Am I Right

[reddoh]

Ralph MILNE (born 1961)

Signed in August 1977 from Dundee Celtic Boys Club, his debut in July 1979 presaged some of the most exciting and effective wing play of the modern era at Tannadice. On his day he was virtually unstoppable, and he reserved some of his best performances for the European arena.

No Arab will ever forget his breathtaking goal in the match which secured the League championship in 1983, and Ralph was a significant influence on the trophy coming to Tannadice, ending the season as second top scorer.

It seemed that the championship would be the first of many honours he would win, both individually and with United; in retrospect, it is astonishing that his international recognition did not progress beyond Under-21 caps. Many believed he would enjoy a long career with the full Scotland team and indeed he ought to have, just as he ought to have had many more years thrilling Tannadice fans with his speed and power.

However, while he played in 34 League matches, scoring 16 times, during the championship season he appeared only 76 times, scoring only 11 goals, throughout the four seasons which followed.

His was a talent which, sadly, never fully matured and he left Tannadice in 1987, at the age of 25, to join Charlton Athletic, later playing for Bristol City and, briefly, Manchester United under Alex Ferguson.

Is this not the same person that Jimmy (the chin) Hill said live on TV that if you pay peanuts for a player you have to expect a monkey ?