West Craigie Park

West Craigie Park

In 1882, Our Boys FC leased some land on West Craigie farm to create their new home of a decade. The lease would ensure that their, until now, somewhat nomadic existence came to an end. The exclusivity of use would also mean that they could hold games at times of their own choosing. Their first competitive match was a Scottish Cup win against Dundee Hibernians on 9th Sep 1882 (no relation to Dundee Hibs 1909). The ground, running north/south, was located in Stobswell roughly where the tenements of Baxter Park Terrace sit on the south side of Park Avenue. Unsurprisingly, being located on a hill, there was a slight incline! East End would eventually, for a time, pitch up across on the north side of Park Avenue – potentially closer than Dens is to Tannadice today. 

Facilities in the Corinthian Victorian era were basic. Player accommodation was served by a wooden hut with a communal bucket. There was no attempt at terracing and the crowds were held back by a flimsy rope that was often breached. 

In July 1883 Our Boys made improvements and fully enclosed the ground. This was celebrated with a match between teams chosen by the captain and vice-captain, with the latter’s team running out victors 5 goals to 3. Enclosing the ground allowed the club to control the spectators coming to watch their games, and importantly, charge them for entry. The club would eventually build a grand stand to further improve the comfort of the patrons, for an additional charge of course.

Fast forward to 1893 and the amalgamation of East End and Our Boys. The new club was expected to pitch up at Carolina Port. However, while Dundee offered £100 rent for eight months, A.W.R Birrell of Strathmore offered £150. The previous occupants, East End, only paid £80. The Dundee Athletic Grounds Company, owners of the venue, were in a loss making position and this increase in rent was much needed. 

Dundee, thus, took on West Craigie Park and put into action the plans to build a spacious grand stand ready for the match against Rangers on August 12th – the previous grand stand having burned down. Membership cards were to be issued, with entry to members allocated to gate no.2 at the north side. 

The first match at the ground was a baptism of fire in a League game against Rangers. Dundee fought back from two goals down to secure a credible 3-3 draw. 

The introduction of a city club into the national league set-up gripped the city in football fever and this tested the transport infrastructure around the ground. There was a plea in the local press to add additional cars on matchday on the tramway system to Morgan hospital. These were eventually brought in for the Hearts match in Oct 1893.

Hearts were also to be the last visitors to play Dundee at West Craigie in March 1894 in a friendly fixture Dundee won 4-1. It was a result that reverberated in the football circles of Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow – Hearts being considered almost equal in strength to the Old Firm at that time. 

Strathmore, struggling to maintain a team of professionals outside the League set-up, merged with Johnstone Wanderers with the new team taking up residence at the latter’s Clepington Park. This left Carolina Port free once more, and Dundee wasted no time in securing the lease.

West Craigie continued to be used by junior sides, notably Dundee Stobswell and Dundee Arnot, and witnessed significant repairs during the close season of 1908. It would continue to be used for football, and other sports, until the 1920’s.