Bert Slater Player Profile

  1. Home
  2. Players
  3. Bert Slater (b. 1936)

Personal

  • Full Name: Robert Slater
  • Born: May 5th, 1936 (Musselburgh)
  • Died: July 21st, 2006 (Brechin)
  • Height: 5' 8

Career

  • Position: Goalkeeper
  • Signed: July 3rd, 1962
  • First Manager: Bob Shankly
  • Dundee Career Totals:
    114 first team competitive appearances
  • Also Played For: Falkirk, Liverpool, Watford, Watford


Dundee Career Summary

Competitive Friendlies Other (War)
1962-63 51- - - - -
1963-64 54- - - - -
1964-65 9- - - - -
TOTAL 114- - - - -

NOTES:
Other Cups may include: Anglo-Scottish Cup, Challenge Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, Drybrough Cup, International Soccer League, League Cup, Summer Cup, Texaco Cup.


Biography

Born on the 5th May 1936, that Bert Slater gained legendary status as a Dundee FC goalkeeper looked most unlikely when he arrived at Dens Park in 1962. Not only was the current incumbent in that position, Pat Liney, a firm fan favourite but he had also helped Dundee lift the Scottish Championship title just the season before.

Slater’s career had begun in 1953 with Falkirk, the Mussleburgh born goalie going on to make over 100 appearances for the Brockville Park club and winning a Scottish Cup winner’s medal in 1957 in the process. Standing at just 5’8” tall, Slater was short for a ‘keeper but his ability between the sticks saw him snapped up by then English Second Division Liverpool in 1959, with Tommy Younger heading to Falkirk in exchange.

Initially Slater struggled to hold on to the number one jersey but when Bill Shankly arrived as manager at Anfield he quickly made his fellow Scot his first choice goalkeeper. Liverpool finished third in the table in 1960/61, Slater’s first season as a regular, and with only two teams promoted just missed out on making the step up to the top flight, with this quite incredibly being the fifth season in a row that this fate had befallen The Reds.

Shankly was, however, slowly building a team that would take Liverpool to greatness and the very next year with Slater in goal in 29 games they won the Second Division by 8 points. However, the player’s time with the club was coming to an end and after having impressed Dundee FC boss, and Bill’s brother, Bob Shankly when the two teams met in a friendly to mark the installation of floodlights at Dens Park in March 1960, Slater was destined to be heading back to Scotland.

The ‘keeper initially resisted the move, insisting to Bill Shankly that he’d rather stay and fight for his place with Liverpool but when the uncompromising manager listed six goalies at the club including, according to Slater many years later, even the Under 12’s number one, he knew that leaving was the only option. However, with Dundee being the current Scottish Champions and heading for a tilt at the European Cup, many actually saw this as a step up for the ‘keeper.

Slater was immediately handed a place in the Dundee starting line-up and across an incredible season where the team would reach the European Cup semi-final, he would make the position in goal his own. The entire European campaign was an unforgettable ride for Dundee but at least part of the opening two-legged tie against Cologne may well have been forgotten by Slater. Dundee won the home leg by an incredible score of 8-1, but the German’s felt their opponents had intentionally targeted their ‘keeper, who had to go off at half-time injured, for some rough treatment and, the story goes, decided that retribution would be theirs in the return fixture.

True to their word, Slater received a kick to the head from one of the German players in the 27th minute of the game, with inside forward Andy Penman having to deputise in goal. With no substitutes allowed back then, Slater did reappear but at left wing. However, with Cologne clawing the aggregate score back to 8-4 Slater finished the game back in his proper place and Dundee ran out winners with a result that sent a message to the rest of Europe that they were serious contenders for the trophy.

Victories against Sporting Lisbon and Anderlecht saw Dundee reach the semi-finals against AC Milan where more controversy awaited them as they lost out 5-2 on aggregate. However, Dundee’s efforts had made a mark right across the continent and Bert Slater had been a huge part of that success.

Slater would keep his place in the Dundee team for the next season but by 1964/65 young Ally Donaldson displaced the veteran stopper in the line-up and in 1965 Slater would be on his way south again. This time Watford FC were to be his destination and for four season he would be a regular in goal for the club.

Retiring from playing at the end of the 1968/69 season Slater moved onto the coaching staff at Watford, eventually becoming assistant manager before leaving the game altogether in 1973. Slater would return to Dundee FC in later years, doing scouting duties for the club while he also became part of a firm who designed golf courses.

Sadly Bert Slater, who would gain one Scotland Under 23 cap and play in an ‘unofficial’ Scotland international against a Jutland XI, would pass away on the 21st July 2006. His contribution to one of the most historic periods of Dundee Football Club history is beyond question.

