Peter McWilliam
Encyclopedia
Peter McWilliam was a Scottish
footballer
who played at left-half for Inverness Thistle
, Newcastle United
and Scotland
. He went on to manage both Tottenham Hotspur and Middlesbrough
.
. In 1905, while a player for Newcastle United, he married Florence Woof (1885–1970), a woman from Redcar, Yorkshire
. They moved to this locality shortly afterwards and had four children. McWilliam died 1 October 1951 in Redcar and is buried in the nearby Kirkleatham
cemetery.
between 1902 to 1911. He played 241 games, scoring 12 goals from the left half position. He won honours with Newcastle being part of the 1904 - 05, 1905–06 and 1908 - 09 Football League
Championship sides and was an FA Cup
Finalist in 1905, 1906 and 1908. In 1910 he won an FA Cup winner's medal. He was also capped
8 times by the Scotland
. The football world knew him as "Peter the Great"{see "Scotland's Greatest Games" by David Potter page 41}, he was hugely popular with the Geordie
fans.. His playing career came to an end following an injury sustained in an international match against Wales
in March 1911.
.
In his first spell at Tottenham which started in December 1912 he managed the team during one of its most successful periods. This included the Second Division Title
in 1920 and following promotion winning the FA Cup
in 1921 and runners up in the First Division
in 1922. In 1927 he left Spurs to manage Middlesbrough having been enticed by an offer of a £1500 salary per annum.
Although he enjoyed some success at the club over five seasons he never gained the full popularity of the fans. He returned to London
briefly as a chief scout for Arsenal
before once again managing Tottenham in 1938, during which time he promoted many younger players to the first team from the ‘nursery side’ at Northfleet
, including Bill Nicholson
. The intervention of the war effectively brought his managerial career to an end and he retired in 1942.
Potter David "Scotland's Greatest Games"
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...
who played at left-half for Inverness Thistle
Inverness Thistle F.C.
Inverness Thistle Football Club were a football club playing in the city of Inverness in northern Scotland.They were members of the Highland Football League, winning the championship five times, including its inaugural season: 1893–94. They wore black and red stripes and played their home...
, 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...
and 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...
. He went on to manage both Tottenham Hotspur and Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
.
Biography
McWilliam was born 21 September 1879 in Argyle Street, Inverness. The fourth child of six to Peter McWilliam (1851-188?) and Jane Neish (1852–1885). His father was a grocer's porter and the family had previously moved to Inverness from Forgue, AberdeenshireAberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
. In 1905, while a player for Newcastle United, he married Florence Woof (1885–1970), a woman from Redcar, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. They moved to this locality shortly afterwards and had four children. McWilliam died 1 October 1951 in Redcar and is buried in the nearby Kirkleatham
Kirkleatham
Kirkleatham is a village in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It is located approximately north/northwest of Guisborough, and south of Redcar. It is near the mouth of the River Tees...
cemetery.
Career as Footballer
Peter McWilliam started his playing career at Inverness Thistle and remained with them for two years before starting a very successful period at Newcastle UnitedNewcastle 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...
between 1902 to 1911. He played 241 games, scoring 12 goals from the left half position. He won honours with Newcastle being part of the 1904 - 05, 1905–06 and 1908 - 09 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...
Championship sides and was an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
Finalist in 1905, 1906 and 1908. In 1910 he won an FA Cup winner's medal. He was also capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
8 times by the 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...
. The football world knew him as "Peter the Great"{see "Scotland's Greatest Games" by David Potter page 41}, he was hugely popular with the Geordie
Geordie
Geordie is a regional nickname for a person from the Tyneside region of the north east of England, or the name of the English-language dialect spoken by its inhabitants...
fans.. His playing career came to an end following an injury sustained in an international match against 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 March 1911.
Career as Manager
He managed both Tottenham Hotspur during two spells between which he was manager at MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
.
In his first spell at Tottenham which started in December 1912 he managed the team during one of its most successful periods. This included the Second Division Title
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
in 1920 and following promotion winning the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 1921 and runners up in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in 1922. In 1927 he left Spurs to manage Middlesbrough having been enticed by an offer of a £1500 salary per annum.
Although he enjoyed some success at the club over five seasons he never gained the full popularity of the fans. He returned to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
briefly as a chief scout for Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
before once again managing Tottenham in 1938, during which time he promoted many younger players to the first team from the ‘nursery side’ at Northfleet
Northfleet
Northfleet is a town in the Borough of Gravesham in Kent, England. Its name is derived from North creek , and the settlement on the shore of the River Thames adjacent to Gravesend was known as Norfluet in the Domesday Book, and Northflet in 1201...
, including Bill Nicholson
Bill Nicholson (footballer)
William Edward "Bill" Nicholson OBE was an English football player, coach, manager and scout who devoted his life to Tottenham Hotspur in North London.-Early life:...
. The intervention of the war effectively brought his managerial career to an end and he retired in 1942.
Resources
- Joannou, Paul. A Complete Who's Who of Newcastle United.
- Joannou, P., Canning, T., Canning, P. Haway The Lads, The Illustrated Story of Newcastle United.
Potter David "Scotland's Greatest Games"