Bill Findlay (footballer) explained

Bill Findlay
Fullname:William Findlay
Birth Date:17 February 1900
Birth Place:Wishaw, Scotland
Death Place:Braunstone, England
Height:[1]
Position:Wing half
Youthclubs1:Preston Grange Athletic
Years1:1921–1923
Years3:1923–1924
Caps3:23
Goals3:0
Years4:1924–1925
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:1925–1932
Clubs5:Leicester City
Caps5:100
Goals5:0
Years6:1932–1944
Clubs6:Watford
Caps6:128
Goals6:6
Manageryears1:1937–1947
Managerclubs1:Watford
Manageryears2:1947–1949
Managerclubs2:Enfield

William Findlay (17 February 1900 – 11 June 1949) was a Scottish professional association football player and manager, most closely associated with Watford.

Career

Born in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Findlay started his career playing for Musselburgh Bruntonians, where he won the Scottish Junior Cup and represented Scotland at junior level,[2] then moved on to Third Lanark in the Scottish Football League's top division in 1923.[3] [4] A year later Third Lanark sold Findlay to English club Liverpool for a fee of £2,500, however he made no first team appearances in his single season at Anfield, and he subsequently played for Leicester City for seven years,[5] [6] and finally Watford, whom he also managed between 1938 and 1947.[7]

During his tenure as manager, Watford finished fourth in the Football League Third Division South in consecutive seasons in 1937–38 and 1938–39, before the interruption of competitive football in England due to the Second World War.[8] Although primarily the club's manager, Findlay occasionally made wartime appearances for Watford due to player shortages, playing his final game for the club at the age of 44.[9] He became manager of Enfield in 1947, a post that he held until his death two years later.[9]

His brother Alex was also a footballer who played for Wrexham, Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham Town and Evesham Town.

Managerial statistics

Statistics are for Football League games only.[9]

See also

References

Book: The Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. Jones, Trefor. 1996. 0-9527458-0-1.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Ready for action: few changes in the First Division of the League. Liverpool . Junius . Athletic News . Manchester . 25 August 1924 . 5.
  2. Junior Scotland 1889 to 2019: The Players and Matches, Douglas Gorman, Tom McGouran; Lulu.com, 2019
  3. https://www.vintagefootballers.com/product/findlay-bill-image-1-third-lanark-1923/ Findlay Bill Image 1 Third Lanark 1922
  4. A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players. John Litster. Scottish Football Historian magazine. October 2012.
  5. https://www.11v11.com/players/william-findlay-44925/ William Findlay
  6. https://www.foxestalk.co.uk/history/players/?pid=794 Billy Findlay
  7. Web site: Read all about the future. 18 October 2009. 2 October 2009. Watford F.C. https://web.archive.org/web/20091124175053/http://www.watfordfc.com/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10400~1410245%2C00.html. 24 November 2009. dead. dmy-all.
  8. Web site: Watford:Record while in the Football League. footballsite.co.uk. 18 October 2009.
  9. Jones p269