Strauss Bill Image 1 Aberdeen 1937

Description

Born in Benoni, South Africa, outside left Bill Strauss was playing football in Pretoria when spotted by Aberdeen, for whom he signed when he arrived in Britain in 1935. Described at the time as “a great draw at Pittodrie, he serves up hot-stuff football. An intelligent player, keeps hard at it and possesses a dangerous shot in either foot.” He played a major part in Aberdeen’s run to the Scottish Cup Final in 1937 but was unluckily injured in the semi final, missing out on the Final. He had scored 52 goals in 95 appearances for Aberdeen by the time football was abandoned due to the outbreak of the Second World War, and he returned to Pittodrie after the War playing once for The Dons in 1945-46,

A South African international, Strauss moved to Second Division Plymouth Argyle in July 1946 after Jack Tresadern saw him playing for Aberdeen, having travelled to check out a different player. He made his Football League debut against West Ham United the same August and was an instant hit at Home Park, scoring twice in a 3-1 victory, his unorthodox style and outstanding ability delighting the home fans. After four seasons of regular first team games, scoring 42 goals in 166 appearances, age began to catch up with him and his senior appearances were limited in his final three seasons at the club. He eventually retired, aged 37, in 1953.