Ralph Milne banned by court from Carnoustie

Milne has been banned from Carnoustie until his trial. Picture: TSPL

He is alleged to have seized the woman by the neck, forcing her head towards a cooker and a hot frying pan on a burning gas ring and repeatedly punched her in the head.

Milne, Dundee United’s most prolific goalscorer in European competitions and a key player in their hugely successful side during the 1980s, appeared at Arbroath Sheriff Court

accused of an attack at a house in Carnoustie’s Ravensby Road at the weekend.

As part of his bail conditions, he has been banned from Carnoustie until his trial.

The 52-year-old denies the charges.

He was released on bail by Sheriff Peter Paterson with the special condition that he does not enter the town ahead of his trial in August.

Sheriff Paterson said: “A condition of bail is that you don’t speak to, text, e-mail or contact the complainer in any way.

“If she contacts you, you ignore her. You are not to enter Carnoustie at all.”

A trial was set for 7 August, with Milne ordered to attend a pre-trial hearing on 23 July.

Milne, who admitted alcohol and gambling problems after quitting football, netted 21 times during the Tannadice side’s 1982-83 Scottish championship winning season.

He also scored 15 times during Dundee United’s European adventures during the 1980s, which saw them reach the Uefa Cup final in 1987 and the European Cup semi-final in 1984, the precursor to the European Champions’ League.

Milne was a key figure in those successful sides and was adored by the Tannadice fans.

After leaving United he went on to play for Charlton Athletic and Bristol City, before Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson took him back to the big time with a £150,000 move to the English top flight.

However, his time at Old Trafford was not a major success, with Milne only managing three goals in 22 appearances in his first year at the club.

He was released on 30 June, 1991 – marking the end of his professional career.

But he is fondly remembered by United fans and was inducted into their hall of fame in 2009.

Former Dundee United boss Jim McLean once said of Milne: “If I had an outstanding failure then it was Ralph Milne.

“He should have been playing in World Cups. He should have won a bundle of Scotland international honours.

“It was a tragedy that that boy was not playing for his country all the time.

“He had tremendous talent – and I failed with him.

“He did not have the right attitude to the game and I could not instil that into him.”