William McBeath
Encyclopedia
William McBeath was a Scottish
footballer
and one of the founding members of Rangers Football Club
. He made five Scottish Cup
appearances for the club. A lot of what is now known of Mr McBeath was researched by author Gary Ralston in his book "The Gallant Pioneers".
, Perthshire
on 7 May 1856; the third of four children to Peter and Jane McBeath (although the youngest child did not survive past infancy). McBeath also had a further four half-brothers and sisters from his father's previous relationships. At age eight, soon after the death of his father; William's mother moved with William and his older sister, Jane, to Glasgow; no doubt attracted by the rapidly expanding industrial city. The census of 1871 lists William, then aged fourteen, as an assistant salesman and living on Cleveland Street in the Sandyford area of Glasgow and close to five members of the McNeil family; two of whom would later join with McBeath and Peter Campbell
to form Glasgow Rangers.
(15), Peter
(the oldest at 17) and Moses McNeil
saw a group of men playing football on Glasgow Green
's Flesher's Haugh and a dream was born. Indeed the club's first game was played at Flesher's Haugh against a now defunct Glasgow
team named Callander, which resulted in a 0-0 draw. His exertions in the game were said to have been so great that he spent the next week 'laid up' in bed.
The game of football (soccer)
never really appeared to be his main talent, however he certainly enjoyed the respect of his peers and was listed in the Roll of Office Bearers as the first president of the club for the 1874-75 season. William played his last game for the club in November 1875 and left the club soon after.
A hard life began to befall William with accusation of fraud arising in 1896 which resulted in trial in 1897. He was cleared of falsely selling advertisements for a newspaper that was never distributed. He soon married in 1898, but this was most likely a bigamous marriage. as no evidence exists of a divorce.
William lived the majority of his later years in a Lincoln Poorhouse, branded an "imbecile", although today he would have been probably diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
William McBeath died on Sunday 15 July 1917 aged 61, he had spent his last seven years in the poorhouse. William was buried in an unmarked grave in a Lincoln Cemetery.
hasn't been as celebrated or honoured as much as the other founding members of the club. His grave remained unmarked at the back end of a Lincolnshire cemetery until a Rangers
fan placed a solitary Saltire and a simple plaque bearing the inscription: "In this place lies William McBeath who in 1872, Along with three friends, had an idea to start a football Team. That team became Rangers F.C."
In summer 2010 members of the Rangers
supporters internet forum Vanguardbears bought a 50 year lease on the grave thanks to co-operative Lincoln City Council
and purchased and dedicated a gravestone to honour McBeath and his final resting place.
On 22 February 2010 William McBeath was inducted into the Rangers'
Hall Of Fame alongside Lorenzo Amoruso
, Derek Parlane
, Ian McMillan (footballer)
and George Brown (footballer)
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and one of the founding members of Rangers Football Club
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...
. He made five Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
appearances for the club. A lot of what is now known of Mr McBeath was researched by author Gary Ralston in his book "The Gallant Pioneers".
Early life
William McBeath was born in CallanderCallander
Callander is a burgh in the region of Stirling, Scotland, situated on the River Teith. The town is located in the former county of Perthshire and is a popular tourist stop to and from the Highlands....
, Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
on 7 May 1856; the third of four children to Peter and Jane McBeath (although the youngest child did not survive past infancy). McBeath also had a further four half-brothers and sisters from his father's previous relationships. At age eight, soon after the death of his father; William's mother moved with William and his older sister, Jane, to Glasgow; no doubt attracted by the rapidly expanding industrial city. The census of 1871 lists William, then aged fourteen, as an assistant salesman and living on Cleveland Street in the Sandyford area of Glasgow and close to five members of the McNeil family; two of whom would later join with McBeath and Peter Campbell
Peter Campbell (footballer)
Peter Campbell was a Scottish footballer and one of the four founding members of Rangers Football Club...
to form Glasgow Rangers.
Four boys and a ball
In 1872, McBeath along with Peter CampbellPeter Campbell (footballer)
Peter Campbell was a Scottish footballer and one of the four founding members of Rangers Football Club...
(15), Peter
Peter McNeil
Peter McNeil was a Scottish footballer and along with brother Moses, one of the founding members of Rangers Football Club...
(the oldest at 17) and Moses McNeil
Moses McNeil
Moses McNeil was a Scottish professional footballer who was one of the founding members of Rangers Football Club. He played as a winger.-Club career:...
saw a group of men playing football on Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green is a park situated in the east end of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde. It is the oldest park in the city dating back to the 15th century.In 1450, King James II granted the land to Bishop William Turnbull and the people of Glasgow...
's Flesher's Haugh and a dream was born. Indeed the club's first game was played at Flesher's Haugh against a now defunct Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
team named Callander, which resulted in a 0-0 draw. His exertions in the game were said to have been so great that he spent the next week 'laid up' in bed.
The game of football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
never really appeared to be his main talent, however he certainly enjoyed the respect of his peers and was listed in the Roll of Office Bearers as the first president of the club for the 1874-75 season. William played his last game for the club in November 1875 and left the club soon after.
Private life
In 1878, at the age of 22, William McBeath married Jeannie Yates Harris (21). They had 3 children, William Duncanson McBeath (born 1880), Agnes Isabella (1882), Norman Douglas (1890). In 1881 the family had moved from Glasgow to Bristol; however some time after 1893 the family unit had collapsed and there is little or no trace of Jeannie and the young family, and preciously little of William (Sr).A hard life began to befall William with accusation of fraud arising in 1896 which resulted in trial in 1897. He was cleared of falsely selling advertisements for a newspaper that was never distributed. He soon married in 1898, but this was most likely a bigamous marriage. as no evidence exists of a divorce.
William lived the majority of his later years in a Lincoln Poorhouse, branded an "imbecile", although today he would have been probably diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
William McBeath died on Sunday 15 July 1917 aged 61, he had spent his last seven years in the poorhouse. William was buried in an unmarked grave in a Lincoln Cemetery.
Legacy
Unfortunately, Willam McBeath's contribution to the creation of Rangers Football ClubRangers 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...
hasn't been as celebrated or honoured as much as the other founding members of the club. His grave remained unmarked at the back end of a Lincolnshire cemetery until a 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...
fan placed a solitary Saltire and a simple plaque bearing the inscription: "In this place lies William McBeath who in 1872, Along with three friends, had an idea to start a football Team. That team became Rangers F.C."
In summer 2010 members of the 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...
supporters internet forum Vanguardbears bought a 50 year lease on the grave thanks to co-operative Lincoln City Council
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
and purchased and dedicated a gravestone to honour McBeath and his final resting place.
On 22 February 2010 William McBeath was inducted into the 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...
Hall Of Fame alongside Lorenzo Amoruso
Lorenzo Amoruso
Lorenzo Pier Luigi Amoruso is a former Italian Assocation footballer who played for seven teams during his footballing career but is perhaps best known for his six-year spell with Glasgow side Rangers...
, Derek Parlane
Derek Parlane
Derek Parlane was a former professional football striker who played for Rangers for 10 years, from 1970 until 1980....
, Ian McMillan (footballer)
Ian McMillan (footballer)
John Livingstone "Ian" McMillan is a former Scottish footballer who played for , and the Scotland national team.-Airdrieonians:...
and George Brown (footballer)
George Brown (footballer)
George Brown , nicknamed Bomber, was an English professional footballer and football manager, who played most of his career with Huddersfield Town.-Playing career:...
.