MOFFAT, William (1922)

Overview

A junior signing in 1922 from his local club, Harthill Athletic at the age of 20, as an inside forward. He made a number of appearances on the right wing in a season which started poorly for the club but improved at the turn of the year with Willie helping himself to a good haul of goals.

In August 1924 at the Celtic Sports he won the 75 yard dribble competition. Second was an ex Accie, Hughie Collins, while Wattie Thomson took third spot on the day. Not a bad day for Hamilton connections.

Willie was one of three Accies players picked to represent Lanarkshire versus a Rangers/Celtic XI at Hamilton in September 1927. The following year he was among five Accies regulars who turned out as guests for Annan based, Solway Star, in the Southern Counties Cup. While on holiday in Millport in June 1928 he arranged a number of sporting activities to gather funds for the local athletics club. Among them was a 5-a-side tournament and an Accies five beat Rangers in the Final 1-0.

Partick Thistle made an offer for him which was turned down by Accies as it did not match their value of the Douglas Park captain. He represented the Scottish League in their match against the Irish League in season 1931-32.

During his initial spell with Accies he appeared in seven of the eleven positions possible.

On 14th November 1931 he became the first Accies player to appear in 300 League matches, within a couple of weeks he was transferred to Motherwell and there he was presented with a First Division Championship medal in 1932 as part of their successful team. When he moved it was reported that the fee paid by the Fir Park club was well below the £800 offered by Aberdeen a year earlier.

No longer guaranteed a first team place at Fir Park he was transferred to Hibernian in September 1933, the fee was said to be £750, a record for the Easter Road club at that time. When the Albion Rovers manger’s post became vacant in 1935 he was among the short leet of four for the job, but was not successful. He did land a role as player/manager soon afterwards with Highland League side, Keith.

Surprisingly released by the northern club, being notified by letter while on holiday in the 1936 close season that he was no longer required and was paid £4 in lieu of notice. As he was still on Hibernian’s open to transfer list at that time for a fee of £300, it was felt that he could still do a job of work and he was signed by Airdrieonians soon after the start of the 1936-37 season. Willie had also appeared as a trialist in the Douglas Park pre season trial match in 1936. Three years later he pulled on the boots again when he appeared in an “Old Crocks” XI at Wishaw.

In the Second World War years he refereed schoolboy fixtures. In 1946 he was one of the unsuccessful applicants for the Manger’s post at Arbroath. That same year the death occurred of his twenty one year old son, Kenneth, who was a former Burnbank Athletic player and had assisted Acas reserve side on occasion.

Willie was a tremendous ambassador for the club, and the game, indeed while still with Hamilton in December 1927 he gave a lecture on “Christianity and Sport” to the Dalserf Young Peoples Guild.

Blackridge born, he was well built at 5’9” and 11sts 6lbs.

Debut on 30th August 1922 in a Lanarkshire Cup tie at Douglas Park against Hamilton Garrison in which he scored in a 3-2 home win.

Scottish League 301 Appearances 95 Goals

Scottish Cup 29 Appearances 13 Goals (1 Four)

Lanarkshire Cup 5 Appearance 4 Goals

Accies Career

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