Goldie Bill Image 4 Fulham 1907

Description

Hurlford, Ayrshire born left half Bill Goldie started his career at Hurlford Thistle in 1895 before joining Clyde in 1897. Soon after he joined his brother Archie at Liverpool in November 1897 but he had to wait for his Football League debut, which came at Notts County in April 1898. He soon became a firm fixture in the side during the seven years he stayed at Anfield.

Referee Kingscott charged Goldie for “discourteous language” after the conclusion of the second replay between Sheffield United and Liverpool in the 1899 FA Cup semi final. He was banned for the last three matches of the season when Liverpool were competing for the League title. Bill’s near-impenetrable Scottish accent forced FA’s disciplinary committee to employ an interpreter!

He was an ever-present in the League for three seasons running from 1900-01 until 1902-03 and in fact played 129 consecutive games from 23rd December 1899 until 27th April 1903. He picked up a winners’ medal as the club won its first League Championship title at the end of the 1900-01 season. At the end of the 1902-03 season Goldie was caught accepting illegal payments from Portsmouth to sign for them in the Southern League. As a result he along with teammates John Glover and Sam Raybould were banned from football until 31st December 1903.

When the suspension was over he joined Southern League Fulham in January 1904, having played his last ever game of 174, scoring 6 goals, for Liverpool in April 1903. He won back to back Southern League Championships with the Cottagers in 1905 and 1906 and featured their inaugural Football League match in the 1907-08 season, Fulham‘s first in the League, playing 42 matches during their Second Division campaign. This turned out to be his last and after 5 goals in 178 appearances for Fulham he joined Leicester Fosse in July 1908 who had been promoted to First Division, but they were relegated a year later. Goldie retired from a successful League career in 1911 joining amateurs Leicester Imperial.

His older brother Archie played for Clyde and Liverpool, as well as New Brighton Tower, Small Heath and Crewe Alexandra, and younger brother Jock also played for Fulham, as well as for Glossop, Bury, Kilmarnock, Dundee and Clyde.