McPherson William Image 1 Glasgow Rangers 1908

Description

Beith, Ayrshire born inside left William McPherson began his football career with hometown club Beith in 1902, from where he was signed by St Mirren in September 1904, scoring 7 goals in 47 matches for The Buddies. In August 1906 First Division champions Liverpool signed McPherson, and he scored on his Football League debut in a 2-1 defeat at Woolwich Arsenal that October, The Liverpool club programme described him as “slight and wiry in build, but lithe and active in all his movements and there is no fear of his stamina. He is just the type of man to whom the honours fall. He is modest, unassuming, and, like so many others who have adopted professional football as a calling – a gentleman.”

McPherson had two seasons at Anfield, scoring 17 goals in 55 matches for The Reds, before a return to Scotland to join Glasgow Rangers in May 1908. At Rangers he scored 27 goals in 60 matches over the next two seasons, and was involved in the infamous 1909 Scottish Cup Final. McPherson scored in three consecutive rounds as the side progressed to the 1909 Final against Celtic. Rangers had to settle for a 2-2 draw in the first match as their ‘keeper carried the ball over the goal line for Celtic’s second goal eight minutes before the final whistle as he turned away to protect himself from an onrushing forward.

Extra-time was expected to be played as the teams were level 1-1 after 90 minutes of the second game at Hampden. However, when it was realised a third game was to be played the spectators rioted for several hours, tearing up the goalposts, ripping up parts of the pitch and setting fire to the wooden barricades and the pay-boxes. The mounted police tried to contain the situation but were fended off with stones and even bits and pieces of the goalposts, while the fire brigade was also repelled by missiles and had its hoses cut. “I would suggest the withdrawal of all policemen from football matches,” wrote one correspondent in the Glasgow Evening Times, “and substitute a regiment of soldiers with fixed bayonets.” Any plans of a second replay were abandoned and the trophy withheld!

He was loaned back to Beith for the 1910-11 season and joined Heart of Midlothian in May 1911, scoring 7 goals in 34 matches for The Jambos through to the end of 1912. Whether he was forced to retire through injury, this is his last recorded club.