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{{short description|Scottish footballer}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
{{Infobox football biography
| name= Willie McNaught
| name= Willie McNaught
| image =
| image =
| fullname = William McNaught
| fullname = William McNaught
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1922|5|5|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1922|5|9|df=y}}<ref name = "qoswillie">[http://www.qosfc.com/new_newsview.aspx?newsid=1215 "Willie McNaught (and Ken)" www.qosfc.com 26 April 2012]</ref>
| birth_place = [[Dumfries]], [[Scotland]]
| birth_place = [[Dumfries]], Scotland<ref name = "qoswillie"/>
| death_date = {{death date and age|1989|4|12|1922|5|9|df=yes}}<ref>[http://www.scottishleague.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=370&sid=9377feb7f1cda5995c76f962945ca5b1&start=30 Oldest Surviving Scottish Internationalists]</ref>
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_place =
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}
| position = [[Defender (football)|Defender]]
| position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| years1 = 1946–1962 | years2 = 1962–1963
| years1 = 1946–1962 | years2 = 1962–1963
| clubs1 = [[Raith Rovers F.C.|Raith Rovers]]<ref>[http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/raith/raith.htm Neil Brown's football database]</ref> | clubs2 = [[Brechin City F.C.|Brechin City]]<ref>[http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/brechin/brechin.htm Neil Brown's football database]</ref>
| clubs1 = [[Raith Rovers F.C.|Raith Rovers]]<ref>[http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/raith/raith.html Neil Brown's football database]</ref> | clubs2 = [[Brechin City F.C.|Brechin City]]<ref>[http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/brechin/brechin.html Neil Brown's football database]</ref>
| caps1 = 418 | goals1 = 1 | caps2 = 5 | goals2 = 0
| caps1 = 657 | goals1 = 1 | caps2 = 5 | goals2 = 0
| nationalyears1= 1950–1954
| nationalyears1= 1950–1954
| nationalteam1= [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]
| nationalteam1= [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]
| nationalcaps1= 5 | nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalcaps1= 5 | nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2= 1950–1957
| nationalyears2= 1950–1957
| nationalteam2= [[Scottish League XI]]
| nationalteam2= [[Scottish Football League XI]]
| nationalcaps2= 6 | nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalcaps2= 6 | nationalgoals2 = 0
}}
}}
'''Willie McNaught''' (born 5 May 1922 in [[Dumfries]]) is a [[Scotland|Scottish]] former [[association football|football]] player. McNaught holds the [[Raith Rovers]] record for the number of appearances with the club of 657 between 1941 and 1962. McNaught was club captain and at international gained five full Scotland caps and six Scottish League caps. McNaught's son is [[European Cup]] winning footballer [[Ken McNaught]].<ref> [http://qosfc.com/AboutUs/QueensLegends/tabid/115/Default.aspx Information on Willie McNaught and Ken McNaught in the report on the Scotland 1954 World Cup campaign in the profile on Jimmy Binning]</ref> <ref>[http://www.qosfc.com/new_newsview.aspx?newsid=1215]</ref>
'''William McNaught''' (9 May 1922 – 12 April 1989) was a Scottish [[association football|footballer]], who was born in [[Dumfries]]. McNaught holds the [[Raith Rovers F.C.|Raith Rovers]] club record for the number of appearances with the club of 657 between 1941 and 1962. McNaught was club captain and at international gained five full Scotland caps and six Scottish League caps. McNaught's son is [[European Cup]] winning footballer [[Ken McNaught]].<ref name = "qoswillie"/><ref>[http://qosfc.com/legends Information on Willie McNaught and Ken McNaught in the report on the Scotland 1954 World Cup campaign in the profile on Jimmy Binning]</ref>


==Club career==
==Club career==


But for the war, McNaught may have been a player of his home town club [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]]. The stylish full back or half back was spotted playing in army football by a Raith Rovers official who wasted no time in signing him. He went on to form part of the half back line that is still iconically revered at Raith Rovers along with Andy Young and Andy Leigh.<ref>http://www.heraldscotland.com/andy-young-1.894036</ref>
But for the war, McNaught may have been a player of his home town club [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]]. The stylish full back or half back was spotted playing in army football by a Raith Rovers official who wasted no time in signing him. He went on to form part of the half back line that is still iconically revered at Raith Rovers along with Andy Young and Andy Leigh.<ref name = "qoswillie"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/andy-young-1.894036|title = Andy Young}}</ref>


