Finn Døssing
Encyclopedia
Finn Døssing Jensen is a former Danish
football
player most famous for his spell in Scotland
at Dundee United
in the 1960s. He is one of the greatest goalscorers ever at the club, where he remains hugely popular.
in 1958, aged 17. He played a number of Danish national youth team matches, and made his debut for the Denmark under-21 national football team in September 1963. He never played a senior national team match, standing in the shadow of striker Ole Madsen
. With the help of Jack Johnson
, a former manager of B 1913, Døssing got in contact with Dundee United. He played a trial match for the club, scoring all four goals in a 4-0 win for Dundee Unied. In December 1964, he signed his first professional contract, and moved to Dundee United under manager Jerry Kerr
. This effectively banned him from the strictly amateur Danish national team.
United had made a poor start to the 1964-65 First Division season
and appeared to be heading towards relegation, which would have undone the great work done by Kerr since leading the team to promotion in the 1959-60 season
. Since then the club had enjoyed their longest ever spell in the top flight and were becoming established as a permanent fixture in the First Division although relegation in the Spring of 1965 may have doomed the club to obscurity. However, Kerr had taken a gamble in bringing some of the first foreigners to play in Scotland. The signing of Finn Døssing turned out to be an inspired move by Kerr, with Døssing scoring 21 goals in only 19 matches and playing a huge role in the club moving into mid-table security that year. The following year, in the 1965-66 season
, Døssing scored 25 goals, helping United to finished in 5th place in the league qualifying for Europe for the first time. Sadly, he did not adequately reap the reward of his efforts, as injury kept him out of both victories against FC Barcelona
and the first game against Juventus
, although in the home leg against the Italian giants, he returned to his usual form by scoring the game’s only goal.
After three years he left Tannadice Park
a hero, having scored 76 goals in 115 appearances for and helping "the Terrors" have their first taste of European football. Returning to Denmark, he chose to play for Aalborg BK (AaB). According to the Danish rules of amateurism, Døssing was dictated a half year quarantine before he was eligible to play in the Danish championship. He entered an AaB team which had not won in their first eight matches, and helped the club finish in mid-table. Expectations were high before the 1969 season, but days before the opening of the season, Døssing decided to leave AaB. He moved back to birthtown Viborg to run his own gents’ outfitters business, a decision he never regretted.
He retains association with Dundee United by his membership of the ArabTRUST (the club's supporters trust) and with one of the Federation of Dundee United Supporters' Clubs, in Argyll
, being named after him. After almost 41 years since last playing for United, he remains the idol of some of the club's fans, many of whom still consider him their favourite player.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player most famous for his spell in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
at Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
in the 1960s. He is one of the greatest goalscorers ever at the club, where he remains hugely popular.
Biography
Døssing started his career with his hometown club Viborg FFViborg FF
Viborg FF is a Danish professional football club located in Viborg. The full name of the club is Viborg Fodsports Forening , but the name is frequently abbreviated as Viborg FF or VFF. The club was founded in 1896, but would have to wait more than a century before winning its only countrywide...
in 1958, aged 17. He played a number of Danish national youth team matches, and made his debut for the Denmark under-21 national football team in September 1963. He never played a senior national team match, standing in the shadow of striker Ole Madsen
Ole Madsen
Ole Eduard Fischer Madsen is a former international footballer from Denmark. He scored 42 goals in 50 matches for the national team. Danish football fans remember him for scoring on a heel kick against Sweden in 1965. He died at age 71 in 2006.His clubs as a player include BK Stefan, HIK and...
. With the help of Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson (footballer)
John William "Jack" Johnson was a professional footballer, who played for Huddersfield Town, Grimsby Town & Shrewsbury Town. He was born in Newcastle upon Tyne.-References:...
, a former manager of B 1913, Døssing got in contact with Dundee United. He played a trial match for the club, scoring all four goals in a 4-0 win for Dundee Unied. In December 1964, he signed his first professional contract, and moved to Dundee United under manager Jerry Kerr
Jerry Kerr
Jasper Jerald 'Jerry' Kerr was a Scottish football player and manager, best known as manager of Dundee United from 1959 to 1971...
. This effectively banned him from the strictly amateur Danish national team.
United had made a poor start to the 1964-65 First Division season
1964-65 in Scottish football
The 1964–65 season was the 68th season of Scottish league football.-Scottish League Division One:In one of the closest finishes ever seen in a league competition in Britain, Hearts faced Kilmarnock on the last day of the season with...
and appeared to be heading towards relegation, which would have undone the great work done by Kerr since leading the team to promotion in the 1959-60 season
1959-60 in Scottish football
The 1959–60 season was the 63rd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: HeartsRelegated: Stirling Albion, Arbroath-Scottish League Division Two:Promoted: St...
. Since then the club had enjoyed their longest ever spell in the top flight and were becoming established as a permanent fixture in the First Division although relegation in the Spring of 1965 may have doomed the club to obscurity. However, Kerr had taken a gamble in bringing some of the first foreigners to play in Scotland. The signing of Finn Døssing turned out to be an inspired move by Kerr, with Døssing scoring 21 goals in only 19 matches and playing a huge role in the club moving into mid-table security that year. The following year, in the 1965-66 season
1965-66 in Scottish football
The 1965–66 season was the 69th season of Scottish league football.-Overview:After the openness of recent years, the Old Firm came back strongly this season...
, Døssing scored 25 goals, helping United to finished in 5th place in the league qualifying for Europe for the first time. Sadly, he did not adequately reap the reward of his efforts, as injury kept him out of both victories against FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
and the first game against Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
, although in the home leg against the Italian giants, he returned to his usual form by scoring the game’s only goal.
After three years he left Tannadice Park
Tannadice Park
Tannadice Park, usually referred to as Tannadice, is a football stadium located on Tannadice Street in the Scottish city of Dundee. The stadium is home of Dundee United F.C. and has a capacity of 14,209.-Early days :...
a hero, having scored 76 goals in 115 appearances for and helping "the Terrors" have their first taste of European football. Returning to Denmark, he chose to play for Aalborg BK (AaB). According to the Danish rules of amateurism, Døssing was dictated a half year quarantine before he was eligible to play in the Danish championship. He entered an AaB team which had not won in their first eight matches, and helped the club finish in mid-table. Expectations were high before the 1969 season, but days before the opening of the season, Døssing decided to leave AaB. He moved back to birthtown Viborg to run his own gents’ outfitters business, a decision he never regretted.
He retains association with Dundee United by his membership of the ArabTRUST (the club's supporters trust) and with one of the Federation of Dundee United Supporters' Clubs, in Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
, being named after him. After almost 41 years since last playing for United, he remains the idol of some of the club's fans, many of whom still consider him their favourite player.