The New Firm is the term used, hailing from the 1980s, to describe the rivalry between Scottish football clubs Aberdeen and Dundee United. Both clubs are located on the east coast of Scotland, in the third and fourth most populous cities respectively.
Although not traditionally a derby, with 65 miles separating both teams, the fixture was seen as a North-east of Scotland derby between the two most successful teams in Scotland outside of the Old Firm during the 1980s. Dundee United also have a more traditional rivalry with their close neighbours Dundee.
History The term originated in the 1980s, when both clubs challenged the Old Firm for domestic trophies. The term was used by Evening Times and The Glasgow Herald.
The Old Firm have more often than not been the dominant force in Scottish Football, however throughout the 1980s both Aberdeen and Dundee United were more than a match for them, regularly beating them home and away and winning many of the trophies on offer.
Aberdeen were to win the Scottish Premier Division three times, the Scottish Cup four times, the Scottish League Cup twice, the European Cup Winners' Cup and the European Super Cup, all within the 1980s. In this same period, Dundee United won the Scottish Premier Division once and the Scottish League Cup twice, as well as reaching the Scottish Cup final four times, the 1987 UEFA Cup Final, and the semi-final of the 1983–84 European Cup. Not only were the Old Firm not dominating the title race, but for three seasons in a row, 1983 through to 1985, the league title went to either Aberdeen or Dundee United, meaning for the first time two other teams were dominating Scottish Football.
Both sides' success was limited as they entered the 1990s, with Aberdeen winning both cups in 1989–90, reaching both finals in 1992–93, as well as almost winning the league in 1991, while Dundee United were Scottish Cup finalists in 1991 and finally winners in 1994. However, in the 1994–95 season both sides fought relegation (with United going down), and although Aberdeen won the Scottish League Cup in 1995 and Dundee United the Scottish Cup again in 2010, neither side has managed to be a consistent force for Rangers and Celtic to reckon with, and Aberdeen's league success in 1984–85 is the last time a non-Old Firm club won the Scottish league title.
Since 2010 however, the sides have seen a divergence in fortunes, as Aberdeen capitalised on Rangers' implosion to win the Scottish League Cup in 2014 and finish runners-up behind Celtic for four years running between 2014–15 and 2017–18 (losing three cup finals to the same club in that period), while Dundee United were relegated from the top flight in 2016 having lost the 2014 Scottish Cup Final to a local rival, St Johnstone.
Domestic head-to-head In domestic head-to-head matches, the teams have played each other 254 times, Aberdeen winning 101 compared to United's 82. Aberdeen have won more league and Scottish Cup matches while United have won more League Cup matches between the two.
Given their mutual success particularly in the 1980s, it is perhaps surprising that the only major final featuring both clubs is the 1979–80 Scottish League Cup Final, won by Dundee United in a replay at Dens Park after a draw in Glasgow.
After 17 May 2025: Team League Scottish Cup League Cup Total Aberdeen 80 12 9 101 Draw 57 9 5 71 Dundee United 64 7 11 82 Totals 201 28 25 254
League competition
Scottish Premiership Table (2013/14-present – 5 Seasons)
As of 16 May 2018: ClubSeasonsPlayedWDLGFGAGDPtsAberdeen51901113049302191111363Dundee United3114412251168176−8142
SPL Table (1998/99-2012/13 – 15 Seasons)
ClubSeasonsPlayedWDLGFGAGDPtsAberdeen15566188143235651785−134707Dundee United15566173162231674845−171681
European competition
As of 9 August 2012: Team T P W D L F A Dundee United 26 110 46 30 34 168 116 Aberdeen 27 109 44 28 37 160 130
Players at both clubs Nine players have signed for Dundee United directly from Aberdeen, the last being in 2000. Ten have made the opposite journey from Tannadice to Pittodrie, with five since August 2005.
Aberdeen to Dundee United Date Player Fee 1964 Unknown 1976 Unknown 1 July 1983 Unknown 5 November 1995 £200,000 19 March 1997 Free 1 July 1998 Free 23 September 1998 Swap 19 January 2000 £150,000 8 June 2000 Free 31 January 2019 Loan
Dundee United to Aberdeen Date Player Fee Oct 1966 £10,000 9 January 1974 £20,000 28 March 1992 £400,000 2 June 1998 Free 23 September 1998 £700,000 31 August 2005 Free 31 August 2006 Free 1 June 2007 Free 18 January 2008 Free 7 July 2008 Free
Complete list In addition, other players have played for both clubs without moving directly between them. A list of all players to have played at least one first-team game for both clubs is displayed below.
Scottish Jim Bett Craig Brewster Jamie Buchan Stevie Crawford Billy Dodds Davie Dodds Stuart Duff Fraser Fyvie John Gardiner David Goodwillie Jim Hamilton Jim Henry Mark Kerr Lee Mair Stewart McKimmie
Gary Mackay-Steven Ray McKinnon Jamie McQuilken Joe Miller Lee Miller Charlie Mulgrew Frank Munro Mark Perry Barry Robson Cammy Smith Derek Stillie Lewis Thom Billy Williamson Robbie Winters Stephen Wright Lawrence Shankland Peter Pawlett
Finnish Mixu Paatelainen
Republic of Ireland Willo Flood Jamie McGrath
Northern Irish Danny Griffin Michael O'Neill
Player records A list of players to have scored in derby matches between the two from 27 August 1994 up to 20 November 2021 is below:
For both clubs Scorer Goals
Aberdeen goalscorers Scorer Goals Own goals
Dundee United goalscorers Scorer Goals Own goals
Partial game list Fixtures from 27 August 1994 to the present day featuring League games, Scottish Cup and League Cup matches.
Aberdeen wins are coloured in red, United wins in tangerine and draws are grey.