Hutchison Duncan Image 1 Dundee United 1928

Description

Kelty, Fife born centre forward Duncan Hutchison began his football career with Leathens Heatherbell in 1924 and played for Rosewell Rosedale in 1925 from where he signed for Scottish League Dunfermline Athletic in 1926. Released by Dunfermline Athletic after breaking a leg he joined Dundee United in July 1927, quickly earning the nickname “Hurricane Hutch”. He was a regular in the side for two full seasons, completing both as top scorer, his 35 goals winning Dundee United the Second Division Championship and promotion in 1929. As United began season 1929-30 in Division One, the player was in top form but when an offer of £4,050 was received from Newcastle United in August 1929, he decided it was time to try his luck at a higher level and moved south.

He made his Football League debut against Manchester United the same month, Hughie Gallacher scoring a hat-trick in a 4-1 win, and scored 14 goals in their 1930-31 campaign, finishing as Newcastle’s top scorer, a season in which they struggled with Gallagher having been sold to Chelsea. However he lost his place at St James’ Park and only played once for them in 1931-32, scoring in a 4-2 defeat at Liverpool just after New Year, before being sold to  Derby County for £3,200 in March 1932.

He played half of Derby’s League games the following season but the goals had dried up, and Hull City signed him in July 1934 after 4 goals in 30 appearances for Derby. He scored 8 goals in 39 appearances for The Tigers during a single season at Anlaby Road, and in June 1935 he returned to Tannadice in a swap deal involving Bobby Yorke. In his second spell he took on the role of a supporting forward but he had lost little of his attacking prowess and found the net often as a regular in the side over the next four seasons, retiring in 1939 after 122 goals for Dundee United in 215 appearances.

He was invited to join the Board at Dundee United in 1953 and took temporary charge of team matters for 6 matches between the resignation of Willie MacFadyen and the appointment of Reggie Smith as manager. In 1963 Duncan became Chairman of Dundee United. He was in that position for just a brief spell but remained a Director until his death in 1973.

In January 2011 he was inducted into the Dundee United Hall of Fame.