William Tait (footballer)

William Tait was a Scottish professional association footballer who played as an inside forward. He played five matches in the Football League for Burnley before moving into Non-League football. William Tait had a short and chequered career as a Burnley player. He played in the opening game on 8 September 1888 which Burnley lost but it was reported that William Tait and Burnley colleague, Fred Poland got into a fight with two of the Preston North End players. On 15 September 1888 Tait scored his debut League goal and became the first player to score a League hat–trick. After the match, Tait got drunk celebrating and was suspended by the club for their next game. He returned for the next three games, scoring two goals, but then failed to turn up for the away game at Stoke on 20 October 1888 and the following week a local newspaper reported that he was "no longer a Burnley player".[2]

William Tait
Personal information
Full name William Tait
Date of birth 1863
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland[1]
Playing position(s) Inside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1883 Glasgow Parkside F.C.
1884 Glasgow Pilgrims F.C.
1885 Third Lanark
1886–1888 Newton Heath
1888 Burnley 5 (5)
1888–1889 Newton Heath
1889 West Manchester F.C.
1890–? Ardwick
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

William Tait made his Club & League debut on 8 September 1888, playing as a forward, at Deepdale, the home of Preston North End. The home team defeated Burnley 5–2. William Tait scored his club and League debut goal on 15 September 1888, playing as a forward, at Pike's Lane, the then home of Bolton Wanderers. Burnley defeated the home team 4–3 and William Tait scored the first, third and fourth of Burnley' four goals thus making history by scoring the first ever hat–trick in a League match. William Tait appeared in only five of the 22 League games played by Burnley in season 1888–89. He scored five League goals. As a forward he played in a Burnley forward-line that scored three–League–goals–or–more in a match on three separate occasions. William Tait' five League goals included a hat-trick.[3]

References
Bibliography
  • Simpson, Ray (2007). The Clarets Chronicles: The Definitive History of Burnley Football Club. p. 488. ISBN 978-0-9557468-0-2.
  • Jeffery, Robert; Gonnella, Mark (1999). "1980-1990: Decade of Disaster". Pictorial History of English Football. Parragon. p. 200. ISBN 1-84164-077-8.
Footnotes
  1. William Tait at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  2. Metcalf, Mark (2013). The Origins of the Football League. Amberley. pp. 193–194. ISBN 978 1 4456 1881 4.
  3. "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 5 January 2018. (registration & fee required)


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