United Debut: v Aberdeen (A) 1-1 29/8/87.

Signed From: Liverpool £100,000 August 1987.

Transferred to: Shrewsbury Town £80,000 11/2/88.

Signing from Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool for £100,000, the lanky ex-Falkirk striker looked like he'd be a good capture when Jim McLean brought him to Tannadice just after the start of the 1987/88 season, and made his debut in a 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie. Irvine's father, Jim, had been a prolific striker for United from 1959 to 1964. But Alan failed to make his mark on the first team, making only 4 starts, including a 2-1 victory over Celtic at Parkhead, and 4 substitute appearances without scoring a goal. A prolonged injury and the emergence of Mixu Paatelainen also kept Irvine from a regular spot and he disappeared from the first team altogether by November. Irvine was eventually sold on to Shrewsbury Town in February, 6 months after joining United.