United Debut: v Dundee (H) 3-0 11/8/79.
Signed From: Motherwell for £100,000, Aug 1979.
Transferred to: Hearts * £180,000 18/9/81.
A regular goalscorer at every club he played with, Pettigrew became an Arab legend within three months of joining United from Motherwell - scoring two goals in the 3-0 win over Aberdeen in the League Cup Final Replay, helping United win their first ever major trophy in December 1979. His Scotland career over before he came to Tannadice, Pettigrew also scored 4 goals in a 5-1 Scottish Cup win over Dundee at Tannadice and finished as United's top scorer that season with 22 goals. Willie also played in the 1980 League Cup Final against Dundee at Dens as United won the trophy for the second year in a row. *Left for Hearts in a joint deal with Derek Addison in September 1981.
League Cup Winner 1979
9 Appearances 4 Goals
League Cup Winner 1980
6 Appearances 1 Goal
| League | Scot Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
| App. | Gls. | App. | Gls. | App. | Gls. | App. | Gls. | App. | Gls. | |
| 1979-80 | 35 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 4 | - | 50 | 22 |
| 1980-81 | 21 | 6 | 4 | - | 6 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 34 | 10 |
| 1981-82 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 6 | 3 | - | - | 9 | 4 |
|
Total
|
59 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 21 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 93 | 36 |