Debut

August 11th, 1962
Dundee United 3 - 2 Dundee

League Cup (Group 2)


Playing Statistics - First Team Competitive matches (All Seasons)


Competition NPS Win % Draw % Loss %
League 70-- --
European Cup 8-- --
Scottish Cup 13-- --
League Cup 18-- --
Summer Cup 5-- --
Totals: 114-- --

 Recent Starting Appearances (First Team Competitive matches)
 20/02/65 Division One vs. Clyde (A) 0 - 1
 06/02/65 1st Round vs. St Johnstone (A) 0 - 1
 31/10/64 Division One vs. St Mirren (A) 2 - 0
 10/10/64 Division One vs. Falkirk (A) 2 - 4
 22/08/64 Group 4 vs. Dundee Utd (A) 1 - 2

 Recent Goals Scored (First Team Competitive matches)
 None

 List of First Team Competitive matches played (click to expand)
 20/02/65 Division One vs. Clyde (A)  0 - 1
 06/02/65 1st Round vs. St Johnstone (A)  0 - 1
 31/10/64 Division One vs. St Mirren (A)  2 - 0
 10/10/64 Division One vs. Falkirk (A)  2 - 4
 22/08/64 Group 4 vs. Dundee Utd (A)  1 - 2
 19/08/64 Division One vs. Morton (A)  2 - 3
 15/08/64 Group 4 vs. Falkirk (H)  4 - 1
 12/08/64 Group 4 vs. Motherwell (A)  0 - 3
 08/08/64 Group 4 vs. Dundee Utd (H)  2 - 3
 16/05/64 Group 2 vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 3
 13/05/64 Group 2 vs. Dundee Utd (H)  3 - 3
 09/05/64 Group 2 vs. St Johnstone (A)  2 - 2
 06/05/64 Group 2 vs. Aberdeen (H)  1 - 0
 01/05/64 Group 2 vs. Dundee Utd (A)  0 - 0
 29/04/64 Division One vs. Falkirk (A)  2 - 0
 25/04/64 Final vs. Rangers (N)  1 - 3
 18/04/64 Division One vs. Partick (H)  5 - 2
 13/04/64 Division One vs. St Johnstone (H)  2 - 1
 04/04/64 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (H)  2 - 1
 01/04/64 Division One vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 2
 28/03/64 Semi Final vs. Kilmarnock (N)  4 - 0
 21/03/64 Division One vs. Hearts (H)  2 - 4
 18/03/64 Division One vs. Airdrie (1878) (A)  1 - 3
 11/03/64 Quarter Final Replay vs. Motherwell (A)  4 - 2
 07/03/64 Quarter Final vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 1
 29/02/64 Division One vs. St Mirren (H)  9 - 2
 22/02/64 Division One vs. Dunfermline (H)  2 - 1
 19/02/64 Division One vs. Hibernian (H)  3 - 0
 15/02/64 3rd Round vs. Forfar (H)  6 - 1
 08/02/64 Division One vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 2
 01/02/64 Division One vs. Queen of South (H)  6 - 2
 25/01/64 2nd Round vs. Brechin City (A)  9 - 2
 18/01/64 Division One vs. East Stirling (A)  5 - 1
 11/01/64 1st Round vs. Forres Mech (A)  6 - 3
 04/01/64 Division One vs. Third Lanark (H)  6 - 0
 02/01/64 Division One vs. Dundee Utd (A)  1 - 2
 01/01/64 Division One vs. Aberdeen (H)  1 - 4
 28/12/63 Division One vs. Rangers (A)  1 - 2
 21/12/63 Division One vs. Falkirk (H)  4 - 3
 14/12/63 Division One vs. Partick (A)  0 - 2
 07/12/63 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (A)  1 - 1
 30/11/63 Division One vs. Celtic (H)  1 - 1
 23/11/63 Division One vs. Hearts (A)  3 - 1
 16/11/63 Division One vs. St Johnstone (A)  6 - 1
 09/11/63 Division One vs. Airdrie (1878) (H)  4 - 0
 02/11/63 Division One vs. St Mirren (A)  1 - 2
 26/10/63 Division One vs. Dunfermline (H)  2 - 1
 19/10/63 Division One vs. Hibernian (A)  4 - 0
 12/10/63 Division One vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 3
 05/10/63 Division One vs. Queen of South (A)  5 - 0
 28/09/63 Division One vs. East Stirling (H)  3 - 1
 21/09/63 Division One vs. Third Lanark (A)  2 - 1
 18/09/63 Quarter Final 2nd Leg vs. Hibernian (A)  0 - 2
 14/09/63 Division One vs. Dundee Utd (H)  1 - 1
 11/09/63 Quarter Final 1st Leg vs. Hibernian (A)  3 - 3
 07/09/63 Division One vs. Aberdeen (A)  4 - 2
 31/08/63 Group 3 vs. Dunfermline (A)  4 - 3
 28/08/63 Group 3 vs. Airdrie (1878) (A)  1 - 4
 24/08/63 Group 3 vs. Third Lanark (H)  3 - 2
 21/08/63 Division One vs. Rangers (H)  1 - 1
 17/08/63 Group 3 vs. Dunfermline (H)  4 - 1
 14/08/63 Group 3 vs. Airdrie (1878) (H)  2 - 1
