Russell Willie Image 1 Chelsea 1930

Description

Hamilton, Lanarkshire born right half Willie Russell began his football career with Larkhall Juniors and played for Blantyre Celtic in 1925 from where he joined Second Division club Chelsea in 1927, making his Football League debut at Oldham Athletic in April 1928. After 14 matches in their 1928-29 campaign, he came into the team in December 1929 and played 21 matches as Chelsea won promotion to the top flight, finishing Second Division runners up.

He scored his first goal for Chelsea in a 1-1 draw at Huddersfield Town in October 1930, but lost his place soon thereafter and only played a further 6 matches in their first season back in the top flight. But he was a regular in Chelsea’s team for the following three seasons and played in their 1932 FA Cup semi final which was lost to eventual winners Newcastle United at Leeds Road, Huddersfield.

Having lost his place in November 1934, Russell only played 4 more matches for The Pensioners before returning to Scotland to join David Pratt’s Heart of Midlothian in December 1935 after 6 goals in 160 appearances for Chelsea. He made his Scottish League debut a few days later in a win over Queen’s Park at Tynecastle, but struggled to establish himself at Hearts, his last match for them coming in a win over Edinburgh rivals Hibernian in September 1937, by when he had featured in 18 matches for The Jambos. In 1938 he returned to England to play for non league club Rhyl before his career was ended by the outbreak of the Second World War the following year,