George Rae
George Rae
George Rae
● George Rae, c1909 (JM)

born in Scotland

George Rae was born on Saturday, 20th October, 1888, in Falkirk.

The forward signed for George Easton's Thistle on Friday, 3rd October, 1913, having most recently been with Hibernian.

Aged 24, he made his debut appearance on Saturday, 4th October, 1913, in a 1-1 draw at home to Queen's Park in the SFL First Division.

There were no goals for George during his time with Thistle.

He played his last game for the club on Saturday, 2nd May, 1914, in a 2-1 neutral-venue defeat against Third Lanark in the Glasgow Charity Cup, having appeared as a Jag on 13 occasions.

His club-list included Falkirk Athletic, Falkirk, Hibernian, Kirkcaldy United, Partick Thistle, Dunfermline Athletic and Dumbarton.

We don't know where or when George died. *

* If you can help us to improve any of these marked points on The Thistle Archive, then please do get in touch →

Bio Extra

Son of John Rae and Jane Rae (nÊe Forsyth).

As Paul Lunney's Hibernian Football Club 1875-1975 tells, "Geordie" was a speedy, top class outside-right. A contemporary appraisal said that he "dribbles beautifully, centres accurately and shoots with considerable force." He started out at amateur level with Falkirk Athletic before joining the professional ranks with Falkirk, his hometown team, in 1909-10. We think the rather distinctive kit in his photograph (see 'Gallery' tab above) is the Falkirk kit from that season.

Before the season was out, he signed for Hibernian in April 1910, where he really made his name in the seasons to come, appearing over 60 times in the League and getting into double figures on the goals charts. Whilst a Hibbie, he had a loan spell at Kirkcaldy United, before George Easton brought him onboard at Firhill in the Autumn of 1913. His stay at Firhill was relatively short-lived however, as he moved onto Dunfermline Athletic in time for the start of 1914-15.

Like so many other players, his playing career was greatly interrupted by the First World War. George served in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and rose to the rank of temporary second lieutenant and, as the Scotsman of 22 November 1918 reported, he was awarded the Silver Medal of Military Valor.

His career was book-ended with two winners medals with Falkirk in the Stirlingshire Cup, in 1910 and 1920, before one last hurrah at Dumbarton in 1920-21.

On account of his service during WWI, George is included in our feature piece, The Partick Thistle returned →.

(WS)



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