Derek Stark Player Profile
Player Details
- Full Name: Derek Stark
- Born: November 19th, 1958 (Dunfermline)
- Height: 6' 1
- Position: Defender
- Signed: March 26th, 1975
- First Manager: Jim McLean
- Career Totals: 247 appearances, 11 goals
- Also Played For: Glenrothes Juniors
Playing History
| Season | Division |  |
 |
G2G |  |
 |
Win % | Draw % | Loss % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-84 | Premier Division | 38 (4) | 6 | 0.14 | 2 | 0 | 57.1% | 23.8% | 19.0% |
| 1982-83 | Premier Division | 49 (1) | 2 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 | 64.0% | 22.0% | 14.0% |
| 1981-82 | Premier Division | 32 (3) | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 45.7% | 22.9% | 31.4% |
| 1980-81 | Premier Division | 34 (4) | 1 | 0.03 | 0 | 0 | 42.1% | 34.2% | 23.7% |
| 1979-80 | Premier Division | 48 (1) | 1 | 0.02 | 3 | 0 | 38.8% | 30.6% | 30.6% |
| 1978-79 | Premier Division | 31 (1) | 1 | 0.03 | 0 | 0 | 46.9% | 21.9% | 31.3% |
| 1977-78 | Premier Division | 1 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 1976-77 | Premier Division | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1975-76 | Premier Division | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Totals: | 233 (14) | 11 |
| Apps = First Team Appearances (Sub Appearances) | Gls = Goals |
| Cln = Clean Sheets | CtGR = Clean Sheets to Games Ratio | W/D/L - Games won, drawn or lost as percentage of games played in |
| Yel = Yellow Cards/Cautions | Red = Red Cards/Dismissals |
| Recent First Team Starts |
|---|
| Apr 30th, 1984 | 30/04/84 | League | Premier Division | vs. St Mirren (H) | 2 - 0 |
| Apr 25th, 1984 | 25/04/84 | European Cup | Semi Final 2nd Leg | vs. Roma (A) | 0 - 3 |
| Apr 21st, 1984 | 21/04/84 | League | Premier Division | vs. Dundee (H) | 1 - 1 |
| Apr 18th, 1984 | 18/04/84 | League | Premier Division | vs. Aberdeen (A) | 1 - 5 |
| Apr 14th, 1984 | 14/04/84 | League | Premier Division | vs. St Johnstone (H) | 3 - 0 |
| Recent First Team Goals |
|---|
| Apr 11th, 1984 | 11/04/84 | European Cup | Semi Final 1st Leg | vs. Roma (H) | 2 - 0 |
| Mar 7th, 1984 | 07/03/84 | European Cup | Quarter Final 1st Leg | vs. SK Rapid (A) | 1 - 2 |
| Dec 31st, 1983 | 31/12/83 | League | Premier Division | vs. Motherwell (H) | 2 - 1 |
| Dec 3rd, 1983 | 03/12/83 | League | Premier Division | vs. Hibernian (A) | 2 - 0 |
| Sep 14th, 1983 | 14/09/83 | European Cup | 1st Round 1st Leg | vs. Hamrun (A) | 3 - 0 |
| List of Goals Scored (click to expand) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| List of Games Played (click to expand) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Biography
Derek was a schoolboy international who joined United on a provisional contract from Glenrothes Juniors in 1975. A cultured tough tackling defender who was just as capable in midfield, he was drafted into the squad for season 1976-77 and became a regular in the reserve line up. He made his first team debut a year later in August 1977 against East Fife in a friendly. Another season developing in the reserves brought a first appearance in major competition in May 1978, in a league match against Clydebank. From the start of the next season, Derek was established in the defence and for six years he was a regular in the side.
Originally a central defender, he was used more often as a full-back, and it was in this position that he appeared in the Club's first ever League Cup final in December 1979. After the 0-0 draw with Aberdeen at Hampden Park, the midweek replay was hosted at Dens Park, and it was Stark's low cross into the box that allowed Willie Pettigrew to put United ahead in the first half. United eventually ran out 3-0 winners to lift their first ever piece of silverware.
The following season he helped United retain the trophy, playing in every round except the final itself, where he collected a winners medal as an unused substitute in the 3-0 victory over Dundee. Further Cup Final appearances followed, with runners-up medals in the Scottish Cup and the League Cup in 1981.
Although offered a full-time contract on several occasions, Derek remained a part-time player for the early period of his career, but was made redundant from his job at a coachworks company in Kinross. In December 1981, he walked out on United with the intention of joining the Police force, but was soon talked back into returning, eventually signing a full-time contract in 1982.
