Willie Laird
Encyclopedia
Willie Laird was a Scottish
association football player, best known for his time with East Fife
before and after the Second World War.
Willie Laird joined East Fife in 1937, signing from East Stirlingshire
. Laird debuted for the Fifers in November of the same year in the 1-1 draw at Broomfield
away to Airdrieonians. Laird established himself immediately as a first team regular and was selected for every one of the club's games in the run when won 1937-38 Scottish Cup - the only time the Methil
men have won the trophy.
Willie laird returned to East Fife after the Second World War as the club enjoyed further success. In 1946-47
(the first season after the war) the club finished third missing promotion by one place. The next season (1947-48
) East Fife were promoted to the top flight of Scottish football as 'B' Division champions.
During this post-war "Golden Period", the East Fife won the Scottish League Cup
on no fewer than on three separate occasions (1947-48
, 1949-50
, and 1953-54
) in seven seasons. A third Scottish Cup final appearance was added to its achievements list in 1949-50
. In Laird's two full seasons in Scotland's top division East Fife finished fourth on both occasions.
Laird was playing at the club until 19 August 1950 with his last game being against Third Lanark at Bayview. He is the only man while playing for east Fife to win three major cup winners medals, a feat unlikely to be matched nor beaten. Laird made 219 East Fife appearances scoring one goal ironically against his former club East Stirlingshire. In the season when Laird stopped playing for East Fife the club's finishing League position dropped to tenth.
Among players who played at the club with Laird were Tommy Adams
who also played in the Scottish Cup winning side before the war. Others joined club and would go on to represent Scotland while at the club - George Aitken
, Davie Duncan
, Allan Brown, Henry Morris
and Charlie Fleming
. Others such as Jimmy Philp
and winger and later Scottish League cap Bobby Black
were among those who picked up cup winners medals at the club.
With Laird at the club at the beginning of their golden era East Fife spent ten successive seasons in Scotland's top league with five finishes in Scotland's top six. Away from this period the club have spent only four other seasons playing in Scotland's top division.
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,...
association football player, best known for his time with East Fife
East Fife F.C.
East Fife Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the Fife coastal town of Methil...
before and after the Second World War.
Willie Laird joined East Fife in 1937, signing from East Stirlingshire
East Stirlingshire F.C.
East Stirlingshire Football Club is a Scottish football club originating in Falkirk. Founded in 1880, originally as Bainsford Britannia, the club changed to their current name a year later in 1881...
. Laird debuted for the Fifers in November of the same year in the 1-1 draw at Broomfield
Broomfield Park
Broomfield Park was a football stadium in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, home of Airdrieonians F.C. from 1892 until it was closed after the 1993-94 football season....
away to Airdrieonians. Laird established himself immediately as a first team regular and was selected for every one of the club's games in the run when won 1937-38 Scottish Cup - the only time the Methil
Methil
Methil is an eastern coastal town in Scotland. It was part of the former Burgh of Buckhaven and Methil. It lies within a continuous urban area described as Levenmouth.Methil lies geographically between Largo bay to the east and Wemyss Bay to the west....
men have won the trophy.
Willie laird returned to East Fife after the Second World War as the club enjoyed further success. In 1946-47
1946-47 in Scottish football
The 1946–47 season was the 50th season of competitive football in Scotland, and the first since the 1938–39 season.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: Rangers-Scottish League Division B:-Scottish League Division C:...
(the first season after the war) the club finished third missing promotion by one place. The next season (1947-48
1947-48 in Scottish football
The 1947–48 season was the 51st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: Hibernian Relegated: Airdrie, Queen's Park-Scottish League Division B:Champions: East Fife, Albion Rovers...
) East Fife were promoted to the top flight of Scottish football as 'B' Division champions.
During this post-war "Golden Period", the East Fife won the Scottish 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...
on no fewer than on three separate occasions (1947-48
1947-48 in Scottish football
The 1947–48 season was the 51st season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: Hibernian Relegated: Airdrie, Queen's Park-Scottish League Division B:Champions: East Fife, Albion Rovers...
, 1949-50
1949-50 in Scottish football
The 1949–50 season was the 53rd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Rangers won the league with a 2–2 draw in their last match, away to Third Lanark, a game in which Rangers took a 2–0 lead...
, and 1953-54
1953-54 in Scottish football
The 1953–54 season was the 57th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Champions: CelticRelegated: Airdrieonians, Hamilton Academical-Scottish League Division B:...
) in seven seasons. A third Scottish Cup final appearance was added to its achievements list in 1949-50
1949-50 in Scottish football
The 1949–50 season was the 53rd season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish League Division A:Rangers won the league with a 2–2 draw in their last match, away to Third Lanark, a game in which Rangers took a 2–0 lead...
. In Laird's two full seasons in Scotland's top division East Fife finished fourth on both occasions.
Laird was playing at the club until 19 August 1950 with his last game being against Third Lanark at Bayview. He is the only man while playing for east Fife to win three major cup winners medals, a feat unlikely to be matched nor beaten. Laird made 219 East Fife appearances scoring one goal ironically against his former club East Stirlingshire. In the season when Laird stopped playing for East Fife the club's finishing League position dropped to tenth.
Among players who played at the club with Laird were Tommy Adams
Tommy Adams (footballer)
Tommy Adams was a Scottish footballer best known for his time at East Fife.Adams signed for East Fife in 1935 from Neilston Victoria. He was a member of the 1938 Scottish Cup winning side and also won the Scottish League Cup in 1947. Adams also played for Greenock Morton and Forfar Athletic.-...
who also played in the Scottish Cup winning side before the war. Others joined club and would go on to represent Scotland while at the club - George Aitken
George Aitken (footballer born 1925)
George Aitken was a Scottish international football player, who played for clubs including East Fife and Sunderland. Aitken was part of the East Fife's famous half back line of Philp, Finlay and Aitken....
, Davie Duncan
Davie Duncan
Davie Duncan was a Scottish international footballer who played in the successful East Fife post war team, when they enjoyed creditable league and cup success....
, Allan Brown, Henry Morris
Henry Morris (footballer)
Henry Miller Morris was a Scottish footballer who played for East Fife, Dundee United and the Scotland national team as a centre forward....
and Charlie Fleming
Charlie Fleming
Charles "Charlie" Fleming was a Scottish footballer who played for Blairhall Colliery, East Fife, Sunderland and the Scotland national team...
. Others such as Jimmy Philp
Jimmy Philp
Jimmy Philp was a Scottish footballer who played for St Bernards, Heart of Midlothian, East Fife F.C. and Brechin City. At East Fife he was part of their highly successful post war side.-St Bernards & Hearts:...
and winger and later Scottish League cap Bobby Black
Bobby Black
Bobby Black is a Scottish ex-professional footballer from Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway perhaps best known for his time at East Fife and Queen of the South and was also capped by the Scottish League. Black later was an all England bowls champion...
were among those who picked up cup winners medals at the club.
With Laird at the club at the beginning of their golden era East Fife spent ten successive seasons in Scotland's top league with five finishes in Scotland's top six. Away from this period the club have spent only four other seasons playing in Scotland's top division.