William Findlay (15 November 1922 – 6 January 2001) was a Scottish football player who played as an inside right.

Willie Findlay
Personal information
Full name William Findlay
Date of birth 15 November 1922[1]
Place of birth Motherwell, Scotland
Date of death 6 January 2001(2001-01-06) (aged 78)
Place of death Hamilton, Scotland
Position(s) Inside right
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Dalziel Works
Blantyre Victoria  
1941–1947 Albion Rovers  
1947–1954 Rangers  70 (37)
1954–1955 Albion Rovers  
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Motherwell-born Findlay began his career with Scottish junior club Blantyre Victoria before moving to join Scottish Football League club Albion Rovers in December 1941.[2] Findlay became recognized as one of the finest players ever to appear for the Cliftonhill side, forming a strong partnership on the right wing with Johnny McIlhatton.[3]

Findlay's showings for Rovers earned him a £7,500 move to Rangers in April 1947.[1] His spell at the Gers included scoring in the 1950 Scottish Cup Final in a 3–0 win over East Fife after only 26 seconds, which remains a record for the event.[1] Findlay also scored in the 1951 Scottish League Cup Final, a 3–2 defeat by Dundee. During his time at Ibrox he netted 65 goals in 114 appearances in the three major competitions[4] and won medals for both the League championship (1948–49 and 1949–50) and the Scottish Cup (1947–48 and 1949–50) – he contributed to two other cup wins but did not take part in the finals.

He returned to Albion Rovers in the 1954–55 season for a few months.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Willie Findlay, The Herald, 20 January 2001
  2. ^ John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ a b Albion Rovers Greats, Albion Rovers FC (archived version, 2011)
  4. ^ (Rangers player) Findlay, Willie, FitbaStats
Sources
  • Willie Findlay at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database