Billy Hainey Explained

Billy Hainey
Fullname:William Hainey
Birth Date:16 June 1939
Birth Place:Paisley, Scotland
Position:Inside forward
Clubs1:Johnstone Burgh
Years2:1961–1966
Clubs2:Partick Thistle
Caps2:111
Goals2:28
Years3:1966–1968
Clubs3:Dundee United
Caps3:46
Goals3:8
Clubs4:St Mirren
Caps4:22
Goals4:2
Clubs5:Portadown
Nationalyears1:1964[1]
Nationalteam1:SFL trial v SFA
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0

William Hainey (born 16 June 1939) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as an inside forward. He played for Partick Thistle, Dundee United, St Mirren and Portadown.

Early life

Billy Hainey was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, on 16 June 1939.[2]

Playing career

Hainey played junior football for Johnstone Burgh before joining his first senior club, Partick Thistle, in 1961. He made 111 league appearances for Partick before he was sold to Dundee United for £8,000 in March 1966. At the beginning of the 1966–67 season, he became the first ever substitute used by Dundee United in a major competitive match, and also the first substitute to score for the club. In October 1966, Hainey scored Dundee United's first ever goal in European competition, in a 2–1 win over Barcelona in the Fairs Cup.[3] Hainey scored in both ties against Barcelona which is something very few players have ever done. He scored the second goal in the home tie in the 49th minute after Iain Mitchell had scored the opener on the 18th minute in United's 2-0 win at home on Nov 16th 1966 (4-1 on agg).

After losing his place in the Dundee United team, Hainey requested a transfer in October 1967. He was released on a free transfer in April 1968, later signing for St Mirren. He then joined Portadown in Northern Ireland.

Hainey was inducted into the Dundee United Hall of Fame in 2010.[4] He also played alongside Walter Smith at Dallas Tornado.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Scotland in the 60s: The Definitive Account of the Scottish National Football Side During the 1960s. Ronnie McDevitt. 2016. Pitch Publishing. 9781785312458.
  2. Web site: Billy Hainey. Arab Archive. 24 November 2015.
  3. Book: Gracie. Steve. The Rise of the Terrors : Dundee United FC, a Comprehensive History 1945-1979. 2009. Arabest Publishing. Dundee. 9780955834110. 303–304.
  4. Web site: Hall of Fame inductees 2010. Dundee United F.C.. 24 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151125141107/http://dufc.co/the-club/hall-fame/hall-fame-2010/. 25 November 2015. dead.