115 years ago today, a new chapter in the clubs history began with the opening of Dens Park Stadium.
August 19th 1899, saw the club officially move into the new home after leaving Carolina Port. The stand from the old stadium was dismantled and re-assembled on the south side of Dens with a new north stand built.
The sun was out when an estimated 10,000 visited Dens for the first time when it was opened by Lord Provost McGrady.
Those in attendance heard the Lord Provost praise Bailie Robertson for the successful conversion of the land.
Bailie Robertson said on behalf of the committee, the new ground had been achieved by “Putting a stout hearts to a stiff brae.”
An almost all local team drew 1-1 with St Bernards on the day with Dundee’s Fred McDiarmid scorer of the first home goal on the ground being awarded a medal.
Dundee line up – T. Stewart, Watson, White, Baird, Longair, Keillor, T. Low, Steven, Robertson, McDiarmid, H. Stewart.
The photo used in this article hangs in the corridor of Dens Park, dated, with the tag line ‘Official party and team at the opening of Dens Park’.
