Lochee United Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the Lochee area of Dundee. Formed in 1892, they currently compete in the SJFA Midlands League and play their home games at Thomson Park.

Lochee United
Full nameLochee United Football Club
Nickname(s)The Blue Bells
Founded1892
GroundThomson Park
Napier Drive
Dundee
Capacity3,200
ChairmanTom McMillan
ManagerDougie Cameron
LeagueSJFA Midlands League
2023–24SJFA Midlands League, 3rd of 20
Websitehttps://www.locheeunited.co.uk/

History

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After spending their early years as a juvenile and amateur side, United joined the Junior grade in 1959. Their Thomson Park ground was opened by former Rangers and Scotland captain George Young in the same year.[1]

Achieving notable local success in the late 1970s and 1980s, the club flourished again after the formation of the East Region Superleague in 2002. Under the management of Eddie Wolecki Black, United were promoted as Tayside Premier champions in 2003 and two seasons later, won their first Superleague title. In the same year, they also reached the final of the Scottish Junior Cup for the first, and so far, only time, losing 2–0 to local rivals Tayport at Tannadice Park.[2]

Wolecki departed for Montrose in December 2005 but his successor as manager, former Dundee United midfielder Ray McKinnon, maintained the clubs' run of success, culminating in a second East Superleague title in 2007–08.[3] This led to their participation in the Scottish Cup for the first time. United reached the third round of the competition after beating fellow Junior qualifier Bathgate Thistle 3–1 in the first round and Highland League side Buckie Thistle 3–0 in the second round. In the third round, Lochee held Second Division Ayr United to a 1–1 draw at home before going down 3–1 in the replay at Somerset Park.[4][5]

They are one of two Junior clubs based in Lochee, the other being Lochee Harp.

The team is managed by Kevin Harper who took over from George Shields in November 2022.[6]

Lochee won their third East Superleague title in 2018–19, making them eligible to enter the 2019–20 Scottish Cup at the Preliminary round stage.[7]

In June 2022, the club announced that it had been successful in attaining an SFA licence, allowing them access to progress through the Scottish football league system and play in the Scottish Cup every season.[8]

Honours

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Other Honours

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  • Tayside Premier Division winners: 1979–80, 1981–82, 1986–87
  • Tayside Division One winners: 1993–94
  • Dundee Junior League winners: 1968–69
  • East Region Tayside Premier League: 2002–03
  • East of Scotland Junior Cup: 2008–09, 2021–22
  • North & Tayside Inter-Regional Cup: 2005–06, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2023–24
  • Fife & Tayside Cup: 2003–04, 2005–06, 2007–08
  • North End Challenge Cup: 2003–04
  • Currie (Findlay & Co) Cup: 1976–77, 1986–87, 1999–00
  • Intersport Cup: 1989–90
  • Tayside Drybrough Cup: 1978–79, 1980–81, 1981–82
  • Tayside Regional Cup: 1976–77, 1981–82
  • Courier Cup: 1924–25, 1964–65, 1970–71
  • Cream of the Barley Cup: 1978–79, 1981–82, 1984–85
  • Redwood Leisure Cup: 2003–04, 2005–06, 2007–08
  • DJ Laing League Cup: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2021–22
  • Challenge Cup: 2003–04, 2005–06
  • Dug Out Cup: 2005–06
  • Salutations Cup: 2008–09

References

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  1. ^ Brown, John (13 May 2015). "Rangers captain opened Lochee United's Thomson Park". Evening Telegraph. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Tayport 2–0 Lochee United". BBC Sport. 29 May 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  3. ^ "Ray McKinnon to leave the club". Lochee United FC Online. Lochee United FC. 7 June 2010. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Lochee United 1–1 Ayr United". BBC Sport. BBC. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  5. ^ "Ayr United 3–1 Lochee United". BBC Sport. BBC. 23 December 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  6. ^ Lorimer, Scott (15 November 2022). "Lochee United appoint former Hibs star Kevin Harper as new manager". The Courier. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  7. ^ "20th May 2019 Champions". locheeunited.co.uk. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  8. ^ "LICENSING ACHIEVEMENT FOR LOCHEE UNITED". facebook.com. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
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56°28′36″N 3°01′15″W / 56.476600°N 3.020812°W / 56.476600; -3.020812