A versatile player who, along with John Holt and Billy Kirkwood, could be relied upon to fill any outfield position, he was a vital member of the side that won the Premier League Championship in 1982-83. He missed only four of the 36 League matches of that campaign, as United became champions of Scotland for the first time.
Derek was not known for his goal scoring, but when he did find the net, it was often spectacular. His first United goal came against Morton in March 1979, a blistering shot from at least 30 yards out that would have ended up in the allotments behind Tannadice if it wasn’t for the net. This goal was included in the BBCs Goal of the Season competition that year, but it wasn't his most famous goal, with his long rang effort against AS Roma in the European Cup semi-final of 1984 being the first memory when Stark’s name is mentioned.
Unfortunately the 1983-84 season was to be Derek's last in senior football. Playing with a knee injury from the start of that campaign, it was towards the end of that season that a cyst on his cartilage began to cause problems. Several operations over the next 15 months failed to solve the problem, and in September 1985 he was forced to retire from the game at the age of 26.
Returning to his idea from four years earlier, he then became a police officer with Fife Constabulary. For his contribution to the 1982-83 championship success, and the run to the European Cup semi-final, he ranks amongst the Club legends, and was inducted into the Dundee United Hall of Fame in February 2015.
Debut
May 2nd, 1978
Clydebank 2 - 0 Dundee United
League (Premier Division)
Timeline
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Date of Birth
Derek was born on this date in Dunfermline.
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Signed For Dundee United
Derek was a schoolboy international who joined United on a provisional contract from Glenrothes Juniors in 1975. A cultured tough tackling defender who was just as capable in midfield, he was drafted into the squad for season 1976-77 and became a regular in the reserve line up. He made his first team debut a year later in August 1977 against East Fife in a friendly. Another season developing in the reserves brought a first appearance in major competition in May 1978, in a league match against Clydebank. From the start of the next season, Derek was established in the defence and for six years he was a regular in the side.
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Debut - Clydebank 2 - 0 Dundee United
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First Goal - Dundee United 4 - 1 Morton
Having been knocked out of the Scottish Cup in the previous round, United had a free weekend as the fifth round fixtures took place, so this League match against Morton that had been postponed back in January was quickly re-arranged, giving United their first home League match in eleven weeks. United made just one change from the 13 on duty at Fir Park, with Derek Addison replacing Frank Kopel on the subs bench. Ben Rooney's men, who had so far won both games against United this season, had newly-signed ex-Celtic keeper Roy Baines in goal.
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50th Appearance - Dundee United 0 - 1 Diósgyőri
Further bitter disappointment came United's way in the UEFA Cup first leg tie against Hungarian's Diosgyori Miskolc here at Tannadice. Seldom has a Tannadice crowd watched United so dominate a European tie — yet come out of it with abssolutely nothing to show for their efforts. And the real crunch came in injury time when, after being subjected to unbelievable pressure all through the 90 minutes, the visitors sneaked away upfield to grab their lead with a shock goal from danger man Kekete. An incredible result for United to have to take after what had gone before, but yet another indication of their recent turn of fortunes.
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50th League Appearance - Celtic 1 - 0 Dundee United
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100th Appearance - Dundee United 0 - 0 Partick Th
Amidst a contract dispute between Partick, their player Ian Gibson - who was refusing to sign a new contract, and United - who planned to sign the Firhill midfielder, Thistle were the visitors to Tannadice as United were still looking for their first League victory. United's only change from the midweek League Cup defeat was Colin Campbell in for Iain Phillip.
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100th League Appearance - Aberdeen 2 - 1 Dundee United
United travelled to Pittodrie still smarting from their controversial midweek defeat in Yugoslavia. The only change made from the side that lost out to Radnick Nis in the UEFA Cup quarter finals was Ian Gibson coming in for Iain Phillip. Teenagers Maurice Malpas and John Reilly were handed the two places on the bench.
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200th Appearance - Celtic 2 - 0 Dundee United
All eyes were on Celtic Park for this long awaited, twice postponed, top of the table encounter in front of the largest League crowd of the season involving United. The Terrors went into this match on the back of a run of 10 League games unbeaten, and were unchanged from the squad that defeated Rangers at Tannadice at the weekend.
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Last Goal - Dundee United 2 - 0 Roma
A night to remember as the Italiai aristocrats are humbled. Sturrock touches the ball back to Davie Dodds who shoots low into goal from eight yards.
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Last Appearance - Dundee United 2 - 0 St Mirren
The opening half hour produced a proliferation of corners in United's favour, but a goal-line clearance from a Richard Gough header was the nearest to a goal. United began the second half in a more determined mood, Paul Hegarty hitting the woodwork and then heading narrowly past.
Collectables (Stickers & Cards)
Magazine Articles
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