William Reid (footballer)
Encyclopedia
William Reid was a Scottish
international footballer
and manager, who played as a striker
.
suburb of Baillieston
, Reid began his senior career in 1903 with Morton, whom he joined from Baillieston Thistle. He scored nineteen league goals in two seasons with the Ton, earning a move to Third Lanark
in April 1906 and playing in their Scottish Cup
final defeat to Hearts
later that month. A transfer to Motherwell
followed, where he scored 32 times in just over a year before a brief sojourn in England with Portsmouth
.
Reid returned to Scotland in April 1909 when signed by Rangers
, where - during his eleven seasons at Ibrox
- he won three league titles. He was the club's top scorer for six consecutive seasons, between 1910 and 1916. He received all his caps for Scottish national side
while with the Ibrox side. Reid made his Scotland debut in a 2-2 draw with Wales
in 1911 and earned his last cap three years later, against England
. Reid also represented the Scottish League XI
.
His football career was interrupted by the First World War, during which Reid served as a Gunner
in the Royal Field Artillery
52nd Lowland Division.
In 1920 Reid moved to Albion Rovers
as player-manager, where he finished his playing career with 36 league goals for the club. He held the role of secretary/manager with the Wee Rovers before becoming Dundee United manager in 1931. Reid was unable to keep United up following their promotion and left in 1934 with the club in financial trouble. It was his final post in senior football.
Reid remains the fourth top goalscorer of all-time in the Scottish top flight with 275 goals, fifteen ahead of Ally McCoist
. Of these goals, 188 were scored during his time at Rangers.
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...
international 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 manager, who played as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Career
Born in the GlasgowGlasgow
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...
suburb of Baillieston
Baillieston
Baillieston is a suburb of Glasgow, Scotland. It is about 7 miles east of the city centre.It is also the name of Ward 20 of Glasgow City Council...
, Reid began his senior career in 1903 with Morton, whom he joined from Baillieston Thistle. He scored nineteen league goals in two seasons with the Ton, earning a move to Third Lanark
Third Lanark A.C.
Third Lanark Athletic Club was a football club that originally existed between 1872 and 1967, 95 years in existence, based in Glasgow, Scotland. Third Lanark were known as Thirds, the Warriors, the Redcoats and the Hi Hi's...
in April 1906 and playing in their 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...
final defeat to Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
later that month. A transfer to Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
followed, where he scored 32 times in just over a year before a brief sojourn in England with Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
.
Reid returned to Scotland in April 1909 when signed by 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...
, where - during his eleven seasons at Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
- he won three league titles. He was the club's top scorer for six consecutive seasons, between 1910 and 1916. He received all his caps for Scottish national side
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
while with the Ibrox side. Reid made his Scotland debut in a 2-2 draw with Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
in 1911 and earned his last cap three years later, against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. Reid also represented the Scottish League XI
Scottish League XI
The Scottish League XI is a representative side of the Scottish Football League. The team regularly played against the Football League and other national league select teams between 1892 and 1980. For a long period the annual fixture between the English and Scottish leagues was only second in...
.
His football career was interrupted by the First World War, during which Reid served as a Gunner
Gunner (rank)
Gunner is a rank equivalent to Private in the British Army Royal Artillery and the artillery corps of other Commonwealth armies. The next highest rank is usually Lance-Bombardier, although in the Royal Canadian Artillery it is Bombardier....
in the Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
52nd Lowland Division.
In 1920 Reid moved to Albion Rovers
Albion Rovers F.C. (Scotland)
Albion Rovers Football Club are a Scottish football team from the North Lanarkshire town of Coatbridge, who are currently playing in the Scottish Football League Second Division...
as player-manager, where he finished his playing career with 36 league goals for the club. He held the role of secretary/manager with the Wee Rovers before becoming Dundee United manager in 1931. Reid was unable to keep United up following their promotion and left in 1934 with the club in financial trouble. It was his final post in senior football.
Reid remains the fourth top goalscorer of all-time in the Scottish top flight with 275 goals, fifteen ahead of Ally McCoist
Ally McCoist
Alistair Murdoch "Ally" McCoist, MBE ; 24 September 1962) is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is the current manager of Rangers in Scotland....
. Of these goals, 188 were scored during his time at Rangers.
Honours
Scottish First Division: 3-
- 1910-111910-11 in Scottish footballThe 1910–11 season was the 21st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Rangers- Scottish League Division Two :This season Ayr and Ayr Parkhouse have merged to form Ayr United...
, 1911-121911-12 in Scottish footballThe 1911–12 season was the 22nd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Rangers- Scottish League Division Two :-Scottish Cup:...
, 1912-131912-13 in Scottish footballThe 1912–13 season was the 23rd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Rangers- Scottish League Division Two :-Scottish Cup:...
Scottish First Division Top goalscorer: 2 - 1910-111910-11 in Scottish footballThe 1910–11 season was the 21st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Rangers- Scottish League Division Two :This season Ayr and Ayr Parkhouse have merged to form Ayr United...
, 1911-121911-12 in Scottish footballThe 1911–12 season was the 22nd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division One:Champions: Rangers- Scottish League Division Two :-Scottish Cup:...
- 1910-11