Bill McKay

Bill McKay
Personal information
Full name William McKay[1]
Date of birth (1906-08-24)24 August 1906[1]
Place of birth West Benhar, North Lanarkshire, Scotland[1]
Date of death 1977 (aged 70–71)
Place of death Manchester, England
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Playing position Wing half
Inside forward
Youth career
Shotts Battlefield
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
East Stirlingshire
Hamilton Academicals
1929–1934 Bolton Wanderers 104 (17)
1934–1946 Manchester United 169 (15)
Stalybridge Celtic
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

William McKay (24 August 1906 – June 1977) was a Scottish footballer who played for Bolton Wanderers and Manchester United in the 1930s. He also played for East Stirlingshire, Hamilton Academicals, and Stalybridge Celtic. He helped Manchester United to win promotion out of the Second Division in 1935–36 (as champions) and 1937–38.

Playing career

McKay began his career with Shotts Battlefield, and played in the Scottish Football League for East Stirlingshire and Hamilton Academicals, before moving down to England to play for Bolton Wanderers in December 1929. Bolton were a struggling First Division club, finishing 15th in 1929–30, 14th in 1930–31, and 17th in 1931–32, before being relegated in 21st place in 1932–33. The "Trotters" finished one place and one point outside the Second Division promotion places in 1933–34. Remaining at Burnden Park for close to just over four years, he scored 17 goals in 104 league appearances.

McKay joined Manchester United in March 1934. He helped United to avoid relegation from the Second Division at the tail end of the 1933–34 season, and rise up the table to fifth position in 1934–35. He was part of the successful promotion campaign of 1935–36, as United won the Second Division title. However they were relegated straight back down to the Second Division the following season, but McKay's four goals in four games at the end of the 1937–38 season helped the club regain to secure second place and therefore regain their First Division status. The "Red Devils" then finished 14th in 1938–39.

McKay's career was disrupted by the Second World War, putting at end to the Football League in the first half of the 1940s, though he did turn out for Manchester United in their wartime games. During the war he also made guest appearances for Stockport County and Port Vale, playing in Port Vale's 4–2 defeat by rivals Stoke City at The Old Recreation Ground.[1]

He was transferred to Cheshire County League club Stalybridge Celtic when football resumed in 1946, his 40-year-old body presumably not fit for action at Old Trafford.[2] During his United career, he played in 182 games and scored 15 goals over all competitions.[3]

Statistics

Source:[4]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bolton Wanderers 1929–30 First Division 22510235
1930–31 First Division 28320303
1931–32 First Division 13010140
1932–33 First Division 22410234
1933–34 Second Division 19500195
Total 104175010917
Manchester United 1933–34 Second Division 10000100
1934–35 Second Division 38330413
1935–36 Second Division 35030380
1936–37 First Division 29420314
1937–38 Second Division 37730403
1938–39 First Division 20120221
Total 1691513018215

Honours

Manchester United

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 194. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ↑ "WILLIAM McKAY". mufcinfo.com. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  3. ↑ "Profile". stretfordend.co.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  4. ↑ Bill McKay at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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