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| Willie Crawford |
 William Crawford was born sometime between 18th November, 1930, and 23rd June, 1931, in Glasgow. * The 5' 11½ (11st 12lbs) forward signed for David Meiklejohn's Thistle circa Saturday, 3rd January, 1948, having most recently been with Govan Secondary School. Aged 18 or 19, he made his debut appearance on Saturday, 1st October, 1949, in a 4-1 win at home to Stirling Albion in the SFL First Division. Willie scored his first goal for Thistle on Saturday, 16th December, 1950, in a 1-0 win at home to Third Lanark in the SFL First Division. He scored the last of his 32 goals on Monday, 11th November, 1957, in a 3-1 defeat at home to Heart of Midlothian in the SFL First Division. He played his last game for the club on Saturday, 4th October, 1958, in a 3-2 defeat at home to Aberdeen in the SFL First Division, having clocked up 145 appearances as a Jag. His club-list included Partick Thistle and Queen of the South. Willie died on Wednesday, 17th November, 2004, in Glasgow, aged 73.
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 Willie signed for Thistle in early 1948, straight from Govan High School. We hear a great deal nowadays about youth development being such an integral part of a football club's strategy. Well, away back in those days, manager Davie Meiklejohn had a youth policy in place and one of his most important signings was Willie Crawford, along with David Mathers, also from Govan High, along with Peter Collins, from St Mungo's Academy and John Harvey, a product of Victoria Drive Secondary. Willie made over 140 first team appearances for Thistle, scoring more than 30 goals. This is a more than respectable strike rate, considering that Willie's games for Thistle were divided between inside-forward, wing-half and centre-half. The 50's was an enthralling decade for Jags fans - three Cup finals - goals galore - a staggering 76 league goals in 30 matches in season 1953-54 - the highest total in the whole of the Scottish First Division. It was Firhill for Thrills, and Willie Crawford will be remembered as part of this exciting scene. How sad it is to record the death of yet another Thistle player of the 1950's, and Willie passed away, following a protracted illness, on Wednesday 17th November 2004. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his wife Ella and to all members of his family. His funeral took place at Craigton Crematorium on Tuesday 23rd November. |
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