Community Trust Gets Behind Jim McLean Statue Project

He made me “Proud to be an Arab”

Jim McLean is regarded as the greatest manager of Dundee United Football Club. His passion, drive, commitment and innovative approach, ahead of its time, created a team of great players, who played beyond all expectation in Scottish and European football. Opponents were mesmerised and supporters reached new heights of ecstasy. Dundee United was on the map and on the march.

There is a real passion from supporters of the football club to recognise the achievements of Jim McLean and to put in place a legacy befitting his dedication to the Club. The Community Trust is delighted to be working with the recently formed “Jim McLean Tribute Group” which includes representatives from various fans’ groups as well as Jim McLean’s beloved family. In 2018 the Trust have added heritage and cultural focus to current education programmes and the Jim McLean statue project is a fantastic way to continue to use the brand and reach of the football club – and in this case Jim McLean – as a way to engage with the local community.

Our joint aim is to raise significant funds for the design and production of a statue at Tannadice which is evocative of Jim McLean as an outstanding football manager and chairman as well as a wonderful family man. We intend to involve fans at every stage of this process.

To this end, we met with a number of leading sculptors, and have invited Alan Beattie Herriot DA ARBS to be our sculptor. Alan graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in 1974, and is delighted to be renewing his connection to Dundee through this commission. You can see examples of his work at www.alanherriot.co.uk. He is currently working on preparatory sketches of the statue from photographs.

We are already online on Facebook and Twitter, and tomorrow, Saturday 22nd December 2018, we will launch our appeal to fans at Tannadice and across the football community:

·       Our flyer will show fans how they can contribute directly or online at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Jim-McLean-statue and also, if they wish, sign a Gift Aid Declaration which increases the value of their donation

·       Fans’ groups will be running a range of different fund-raising activities

·       We will be in contact with a range of benefactors in the Club, across Scotland, Europe and globally

·       Dundee United Football Club and the network of former players will give us considerable support

·       All contributions will be acknowledged

·       From February, Dundee United Business Club will put on display an exhibition of Jim’s career which fans will be welcome to visit

Endorsing the appeal, David Dorward, Chairman of Dundee United Community Trust, said: “Jim McLean is the most outstanding Manager that Dundee United Football Club has ever had. He inspired people throughout the City and beyond and his legacy is a real asset to the local community. Dundee United Community Trust is delighted to support this project, not only to recognise the outstanding impact Jim McLean has had on the Club but also to ensure that his story continues to inspire and educate the people of Dundee for many more years to come.” 

George Haggarty, Chairman of the Jim McLean Tribute Group, added: “This is a great project to celebrate Jim McLean’s great contribution to Dundee United Football Club. Our target to achieve with this project is £70,000. Help us make this dream a reality.”