Willie Hunter (footballer, born 1880) explained

Willie Hunter (footballer, born 1880) should not be confused with William Hunter (footballer, born 1887).

Willie Hunter
Fullname:William Hunter
Position:Centre forward
Birth Date:29 July 1880
Birth Place:Springside, Scotland
Years1:1904–1905
Caps1:16
Goals1:3
Years2:1905–1909
Clubs2:Airdrieonians
Caps2: 94
Goals2:52
Years3:1908
Clubs3:Kilmarnock (loan)
Caps3: 4
Goals3:4
Years4:1909–1913
Clubs4:Rangers
Caps4: 17
Goals4:19
Years5:1911
Clubs5:Hamilton Academical (loan)
Caps5: 5
Goals5:0
Years6:1911–1912
Clubs6:Airdrieonians (loan)
Caps6: 17
Goals6:6
Years7:1912–1913
Clubs7:Motherwell (loan)
Caps7: 12
Goals7:3
Years8:1913
Clubs8:Lochgelly United
Caps8: 
Years9:1913–1914
Clubs9:Cowdenbeath
Caps9: 17
Goals9:1
Years10:1914–1915
Clubs10:Motherwell
Caps10: 1
Goals10:0
Years11:
Clubs11:Saltcoats Victoria
Totalcaps:183
Totalgoals:88
Nationalyears1:1909
Nationalteam1:Scottish League XI
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0

William Hunter (born 29 July 1880) was a Scottish footballer who played mainly as a centre forward, featuring for clubs including St Bernard's, Airdrieonians, Kilmarnock, Rangers, Hamilton Academical, Motherwell and Cowdenbeath.

He came to prominence with Airdrie, scoring 43 Scottish Football League goals from 51 appearances between 1907 and 1909 (plus four in as many games on loan at Kilmarnock) which earned him a move to Rangers.[1]

His scoring run continued at Ibrox with 19 goals in 17 matches in 1909–10 despite often being deployed on the wing, but by their high standards the club had a very poor season (fifth in the league, out of the Scottish Cup in the opening round, an Old Firm defeat in the Glasgow Cup final[2] and not even making the final of the Charity Cup) and Hunter was not selected again,[3] although he remained on the books until 1913, instead serving several loans. One of these was a short term deal with Hamilton with the intention of improving their team for the 1911 Scottish Cup Final,[4] but he failed to score in any of his seven appearances and Accies lost the final to Celtic after a replay.[5]

After leaving Rangers, now well into his 30s, Hunter had spells with Cowdenbeath, where he won the 1913–14 Scottish Division Two title, and Motherwell.[6] [1] Outside football, he trained as a school teacher.[4]

Hunter was selected once for the Scottish Football League XI against the Irish League XI in 1909, while in good form with Airdrieonians.[7]

Notes and References

  1. A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players. John Litster. Scottish Football Historian magazine. October 2012.
  2. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xtpAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=g6YMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2950%2C4464559 Glasgow Cup–Final Tie.
  3. http://www.fitbastats.com/rangers/player.php?playerid=1818 (Rangers player) Hunter, William
  4. https://sites.google.com/site/hamiltonacademicalmemorybank/players/hunter-willie-1911 Hunter, Willie (1911)
  5. http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/1911-04-15%3A+Celtic+2-0+Hamilton+Academical%2C+Scottish+Cup+Final+Replay Scottish Cup–Replayed Final
  6. http://www.motherwellnet.com/database/player-archive/h/william-hunter/ William Hunter
  7. Web site: [SFL player] W Hunter ]. London Hearts Supporters' Club. 28 July 2020 .