Our Ralph Milne

Both arms raised aloft in the middle of Dens Park after scoring the opening goal the day United won the league in 1983 is the iconic memory of our Ralphie. Interviewed immediately after the game, the winger who had celebrated his twenty-second birthday the previous day, said, “It’s probably the best goal I’ve ever scored. Undoubtedly, it’s the most important.” There were few more exciting sights in the game than Ralph hurtling down the wing at full pelt, leaving defenders in his slipstream. He was A true club icon who epitomised the United teams he graced. Initially a central striker with a prodigious scoring record for Celtic Boys Club in Dundee, Ralphie was brought to Tannadice by Dundee legend Doug Cowie who was, in those days, United’s only scout. Ralph was an S signing from Celtic Boys Club in 1976. He was part of the Scotland Under-18 squad and went on to play at national Under-21 level. By 1980, he was firmly established in the first team and he collected a runners-up medal in the 1981 Scottish Cup and League Cup finals. He was a League Championship winner with United in 1982-83 and in 1984-85, he again collected runners-up medals in both the League Cup and Scottish Cup. Unquestionably, he had a real eye for goal, losing none of his fantastic ability in front of goal by his move to the flanks as he so often proved by his lethal finishing with either foot. In total he scored 75 goals in 286 and is the Club’s top scorer in Europe, fittingly the last one was against RC Lens at the start of United’s run to the UEFA Cup final. Ralph left United in January 1987 to join Charlton Athletic after a star studded United first team career lasting eight years, leaving as a forever popular figure with the fans. Thereafter, he played for Charlton, Bristol City, Manchester United, Bury, West Ham and in Hong Kong but never replicated his scintillating form in tangerine. He was inducted into United’s Hall of Fame in 2009. His passing is all the sadder given that he was only 54 years of age. Ralph can now take his seat in the main stand on high alongside other departed Club legends. Chairman Stephen Thompson said: “This is a very sad day. Ralph’s skill and flair epitomised the Dundee United teams he graced and he was undoubtedly one of the finest footballers to hail from the city of Dundee. He remains Dundee United’s top goalscorer in Europe and I am grateful to have watched him in his prime many times during those fantastic years he starred for United. “It was a privilege to have known Ralph and he will be remembered fondly and missed sadly by arabs everywhere.”