WARDROP, William (1907)

Overview

Willie was born in Wishaw in 1876. A much admired junior and among his appearances were for the Cambuslang and District League versus Edinburgh at Castle Park, Blantyre in a 6-1 home win and then for the Lanarkshire Junior League on 21st May 1894 at Wishaw against the Lanarkshire Alliance League and against the Irish League at Motherwell on 20th December 1894. He took part in a trial match at Dunfermline organised by the Scottish Junior FA also in 1894 with a view to being selected for Scotland. He was chosen and was one of the stars of the side which met Ireland at Belfast Distillery’ s ground, Grosvenor Park, on 9th February 1895. Scotland won 4-3.

A junior with Dalziel Rovers before taking the senior ticket where he played for Motherwell, as an amateur, Linthouse, Newcastle United, Middlesboro', Fulham, Swindon Town and Raith Rovers as well as Accies and Third Lanark. In 1899 while with Newcastle United he played for the Anglo Scots against the Home Scots at Cathkin Park on 28th March. While a Third Lanark player he was chosen to play against the Irish League during season 1902-03 at inside forward. He was a member of the Cathkin side when they won the Scottish First Division Title in 1904 and was a distinguished member of the Fulham team which took the Southern League Championship two years later.

It was in 1907 that he signed for Accies, where he added a bit of maturity to the forward line at inside forward, playing as he did that term in all of the inside positions. Appreciated by officials and fans alike in his year at Douglas Park. His brother, Alex, played for Middlesbrough, Portsmouth and Airdrieonians.

Willie emigrated to Pittsburgh in September 1910 and tragically died of cholera in America in 1911.

Debut on 15th August 1907 in a Scottish League fixture away to Celtic.

Scottish League 31 Appearances 6 Goals

Scottish Cup 1 Appearance 1 Goal

Scottish Qualifying Cup 3 Appearances 4 Goals

Lanarkshire Cup 2 Appearances 1 Goal

Accies Career

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