United Debut: v. Rangers (H) 0-0 12/9/98.

Signed From:

Transferred to: Motherwell 2004.

Starting off his career as a centre-half in the youth side, Paterson was playing as a full-back/winger by the time he made his first team debut in Paul Sturrock's first match in charge. After playing 20 games that season, he started the following season as a first team regular, scoring his first goal for the club in a 3-1 win over Aberdeen at Tannadice. Unfortunately, a horrific tackle in the same match ruled him out for the rest of the season with a broken leg. Paterson was fit again for the start of the 2000/01 season, and was United's in form player when, after only 7 matches, injury struck again and he missing the rest of that season. Again he came back, and became a first team regular over the next two seasons, scoring an extra-time winner in an enthralling 3-2 League Cup win over St Johnstone in 2001, and scored the goal against Partick Thistle that kept United of bottom spot in 2003. When Ian McCall rebuilt the team for the 2003/04 season, Paterson became more of a squad player, and left for Motherwell when his contract came to an end.