With the resumption of national league football in 1946-47 after the end of [[World War II]], Raith were in Scotland's second tier. They improved season on season with finishes of sixth and fourth before being promoted as B Division champions in 1949. From then they stayed in Scotland's top flight until after McNaught's 1962 departure. The highlight of the 1950s golden era was undoubtedly the 5-1 destruction of Rangers at Stark's Park in December 1956. It was the peak of the greatest Raith Rovers team in 30 years and, for a while, they looked genuine championship contenders, eventually finishing in fourth place, their highest position since 1922, surpassing the fifth place of 1952 and one that has not been bettered since.<ref>[http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/obituaries/Andy-Young-Footballer.4614926.jp Andy Young obituary]</ref> Rovers were relegated the season after McNaught's departure to Brechin City.
With the resumption of national league football in 1946–47 after the end of [[World War II]], Raith were in Scotland's second tier. They improved season on season with finishes of sixth and fourth before being promoted as B Division champions in 1949. From then they stayed in Scotland's top flight until after McNaught's 1962 departure. The highlight of the 1950s golden era was undoubtedly the 5–1 destruction of Rangers at Stark's Park in December 1956. It was the peak of the greatest Raith Rovers team in 30 years and, for a while, they looked genuine championship contenders, eventually finishing in fourth place, their highest position since 1922, surpassing the fifth place of 1952 and one that has not been bettered since.<ref>[http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/obituaries/Andy-Young-Footballer.4614926.jp Andy Young obituary]</ref> Rovers were relegated the season after McNaught's departure to Brechin City.<ref name = "qoswillie"/>


In McNaught's time Raith had runs to the Scottish Cup semi finals in 1951, 1956 and 1957 as well as a quarter final defeat to Rangers in 1950 that required two replays. The crowd of 84,640 to watch the 1951 semi final 3-2 defeat to Celtic at Hampden Park in Celtic's native Glasgow is the largest ever to see a Raith Rovers game. Cup runs weren't exclusive to the Scottish Cup. Raith made it to the 1948-49 Scottish League Cup Final where they went down 2-0 to Rangers.<ref name = "doon">[http://qosfc.com/HeadlineNews/ViewFullStory/tabid/151/selectmoduleid/498/ArticleID/1124/reftab/54/Default.aspx 'League Cup Doonhamers' on www.qosfc.com]</ref>
In McNaught's time Raith had runs to the Scottish Cup semi finals in 1951, 1956 and 1957 as well as a quarter final defeat to Rangers in 1950 that required two replays. The crowd of 84,640 to watch the 1951 semi final 3–2 defeat to Celtic at Hampden Park in Celtic's native Glasgow is the largest ever to see a Raith Rovers game. Cup runs weren't exclusive to the Scottish Cup. Raith made it to the 1948–49 Scottish League Cup Final where they went down 2–0 to Rangers.<ref name = "qoswillie"/><ref name = "doon">[http://qosfc.com/HeadlineNews/ViewFullStory/tabid/151/selectmoduleid/498/ArticleID/1124/reftab/54/Default.aspx 'League Cup Doonhamers' on www.qosfc.com]</ref>


There was more to McNaught's game than just composure and elegance. [[Jim Baxter]] later commented of his "Iron Man" captain from his earliest days in professional football, "I would never have made it in today's circumstances. I needed bastards like Carmichael, Buckard, Ferrier, Herdsman and McNaught. Young players like I was would simply tell them to get stuffed and take their talent elsewhere. I owe them."<ref>http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/jim-baxter-729021.html</ref>
There was more to McNaught's game than just composure and elegance. [[Jim Baxter]] later commented of his "Iron Man" captain from his earliest days in professional football, "I would never have made it in today's circumstances. I needed bastards like Carmichael, Buckard, Ferrier, [[Bert Herdman|Herdman]] and McNaught. Young players like I was would simply tell them to get stuffed and take their talent elsewhere. I owe them."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/jim-baxter-7784802.html|title=Jim Baxter|date=24 May 2012}}</ref>


