Founded as Dundee Hibernian in 1909 by Pat Reilly. After much dispute between the clubs the Hibs managed to purchase Clepington park from Northern league side Dundee Wanderers .The club changed the name of the park to Tannadice after the street on which the main entrance stood. On the 25th May 1909 the club applied by letter for entry to Scottish second division. Narrowly voted out the Hibs were granted a place in the Northern league on the 12th June 1909.

The clubs first ever game came in the shape of a friendly against Edinburgh Hibs on the 18th of August 1909,the historical game ended in a 1-1 draw.Pat Reilly donated a bicycle to the first scorer at the newly christened tannadice park,the honours went to Edinburgh Hibs player John O'Hara.The club also awarded a gold medal to the first scorer for the newly formed club which went to Jamie Docherty.

The first competitive league game was against former ground owners Dundee Wanderers in which the Wanderers were victors by two goals to one.

October 1923 saw the club change from Dundee Hibs to Dundee United,the strip had changed from traditional green and white to black and white .

The first game as Dundee United ended in 3-0 defeat at the hands of Dumbarton at boghead.Two years later under command of coach Jimmy Brownlie United were the second division champions .A pre-season renovation ensured the club could compete in the first division with a capacity of 30,000.That stint lasted two seasons before being back in the second division.

The club were to bounce back to the first division twice in the space of eight years,in the season of 31-32 United were back down to division two for what was to be twenty eight years in the wilderness.

On the 30th April 1960 in front of a crowd of 16,000 Tommy Campbell scored the only goal of the game against Berwick Rangers to take the club back among the elite.

August 1969 saw the club change colours for the third time,during an American tour, the colours of Dallas Tornado appealed to the clubs directors,so a friendly game against Everton saw United launch the new club colours of Tangerine shirts,tangerine shorts with black stripe.The united teams of today still wear both green and black and white away shirts as a tribute to the clubs past.

Albiet one season in 1996 the club has maintained top flight status.The first division changed to the Scottish premier league in the season 1976-1977.