William Aitken (footballer)
Encyclopedia
William John Aitken was a Scottish
footballer. He was known for his trait of bouncing the ball on his whilst running along the touchline, and was normally known as Willie or Billy.
, Queen's Park
and Rangers
before moving to England to play for Port Vale
in the summer
of 1919. He scored on his debut at inside-right in a 2-0 win at Aston Villa Reserves
in a Central League match on 20 August 1919. After Vale were elected to the Football League
in October 1919, the Vale were forced to pay £500 to Rangers for his and Peter Pursell
services. He was in the cup winning sides of 1920, but was sold on to Newcastle United
for £2,500 in May 1920, which was considered a bargain at the time. Here he began playing as an inside forward and although he only scored ten league goals in four seasons at the club, his unselfishness in attack and overall contribution to the team was greatly appreciated. In 1924 Aitken signed for Preston North End
for £11,500. He then joied Chorley
, Norwich City
, Bideford Town. He spent the 1929-30 season with Juventus
, before eventually ended up playing football in France
for AS Cannes
, Stade Reims
and FC Antibes
. At Cannes he was part of the team that reached the Coupe de France
final on 24 April 1932, which they won 1-0 over RC Roubaix
.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
footballer. He was known for his trait of bouncing the ball on his whilst running along the touchline, and was normally known as Willie or Billy.
Playing career
Aitken played for KirkintillochKirkintilloch Rob Roy F.C.
Kirkintilloch Rob Roy Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the town of Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire. Nicknamed The Rabs or The Roy, they were formed in 1878...
, Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
and Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
before moving to England to play for Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in the summer
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
of 1919. He scored on his debut at inside-right in a 2-0 win at Aston Villa Reserves
Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy
Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and...
in a Central League match on 20 August 1919. After Vale were elected to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in October 1919, the Vale were forced to pay £500 to Rangers for his and Peter Pursell
Peter Pursell
Peter Pursell was a Scottish international footballer. He was the younger brother of Robert Russell Pursell and the father of Robert Wilson Pursell.-Club career:...
services. He was in the cup winning sides of 1920, but was sold on to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
for £2,500 in May 1920, which was considered a bargain at the time. Here he began playing as an inside forward and although he only scored ten league goals in four seasons at the club, his unselfishness in attack and overall contribution to the team was greatly appreciated. In 1924 Aitken signed for Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
for £11,500. He then joied Chorley
Chorley F.C.
Chorley Football Club are a football club from Chorley, Lancashire, England. They were founded as a rugby union club in 1875 but switched to football in 1883. They have reached the FA Cup second round twice in 1986–87 and 1990–91. Their best performance in the FA Trophy was in 1995–96 when they...
, Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, Bideford Town. He spent the 1929-30 season with Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
, before eventually ended up playing football in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for AS Cannes
AS Cannes
Association Sportive de Cannes Football is a French association football club based in Cannes. The club was formed 1902 as a sports club and currently play in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth division of French football. Cannes plays its home matches at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin...
, Stade Reims
Stade Reims
Stade de Reims is a French association football club based in Reims. The club was formed in 1911 under the name Société Sportive du Parc Pommery and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football having achieved promotion to the league following the 2009–10 season...
and FC Antibes
FC Antibes
Football Club Antibes Juan-les-Pins is a French association football team based in Antibes. The team currently plays at an amateur and regional level but was part of Division 1 for 7 seasons, from its beginning in 1932 to 1939.-Landmarks:...
. At Cannes he was part of the team that reached the Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
final on 24 April 1932, which they won 1-0 over RC Roubaix
RC Roubaix
Racing Club de Roubaix was a French association football team playing in the city of Roubaix, Nord.-History:The team was founded in 1895 and was very successful before the establishment of professionalism in France...
.
Honours
with Port Vale- Staffordshire Senior CupStaffordshire Senior CupThe Staffordshire Senior Challenge Cup is a football cup tournament based in the county of Staffordshire in England first competed for in 1877-78. Organised by the Staffordshire Football Association, it is competed for by a mix of clubs from Staffordshire and the surrounding areas. Both...
winner: 1920 - North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup winner: 1920 (shared)