Hearts legend [[Willie Bauld]]'s tributes to his opponents were legion and seldom. Bauld though professed a great admiration for Willie McNaught as the man who gave Bauld his toughest games.<ref>[http://www.williebauldmc.freeserve.co.uk/html/biograph4.html Willie Bauld Biographry]</ref> The then veteran McNaught was fondly remembered by Jim Menzies as a real gentleman.<ref>[http://lochgelly3.tripod.com/thebluebrazil/id19.html Jim Menzies recollection]</ref> Tom Dawson played with McNaught in retirement with Fife all-stars commenting, "The guy that amazed me in those games was ex-Raith and Scotland star Willie McNaught. Even at the age of 52 he would just stroll through games."<ref>[http://lochgelly3.tripod.com/thebluebrazil/id29.html Tom Dawson recollection]</ref>
Hearts legend [[Willie Bauld]]'s tributes to his opponents were legion and seldom. Bauld though professed a great admiration for Willie McNaught as the man who gave Bauld his toughest games.<ref>[http://www.williebauldmc.freeserve.co.uk/html/biograph4.html Willie Bauld Biography]</ref> The then veteran McNaught was fondly remembered by ex Raith teammate Jim Menzies as a real gentleman and inspiration for the younger players.<ref>[http://lochgelly3.tripod.com/wwwcowdenbeathnetcopy/id19.html "Jim Menzies – Player 1964-66"]</ref> Ex [[Cowdenbeath F.C.|Cowdenbeath]] Tom Dawson played beside McNaught in retirement with Fife all-stars commenting, "The guy that amazed me in those games was ex-Raith and Scotland star Willie McNaught. Even at the age of 52 he would just stroll through games."<ref name = "qoswillie"/><ref>[http://lochgelly3.tripod.com/wwwcowdenbeathnetcopy/id29.html "Tom Dawson – Player 1961 – 1967"]</ref>


==International career==
==International career==


McNaught gained 5 full international caps for Scotland.
McNaught gained 5 full international caps for Scotland.<ref name = "qoswillie"/>


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Date !! Opponent !! Result
! # !! Date !! Opponent !! Result
|-
|-
|1 || October 21, 1950 || {{fb|WAL}} || Wales 1 Scotland 3
|1 || 21 October 1950 || {{fb|WAL}} || Wales 1 Scotland 3
|-
|-
|2 || November 1, 1950 || {{fb|NIR}} || Scotland 6 Northern Ireland 1
|2 || 1 November 1950 || {{fb|NIR}} || Scotland 6 Northern Ireland 1
|-
|-
|3 || December 13, 1950 || {{fb|AUT}} || Scotland 0 Austria 1
|3 || 13 December 1950 || {{fb|AUT}} || Scotland 0 Austria 1
|-
|-
|4 || April 5, 1952 || {{fb|ENG}} || Scotland 1 England 2
|4 || 5 April 1952 || {{fb|ENG}} || Scotland 1 England 2
|-
|-
|5 || November 3, 1954 || {{fb|NIR}} || Scotland 2 Northern Ireland 2
|5 || 3 November 1954 || {{fb|NIR}} || Scotland 2 Northern Ireland 2
|}
|}


McNaught also represented the Scottish League six times and was a winner on all six occasions. This was 2 wins against each of the English League, the Irish League and the League of Ireland.<ref>[http://londonhearts.com/SFL/players/williemcnaught.html Willie McNaught Scottish League representative record on www.londonhearts.com]</ref>
McNaught also represented the Scottish League six times and was a winner on all six occasions. This was 2 wins against each of the English League, the Irish League and the League of Ireland.<ref name = "qoswillie"/><ref>[http://londonhearts.com/SFL/players/williemcnaught.html Willie McNaught Scottish League representative record on www.londonhearts.com]</ref>


==Honours==
==Legacy==


McNaught was among the first group of inductees into the Raith Rovers Hall of Fame. His son Ken won the European Cup playing centre back with Aston Villa.
* Scottish B Division Championship - 1949


==Honours==
⚫
* Scottish Cup semi finalist - 1951, 1956, 1957


* Scottish League Cup finalist - 1949
* Scottish B Division Championship – 1949
⚫
* Scottish Cup semi finalist – 1951, 1956, 1957
* Scottish League Cup finalist – 1949


==References==
==References==
Line 65: Line 70:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{SFA profile}}
*{{SFA Profile|id=113407|name=Willie McNaught}}


{{Raith Rovers F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->

| NAME = Macnaught, Willie
⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:McNaught, Willie}}
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Scottish footballer
| DATE OF BIRTH = May 7, 1922
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Dumfries]], [[Scotland]]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macnaught, Willie}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:1922 births]]
⚫
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:Brechin City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Brechin City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Association football defenders]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
⚫
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Dumfries]]
[[Category:Raith Rovers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Raith Rovers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Scotland international footballers]]
[[Category:Scotland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League players]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League players]]
[[Category:Scottish footballers]]
[[Category:Scottish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Dumfries]]
[[Category:Footballers from Dumfries]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League representative players]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League representative players]]
[[Category:Place of death missing]]

Latest revision as of 15:12, 9 October 2023

Willie McNaught
Personal information
Full name William McNaught
Date of birth (1922-05-09)9 May 1922[1]
Place of birth Dumfries, Scotland[1]
Date of death 12 April 1989(1989-04-12) (aged 66)[2]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1946–1962 Raith Rovers[3] 657 (1)
1962–1963 Brechin City[4] 5 (0)
International career
1950–1954 Scotland 5 (0)
1950–1957 Scottish Football League XI 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

