Jim McInally — the unsung Dundee United hero

It’s an over-used phrase but if there’s one player from the last 30 years about whom “unsung hero” was bang on, it’s surely former Dundee United stalwart Jim McInally.

This Saturday will see the no-nonsense midfielder-cum-full-back return to Tannadice in his role as manager of The Tangerines’ Irn Bru Cup opponents Peterhead.

And those who know him would probably place a hefty bet on him wanting to make the walk down the track to his place in the dugout quietly and with the minimum of fuss.

But if any old boy visiting with another club is deserving of a standing ovation from Arabs, it’s McInally.

Signed 30 years ago this summer with another favourite, Dave Bowman, Jimmy Mac spent the next 11 years giving exceptional service to United.

But with talent like Dave Narey, Paul Sturrock, Maurice Malpas, Eamonn Bannon and others in the team during that period, what was a massive contribution was often in danger of being overlooked.

Not, it should be said, by the men who mattered most. For much of his time in Tangerine, Jim McLean was his manager.

Legend that he is, McLean was never known for being lavish with his praise of his players, but it’s fair to say he loved McInally.

He was the manager’s go-to man, partly because he was versatile and also because McLean knew if asked to do a specific job it would be carried out to the letter.

Not blessed with great technique or pace, his game awareness meant the gaffer knew that if there was a dangerman in the opposition ranks, either in the middle of the park or out wide, McInally was the man who would nullify that threat.

And if there was a battle to be fought or a big game where bottle was going to be required, along with Bowman, McInally’s name was one of the first on the teamsheet.

That’s why he was regarded as a must for occasions like the 1987 Uefa Cup Final against Swedes IFK Gothenburg and the string of domestic finals United contested during his time with them.

The fact he could play a bit helped on that score and his ability with the ball at his feet was another area where he didn’t get the recognition he deserved.

Likewise, in a sport where midfield hardmen are revered, while those who played against him would have his name on their list of toughest opponents, many fans who remember that era might not have put him up alongside the Roy Aitkens, Neil Simpsons or his old team-mate Bowman.

Another former colleague at United, Gary Bollan, provides a very good reason for that.

“Jimmy was a very hard player, one of the hardest but he was also very fair and didn’t go around fouling people,” said the man who’s currently manager at Forfar.

“He was also a very good player and did a great job for United. Maybe people don’t recognise, or they’ve forgotten, how good a job he did.

“That was because he was one of those players who did the things that allowed the more attacking players to go and do the things that won games and got them the headlines.

“These boys knew that without Jimmy in the team they wouldn’t have been able to do what they did and so did Jim McLean.

“He knew he could rely on Jimmy and if he asked him to do a job it would be done. As a manager myself I know how important that type of player is to your team.”