William Thornton MM (3 March 1920 – 26 August 1991) was a Scottish footballer and manager. Thornton's entire senior playing career was spent with Rangers, and Thornton is considered to be one of the greatest players in the club's history.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Willam Thornton | ||
| Date of birth | 3 March 1920 | ||
| Place of birth | Winchburgh, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 26 August 1991 (aged 71) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1936–1954 | Rangers | 219 | (138) |
| International career | |||
| 1946–1952 | Scotland | 8 | (1) |
| 1949 | Scottish Football League XI[1] | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1954–1959 | Dundee | ||
| 1959–1968 | Partick Thistle | ||
| 1969 | Rangers (caretaker) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Football career
editThornton played for Rangers from 1936 to 1954, then became a manager with first Dundee and then Partick Thistle. Thornton later returned to Rangers as assistant manager to Davie White in the summer of 1968 and was briefly caretaker manager in 1969 after White's dismissal. Thornton then worked as assistant to William Waddell until 1972. The club won the two matches when Thornton was in charge. Thornton is one of Scotland's all-time top goalscorers, with 138 league goals.
Military career
editThornton served in World War II in the Scottish Horse fighting in the Italian campaign at the battle of Anzio, and winning the Military Medal for his bravery during the invasion of Sicily.[2] Later in the war, Thornton played football for a British Eighth Army team that also included George Hamilton and Tom Finney.[3]
Death
editThornton died on 26 August 1991, aged 71 years old.[citation needed]
Honours
editManager
edit- Dundee
- Forfarshire Cup : 1954–55, 1955–56
References
edit- ^ "Willie Thornton - Scotland Football League Record from 23 Mar 1949 to 23 Mar 1949 clubs - Rangers".
- ^ "Has a referee ever been sent off?". TheGuardian.com. 31 March 2009.
- ^ Rippon, Anton (21 October 2011). Gas Masks for Goal Posts: Football in Britain During the Second World War. The History Press. ISBN 9780752471884.
External links
edit- Willie Thornton at the Scottish Football Association
- Willie Thornton at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
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