William McNaught (9 May 1922 – 12 April 1989) was a Scottish footballer, who was born in Dumfries. McNaught holds the Raith Rovers club record for the number of appearances with the club of 657 between 1941 and 1962. McNaught was club captain and at international gained five full Scotland caps and six Scottish League caps. McNaught's son is European Cup winning footballer Ken McNaught.[1][5]

Club career[edit]

But for the war, McNaught may have been a player of his home town club Queen of the South. The stylish full back or half back was spotted playing in army football by a Raith Rovers official who wasted no time in signing him. He went on to form part of the half back line that is still iconically revered at Raith Rovers along with Andy Young and Andy Leigh.[1][6]

With the resumption of national league football in 1946–47 after the end of World War II, Raith were in Scotland's second tier. They improved season on season with finishes of sixth and fourth before being promoted as B Division champions in 1949. From then they stayed in Scotland's top flight until after McNaught's 1962 departure. The highlight of the 1950s golden era was undoubtedly the 5–1 destruction of Rangers at Stark's Park in December 1956. It was the peak of the greatest Raith Rovers team in 30 years and, for a while, they looked genuine championship contenders, eventually finishing in fourth place, their highest position since 1922, surpassing the fifth place of 1952 and one that has not been bettered since.[7] Rovers were relegated the season after McNaught's departure to Brechin City.[1]

In McNaught's time Raith had runs to the Scottish Cup semi finals in 1951, 1956 and 1957 as well as a quarter final defeat to Rangers in 1950 that required two replays. The crowd of 84,640 to watch the 1951 semi final 3–2 defeat to Celtic at Hampden Park in Celtic's native Glasgow is the largest ever to see a Raith Rovers game. Cup runs weren't exclusive to the Scottish Cup. Raith made it to the 1948–49 Scottish League Cup Final where they went down 2–0 to Rangers.[1][8]

There was more to McNaught's game than just composure and elegance. Jim Baxter later commented of his "Iron Man" captain from his earliest days in professional football, "I would never have made it in today's circumstances. I needed bastards like Carmichael, Buckard, Ferrier, Herdman and McNaught. Young players like I was would simply tell them to get stuffed and take their talent elsewhere. I owe them."[9]

Hearts legend Willie Bauld's tributes to his opponents were legion and seldom. Bauld though professed a great admiration for Willie McNaught as the man who gave Bauld his toughest games.[10] The then veteran McNaught was fondly remembered by ex Raith teammate Jim Menzies as a real gentleman and inspiration for the younger players.[11] Ex Cowdenbeath Tom Dawson played beside McNaught in retirement with Fife all-stars commenting, "The guy that amazed me in those games was ex-Raith and Scotland star Willie McNaught. Even at the age of 52 he would just stroll through games."[1][12]

International career[edit]

McNaught gained 5 full international caps for Scotland.[1]

# Date Opponent Result
1 21 October 1950  Wales Wales 1 Scotland 3
2 1 November 1950  Northern Ireland Scotland 6 Northern Ireland 1
3 13 December 1950  Austria Scotland 0 Austria 1
4 5 April 1952  England Scotland 1 England 2
5 3 November 1954  Northern Ireland Scotland 2 Northern Ireland 2

McNaught also represented the Scottish League six times and was a winner on all six occasions. This was 2 wins against each of the English League, the Irish League and the League of Ireland.[1][13]

Legacy[edit]

McNaught was among the first group of inductees into the Raith Rovers Hall of Fame. His son Ken won the European Cup playing centre back with Aston Villa.

Honours[edit]

  • Scottish B Division Championship – 1949
  • Scottish Cup semi finalist – 1951, 1956, 1957
  • Scottish League Cup finalist – 1949

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Willie McNaught (and Ken)" www.qosfc.com 26 April 2012
  2. ^ Oldest Surviving Scottish Internationalists
  3. ^ Neil Brown's football database
  4. ^ Neil Brown's football database
  5. ^ Information on Willie McNaught and Ken McNaught in the report on the Scotland 1954 World Cup campaign in the profile on Jimmy Binning
  6. ^ "Andy Young".
  7. ^ Andy Young obituary
  8. ^ 'League Cup Doonhamers' on www.qosfc.com
  9. ^ "Jim Baxter". 24 May 2012.
  10. ^ Willie Bauld Biography
  11. ^ "Jim Menzies – Player 1964-66"
  12. ^ "Tom Dawson – Player 1961 – 1967"
  13. ^ Willie McNaught Scottish League representative record on www.londonhearts.com

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Willie_McNaught&oldid=1179350233"