William “Billy” Muir

Willie was born in Coalburn, near Lesmahagow, South Lanarkshire.

He started his career with Glenbuck Cherrypickers F.C., the famous team that had Bob Shankly in their ranks at one point. The Scottish Junior Association selected him to play against England in 1896, where he was on the winning side, Scotland winning 4-0.

Willie had trials with 3^rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers F.C., but couldn’t agree terms, so had short spells with Third Lanark and Kilmarnock, before signing for Everton for a transfer fee of £45, and with whom he played from 1897-1902. The Liverpool Mercury newspaper described him as “not a showy, but a most effective custodian.”

Muir signed for Dundee F.C. on June 5^th 1902.

Dundee had approached their counterparts when Everton were on tour in April. They were informed the price would be £300. Willie appealed the English League. At a meeting in Manchester he produced and agreement, signed by the Everton club secretary, guaranteeing him a weekly wage of £5 for two years, plus a benefit match. The F.A. had said that no player could be paid more than £4 a week, which was a serious of judgement on Everton’s part. He said that he had forgone the extra £1 for the previous year, so was £52 out of pocket. The League stated that due to this information he was to be placed on the transfer list for £100. The Dundee F.C. directors hastily agreed terms.

He made his first team debut on August 16^th in a 2-0 home win against Queen’s Park. Later that year he was asked by a journalist how Scottish clubs would fare in the English League, and he stated that:

“Dundee was quite as good a team as he had seen on either side of the Border, and that if they were in the English League they would hold as prominent position as they now do in the Scottish.”

After a short holiday back in Liverpool for the Christmas holidays, Muir returned to Scotland. Dundee were to play a Northern League Select XI on New Years Day. A charity match of sorts, the money taken at the gate was the go to the funds of the League. The Dark Blue won the match, avenging the previous defeat from their previous encounter.

At the end of the 1902-03 season rumours were heard that Muir would head back down South, however they were unfounded, as he was very happy with they way he had been treated by club officials, and signed on for the next season.

1905 saw interest from Notts County, but nothing came of it and he remained a Dundee player.

Willie was struggling with ankle injuries at the early in the 1905-06 season.

In February 1907, Willie was called up for trials with the international squad, alongside fellow team mates Macfarlane and Jack Fraser. He was in goal for the Scottish League v English League match on 2^nd March, which ended 0-0. His full Scotland debut was against Ireland two weeks later at Celtic Park, which Scotland won 3-0

With his reputation rising, Tottenham Hotspur showed interest in him as a replacement for Matt Reilly, Celtic also had been keeping an eye. However, come the end of the season he signed for Bradford for a £100, the same price he had cost Dundee five years earlier.

After a season with Bradford, Muir returned to Scotland, joining Hearts, before finishing his career at Dumbarton.

Willie died, aged sixty five, on October 18^th 1941. He had recently retired from running a hotel at Sandbank, near Dunoon. He is buried in St Michael’s Churchyard, Inveresk.