William Hunter (footballer born 1940)
Encyclopedia
William Hunter was a Scottish
footballer
who played most of his career with Motherwell
.
In May 1967, the Detroit Cougars paid £14,000 for his transfer and Hunter moved to the new American
professional league, the NASL
. His new side survived for only one year however and at the end of the 1968 NASL season, he returned to Scotland to join Hibernian
. Hunter was a substitute as his new team lost the 1968–69 Scottish League Cup Final
to Celtic
, and he played for the Edinburgh team until 1971.
for the Scotland national team
while with Motherwell, all in 1960. He scored his only Scotland goal in his first cap in a 3-3 draw with Hungary
. He also played in defeats to Turkey
and Wales
.
, Hunter returned to Britain
as assistant manager to former Motherwell team-mate Ian St. John
, a role he held for three years.
He earned the opportunity to manage in his own right at Queen of the South
in 1978 working with players such as Allan Ball
, Iain McChesney, Nobby Clark
, Crawford Boyd
and Jocky Dempster
. Hunter left Dumfries
after only four months.
His last involvement in football was as Inverness Caledonian's
manager from 1979 to 1981.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played most of his career with Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
.
Club career
Hunter joined Motherwell from Edinburgh Norton in 1957. Although usually played as an inside left, he also played occasionally as a winger, and was compared favourably to Gordon Smith for his performance in that role.In May 1967, the Detroit Cougars paid £14,000 for his transfer and Hunter moved to the new American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional league, the NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. His new side survived for only one year however and at the end of the 1968 NASL season, he returned to Scotland to join Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
. Hunter was a substitute as his new team lost the 1968–69 Scottish League Cup Final
1969 Scottish League Cup Final (April)
The first 1969 Scottish League Cup Final was played on 5 April 1969 at Hampden Park in Glasgow and was the final of the 23rd Scottish League Cup competition. The final was contested by Hibernian and Celtic. Celtic won a one-sided match by 6–2, with Bobby Lennox scoring a hat-trick...
to Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, and he played for the Edinburgh team until 1971.
International career
Hunter earned three capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the Scotland national team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
while with Motherwell, all in 1960. He scored his only Scotland goal in his first cap in a 3-3 draw with Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
. He also played in defeats to Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
and Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
.
Managerial career
After four years playing in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Hunter returned to Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as assistant manager to former Motherwell team-mate Ian St. John
Ian St. John
Ian St. John is a former Scottish footballer, who played for Scotland 21 times. He later became a manager and pundit...
, a role he held for three years.
He earned the opportunity to manage in his own right at Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
in 1978 working with players such as Allan Ball
Allan Ball
Allan Ball is an English former footballer. Born in Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham, Ball played as a goalkeeper, spending most of his professional career with Scottish club Queen of the South. Ball made 731 first team appearances for Queens, a club record, between 1963 and 1982...
, Iain McChesney, Nobby Clark
Nobby Clark (footballer)
Nobby Clark is a former Scottish professional footballer who played for Partick Thistle and then served Queen of the South as both player and manager.With Partick Thistle, Clark scored a single goal in a 1-1 draw against Rangers...
, Crawford Boyd
Crawford Boyd
Crawford Boyd from Kilwinning is a Scottish former professional footballer.Crawford Boyd is best known for his time at Dumfries club, Queen of the South The defensive cornerstone of the 1970s returned to Queens during the promotion campaign of 1980-81 to make a total of 321 first team appearances...
and Jocky Dempster
Jocky Dempster
John 'Jocky' Dempster is a Scottish former professional footballer.- Career :Dempster played with junior outfit Muirkirk before signing for Queen of the South F.C. at the start of the 1969-70 season....
. Hunter left Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
after only four months.
His last involvement in football was as Inverness Caledonian's
Caledonian F.C.
Caledonian Football Club was a football club from the city of Inverness, Highland, Scotland.-Formation:Caledonian Football Club was formed in 1885 by lads from the 'Big Green' area of Inverness, though some sources quote 1886. They were founder members of the Highland Football League in 1893 and...
manager from 1979 to 1981.