Willie Ormond
Encyclopedia
William 'Willie' Esplin Ormond OBE
(23 February 1927 – 4 May 1984) was a Scottish
football
player and manager. As a player, Ormond was well known as one of Hibernian's
Famous Five
forward line, winning three league championships in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He then returned to prominence as a manager, first with a successful spell at St. Johnstone, and then taking Scotland
to the 1974 World Cup
. Scotland were unbeaten at that World Cup, but were eliminated on goal difference
.
, Ormond signed for Hibernian
in November 1946 from Stenhousemuir
. An outside-left, he played for Hibs over a fifteen year period. He was one of the "Famous Five" forward line, one of the strongest front fives ever in Scottish football . The other forwards were Bobby Johnstone
, Lawrie Reilly
, Gordon Smith and Eddie Turnbull
, who each scored over 100 goals for the club. Ormond scored a total of 193 goals in all competitions for Hibs. During his playing career, he won the Scottish League Championship three times (all with Hibs) and won six Scotland
caps. Ormond also represented the Scottish League XI
10 times. He was the last member of the Famous Five to leave Hibs, signing for hometown Falkirk
in 1961.
. He led the club to the 1969 League Cup
final and third in the League one year, ahead of Rangers. This league finish meant that Saints qualified for European competition for the first time, a major achievement for a Scottish club outside the major cities. Ormond's contribution to the club was recognised by the club naming the South Stand at McDiarmid Park
in his honour.
When the Scottish Football Association
wanted someone capable of bringing stability to the job of Scotland manager after Tommy Docherty
left, Ormond was a natural choice and he was appointed in 1973. He was blessed with a talented squad and steered them to the 1974 World Cup Finals
in West Germany
. Although Scotland didn't lose any of their games and came back as the only unbeaten team in the tournament, they were eliminated after the first round. This was actually the best ever performance by a Scotland team in a World Cup.
Later, minor breaches of player discipline accumulated and after four years the SFA came to believe it wanted a more forceful and charismatic figure as manager. In May 1977 he resigned and was appointed as manager of Hearts
- the arch rivals of his old team, Hibs. Many Hearts fans at the time were less than happy given Ormond's background but he soon won them over before being sacked in 1980, whereupon he moved to Hibernian as assistant to his old Famous Five colleague Eddie Turnbull. When Turnbull resigned, Ormond took over but his health was not good and forced him to retire soon after.
football, for semi-professional Cowdenbeath
in the mid 1960s. Another brother, Bert Ormond
, emigrated and represented New Zealand at international level in 1962.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(23 February 1927 – 4 May 1984) was a Scottish
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...
football
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...
player and manager. As a player, Ormond was well known as one of Hibernian's
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
Famous Five
The Famous Five (football)
The Famous Five is the collective term for Hibernian's forward line of Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Eddie Turnbull and Willie Ormond. The north stand at Easter Road was named in their honour when it was rebuilt in 1995...
forward line, winning three league championships in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He then returned to prominence as a manager, first with a successful spell at St. Johnstone, and then taking Scotland
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...
to the 1974 World Cup
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
. Scotland were unbeaten at that World Cup, but were eliminated on goal difference
Goal difference
In sports such as ice hockey and association football, goal difference is often the first tiebreaker used to rank teams which finish a league competition with an equal number of points....
.
Playing career
Born in FalkirkFalkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
, Ormond signed for Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
in November 1946 from Stenhousemuir
Stenhousemuir F.C.
Stenhousemuir FC is a Scottish football club located in Stenhousemuir. The club is a member of the Scottish Football League and currently plays in the Scottish Second Division....
. An outside-left, he played for Hibs over a fifteen year period. He was one of the "Famous Five" forward line, one of the strongest front fives ever in Scottish football . The other forwards were Bobby Johnstone
Bobby Johnstone
Robert "Bobby" Johnstone was a Scottish association football player, mainly remembered as one of the Famous Five forward line of Hibernian....
, Lawrie Reilly
Lawrie Reilly
Lawrance "Lawrie" Reilly is a former Scottish association football player. He was one of the "Famous Five", the Hibernian forward line during the 1950s. The others were Bobby Johnstone, Gordon Smith, Eddie Turnbull, and Willie Ormond...
, Gordon Smith and Eddie Turnbull
Eddie Turnbull
Edward Hunter Turnbull was a Scottish professional football player and manager.During the late 1940s and 1950s he was one of the Famous Five, the noted Hibernian forward line, along with Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, and Willie Ormond...
, who each scored over 100 goals for the club. Ormond scored a total of 193 goals in all competitions for Hibs. During his playing career, he won the Scottish League Championship three times (all with Hibs) and won six Scotland
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...
caps. Ormond 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...
10 times. He was the last member of the Famous Five to leave Hibs, signing for hometown Falkirk
Falkirk F.C.
Falkirk Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Falkirk. It is one of two professional football teams from the town, the other being East Stirlingshire...
in 1961.
Managerial career
After he retired from playing, Ormond became assistant trainer at Falkirk. In 1967, he was appointed as manager of St. JohnstoneSt Johnstone F.C.
St. Johnstone F.C. is a professional football club based in Perth, Scotland. Although it is officially recorded as being formed in 1884, the club did not play its first game until February 1885. The club's home since 1989 has been McDiarmid Park....
. He led the club to the 1969 League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
final and third in the League one year, ahead of Rangers. This league finish meant that Saints qualified for European competition for the first time, a major achievement for a Scottish club outside the major cities. Ormond's contribution to the club was recognised by the club naming the South Stand at McDiarmid Park
McDiarmid Park
McDiarmid Park is a football stadium in Perth, Scotland, the home ground of St. Johnstone FC. It has an all-seated capacity of 10,673.-History:...
in his honour.
When the Scottish Football Association
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
wanted someone capable of bringing stability to the job of Scotland manager after Tommy Docherty
Tommy Docherty
Thomas Henderson "Tommy" Docherty , commonly known as "The Doc", is a Scottish former footballer and football manager.-Playing career:...
left, Ormond was a natural choice and he was appointed in 1973. He was blessed with a talented squad and steered them to the 1974 World Cup Finals
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. Although Scotland didn't lose any of their games and came back as the only unbeaten team in the tournament, they were eliminated after the first round. This was actually the best ever performance by a Scotland team in a World Cup.
Later, minor breaches of player discipline accumulated and after four years the SFA came to believe it wanted a more forceful and charismatic figure as manager. In May 1977 he resigned and was appointed as manager of 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...
- the arch rivals of his old team, Hibs. Many Hearts fans at the time were less than happy given Ormond's background but he soon won them over before being sacked in 1980, whereupon he moved to Hibernian as assistant to his old Famous Five colleague Eddie Turnbull. When Turnbull resigned, Ormond took over but his health was not good and forced him to retire soon after.
Personal life
His brother Gibby also played leagueScottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
football, for semi-professional Cowdenbeath
Cowdenbeath F.C.
Cowdenbeath Football Club are a professional Scottish football team based in the town of Cowdenbeath, Fife. They currently play in the Second Division of the Scottish Football League. The club plays its home games at Central Park in the centre of the town which has the unusual feature of a motor...
in the mid 1960s. Another brother, Bert Ormond
Bert Ormond
Robert Ormond, better known as Bert Ormond, is a former football player who represented New Zealand at international level.Ormond made his full All Whites debut in a 4-1 win over New Caledonia on 2 June 1962 and played his second and final official FIFA A-international 2 days later, also against...
, emigrated and represented New Zealand at international level in 1962.
External links
- Willie Ormond, Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Database