 10/08/63 Group 3 vs. Third Lanark (A)  2 - 1
 25/05/63 Division One vs. Rangers (H)  0 - 0
 18/05/63 Division One vs. Falkirk (A)  2 - 0
 16/05/63 Division One vs. Dunfermline (H)  1 - 0
 13/05/63 Division One vs. Third Lanark (H)  5 - 2
 11/05/63 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (A)  0 - 1
 01/05/63 Semi Final 2nd Leg vs. Milan (H)  1 - 0
 27/04/63 Division One vs. Raith Rovers (H)  1 - 1
 24/04/63 Semi Final 1st Leg vs. Milan (A)  1 - 5
 20/04/63 Division One vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 2
 15/04/63 Division One vs. Dundee Utd (H)  1 - 2
 13/04/63 Division One vs. St Mirren (H)  5 - 1
 08/04/63 Division One vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 3
 05/04/63 Division One vs. Queen of South (A)  0 - 1
 03/04/63 Quarter Final Replay vs. Rangers (A)  2 - 3
 30/03/63 Quarter Final vs. Rangers (H)  1 - 1
 23/03/63 Division One vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 4
 18/03/63 3rd Round vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 0
 16/03/63 Division One vs. Partick (H)  2 - 1
 13/03/63 Quarter Final 2nd Leg vs. Anderlecht (H)  2 - 1
 09/03/63 Division One vs. Airdrie (1878) (A)  0 - 1
 06/03/63 Quarter Final 1st Leg vs. Anderlecht (A)  4 - 1
 05/02/63 2nd Round vs. Montrose (H)  8 - 0
 12/01/63 1st Round vs. Caledonian (A)  5 - 1
 05/01/63 Division One vs. Clyde (A)  2 - 3
 01/01/63 Division One vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 1
 22/12/62 Division One vs. Raith Rovers (A)  4 - 2
 15/12/62 Division One vs. Motherwell (H)  2 - 2
 08/12/62 Division One vs. St Mirren (A)  3 - 0
 01/12/62 Division One vs. Queen of South (H)  10 - 2
 24/11/62 Division One vs. Third Lanark (A)  3 - 4
 17/11/62 Division One vs. Celtic (H)  0 - 0
 10/11/62 Division One vs. Partick (A)  0 - 1
 03/11/62 Division One vs. Airdrie (1878) (H)  2 - 1
 31/10/62 1st Round 2nd Leg vs. Sporting Lisbon (H)  4 - 1
 27/10/62 Division One vs. Dunfermline (A)  0 - 2
 24/10/62 1st Round 1st Leg vs. Sporting Lisbon (A)  0 - 1
 20/10/62 Division One vs. Kilmarnock (H)  1 - 0
 13/10/62 Division One vs. Hibernian (A)  2 - 2
 06/10/62 Division One vs. Falkirk (H)  2 - 1
 26/09/62 Preliminary Round 2nd Leg vs. Cologne (A)  0 - 4
 22/09/62 Division One vs. Clyde (H)  2 - 0
 15/09/62 Division One vs. Dundee Utd (A)  1 - 1
 08/09/62 Division One vs. Aberdeen (H)  2 - 2
 05/09/62 Preliminary Round 1st Leg vs. Cologne (H)  8 - 1
 01/09/62 Group 2 vs. Hearts (A)  0 - 2
 29/08/62 Group 2 vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 3
 25/08/62 Group 2 vs. Dundee Utd (H)  2 - 1
 22/08/62 Division One vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 3
 18/08/62 Group 2 vs. Hearts (H)  0 - 2
 15/08/62 Group 2 vs. Celtic (H)  1 - 0
 11/08/62 Group 2 vs. Dundee Utd (A)  2 - 3

 List of First Team Competitive goals scored
None

  = Starting Appearances (Sub Appearances) | = Goals | NPS = Squad Appearances (as Non-Playing Sub) | GtGR = Goals to Games Ratio
 Yel = Yellow Cards/Cautions | Red = Red Cards/Dismissals | W/D/L - Games won, drawn or lost as percentage of games played in


Timeline

  • Date of Birth

    Tuesday, May 5th, 1936

  • Signed For Dundee

    Tuesday, July 3rd, 1962

  • First Team Debut

    Dundee Utd 3 - 2 Dundee
    League Cup (Group 2)

    Saturday, August 11th, 1962

  • League Debut

    Hearts 3 - 1 Dundee
    League (Division One)

    Wednesday, August 22nd, 1962

  • 50th Appearance

    Falkirk 0 - 2 Dundee
    League (Division One)

    Saturday, May 18th, 1963

  • 50th League Appearance

    Rangers 2 - 1 Dundee
    League (Division One)

    Saturday, December 28th, 1963

  • 100th Appearance

    Falkirk 0 - 2 Dundee
    League (Division One)

    Wednesday, April 29th, 1964

  • Last Appearance

    Clyde 1 - 0 Dundee
    League (Division One)

    Saturday, February 20th, 1965