stainrod’s wearing of a fedora in the home technical area as the remarkable events that unfolded on the pitch.
In their first season back in the top flight after two in the First Division, Dundee had made a sticky start, losing their opener at home to Falkirk and then drawing with St Johnstone and Airdrie.
The best team in the country were up next at Dens.
Rangers were four titles into their sequence of nine-in-a-row and included star men like Richard Gough, Alexei Mikhailichenko, Ally McCoist and Mark Hateley.
Dundee were 5/1 to win the game, such was the strength of the Ibrox men.
The magic hat Stainrod became famous for wasn’t even his.
It belonged to Jim Duffy, then his assistant-player manager, who was at the heart of the home defence on an August afternoon when the weather was more autumn than summer.
The English gaffer grabbed Duffy’s hat from their office to keep the rain off.
His team’s display was almost as eye-catching!
Stainrod’s cosmopolitan team included Jim Leighton in goal, ex-England international midfielder Graham Rix, and former Everton and Wales captain Kevin Ratcliffe, who was making his debut for Dundee at the back.
There was a famous name up front for the Dens Parkers in the shape of Ian Gilzean, son of Dens legend Alan, who partnered a young Billy Dodds in attack.
Dodds was made the club’s youngest-ever skipper by Stainrod in July 1992.
It may have been surprising, but it was certainly not undeserved.
What followed was a thrilling display of all-out attacking football from the Dark Blues from beginning to end and victory could easily have been more emphatic.
For all the big names, captain Billy Dodds with a double, Ivo den Bieman, a little-known Dutchman who’d originally only come to Scotland to study, and Ian Gilzean were the goal heroes.
Signed after impressing against Dundee for relegated Montrose in the First Division during the previous campaign, den Bieman shocked Rangers by opening the scoring.
Ally McCoist levelled from a free-kick soon after but Ian Gilzean restored Dundee’s lead when Rangers couldn’t clear another Rix corner.
Again, though, McCoist levelled before half-time.
Dodds took over after the break and fired Dundee ahead for a third time with a first-time volley.
This time they were pegged back by an Ian Ferguson effort.
It seemed Rangers would go on to chalk up their expected win but Stainrod’s team were not to be denied.
Gough fouled Gilzean in the box and Dodds scored from the penalty spot.
They had deservedly beaten the champions.
Speaking afterwards, Kevin Ratcliffe was so impressed with his new team-mates that he was convinced Dundee could resurrect his international career at the age of 31.
“We set such a high standard against Rangers that my only worry is that the manager will demand this level of performance every time,” he said.
“I was so impressed with Dundee’s ability I’m now convinced I can continue my career as captain of Wales.”
Ratcliffe added: “In fact, my immediate ambition is to be included in our squad for the World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands next month.
“I trust Dundee’s displays will tempt Welsh manager Terry Yorath north to watch me.
“I’m fed up reading I’m the former captain of Wales.
“Dundee can resurrect my international career.
“After all, I’m only 31.”
Ratcliffe said the whole team played well but singled out Billy Dodds and Ian Gilzean.
He added: “They have a great understanding already and caused Rangers problems all afternoon.
“In fact, they remind me of the trophy-winning Everton team I skippered to success in England and Europe.
“They are very similar to Adrian Heath and Graeme Sharp.
“I can’t speak higher than that.”
Stainrod also appeared to be trapped in a sort of suspended reality following the win.
“We asked questions of Rangers never asked before,” he said.
“I said before the start of the season we’d attack at all times.
“Now people might start believing me.
“I don’t believe in the fantasy that one club has the divine right to win everything in Scotland.
“Our aim is to win the Premier League just as much as it is the aim of Rangers.
“The only time I’ll settle for anything less is when we can’t finish top.
“Then I’ll want Dundee to finish second top.”
Rangers manager Walter Smith said it was his team’s worst performance since taking charge.
It was also the first time Rangers had lost four goals in a game since he left Dundee United for Ibrox to join Graeme Souness in 1986.
What happened next?
Ratcliffe was left out of the Wales squad for the Faroe Islands game and was watching from the sidelines when Gheorghe Hagi’s Romania broke Welsh hearts.
Meanwhile, Dundee’s struggles continued for a while after that and four defeats, one of them against Celtic in the League Cup, on the bounce followed that first win of the league campaign.
Ultimately, though, Stainrod’s cosmopolitan team would do enough over the course of the season to retain their Premier League place.
Rangers quickly recovered.
They beat Leeds United home and away in the Battle of Britain before going agonisingly close to reaching the final of the inaugural Champions League.
They also completed the club’s fifth domestic treble.
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