Wardrope Willie Image 3 Fulham 1905

Description

Wishaw, Lanarkshire born outside left Willie Wardrobe began his football career at Dalziel Rovers before playing for Scottish League Motherwell as an amateur in 1893, and Linthouse in 1894. In August 1895 he joined Second Division Newcastle United, making his Football League debut against Loughborough the same September, scoring in a 3-0 win at St James’ Park. He finished the season as both an ever present and as Newcastle’s top scorer, scoring 20 goals in 36 games including a hat-trick against Darwen in November.

He scored a further 14 goals in the 1897-98 campaign as Newcastle won promotion to the First Division for the first time in their history as Second Division runners up, qualifying for promotion by beating Stoke and Blackburn Rovers in 2 leg test matches. He spent two further seasons with The Toon in the top flight before joining Middlesbrough in April 1900 after 52 goals in 145 appearances for The Magpies.

He had two full seasons at ‘Boro, helping them win promotion to the First Division in 1901-02, scoring 10 goals as they finished Second Division runners up. But at the end of the season, having scored 24 goals in 73 appearances, he returned to Scotland and joined Third Lanark, and while with The Warriors he was selected to represent The Scottish League in a 1-0 defeat to The Irish League at Grosvenor Park, Belfast in February 1903. After two seasons at Caithkin Park he then joined Southern League Fulham in 1904, scoring 32 goals in 68 appearances for The Cottagers and helping them to win the Southern League Championship in 1906. He transferred to Swindon Town in the 1906 close season and scored 9 times for The Robins in 39 appearances, before returning to Scotland to join Hamilton Academical in 1907, subsequently joining Raith Rovers in 1908 before his eventual retirement.

NB in the photograph, Brentford right back Tom Riley clears from Wardrope and Fulham team mate Alec Fraser in the match between Brentford and Fulham at Griffin Park on 7th October 1905. Fraser scored the first Fulham goal in a 2-0 victory.