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| William Davie |
 William Davie was probably born in Scotland, although his place and date of birth remain unknown to us. * The defender was a trialist for George Easton's Thistle in the springtime of 1914, whilst a Strathclyde player. He made his only appearance on Saturday, 4th April, 1914, in a 1-1 draw away to Nithsdale Wanderers in a Benefit match. There were no goals for William in his one-off appearance for Thistle. His club-list included Benburb, Strathclyde, Partick Thistle, Clydebank Juniors and Renton. We don't know where or when William died. *
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 William was a full-back who played in the juniors with Joe Harris at Strathclyde. He was looking to follow his clubmate to Firhill, and had a trial spell with Thistle in the springtime of 1914. After some “telling displays” for the reserves he appeared in the first team side which turned out in the Morrison benefit match away to Nithsdale Wanders in April 1914, a 1-1 draw, but no deal was forthcoming. William kept some fine company on that day - the Nithsdale game marked the final appearance of the great Alec Raisbeck as a Jag. Prior to Thistle, William was playing for Benburb in the 1911-12 season. In July 1912, he was reported as “seeking new quarters”, and he joined Strathclyde later that month. Playing at right back, he seems to have formed a very effective partnership with the left back, Brock, and by the 1913-14 season was the Strathclyde captain. In November 1913, he was reserve for the Glasgow Junior League team to play Stirlingshire at Falkirk. Around February 1914, he was made an offer by Blackburn Rovers, which he turned down; there was speculation around Govan at this time that he might eventually join Rangers. It was around this time when Davie connected with Partick Thistle as the Scottish Referee of 13th March 1914 reported: “Strathclyde expect to turn out their strongest eleven to-morrow, with the exception of captain William Davie, who has promised to assist Partick Thistle "A" team.” William was employed by the Singer sewing machine company at their Clydebank factory as a “buffer”. Shortly after his appearances for Thistle, he was part of the “Buffers” team that won the Alexander Cup, a football competition named after the president of the company held at the Singer's Recreation Ground in May 1914. Also, that month he was again named as reserve for the Glasgow juniors when they travelled to face Aberdeenshire, but for some reason did not travel, and failed to notify the Association committee - he must have had reasonable cause, as he was subsequently exonerated for his conduct, but advised to give notice if similar circumstances arose in the future. In July 1914, it was reported that both Davie and his full-back partner Brock had joined Clydebank Juniors (whose ground at Kilbowie was, of course, right next to the Singer's complex). That November he was in the Dumbartonshire Juniors team that faced the Dumbartonshire Juveniles in a War Fund match at Kilbowie. He seems to have left the Bankies at the end of that season, and little more is heard of him - In September 1915 it was reported that he had signed for Renton of the Western League, but nothing beyond that - perhaps he joined the war effort? |
| (AML/WS/JK) |