William Aitken (footballer)

Willie Aitken
Personal information
Full name William John Aitken
Date of birth 2 February 1894(1894-02-02)
Place of birth Peterhead, Scotland
Date of death 9 August 1973(1973-08-09) (aged 79)
Place of death Gateshead, England
Playing position Forward
Youth career
Kirkintilloch
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
Queen's Park
Rangers
1919–1920 Port Vale 30 (4)
1920–1924 Newcastle United
Preston North End
Chorley
Norwich City
Bideford Town
1929–1930 Juventus
1930–1934 AS Cannes
1934–1936 Stade Reims
1937–1939 FC Antibes
Total 30+ (4+)
Teams managed
1932–1934 AS Cannes
1934–1936 Stade Reims
1937–1939 FC Antibes
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

William John Aitken (2 February 1894 – 9 August 1973) was a Scottish footballer. He was known for his trait of bouncing the ball on his whilst running along the touchline, and was normally known as Willie or Billy.

Playing career

Aitken played for Kirkintilloch, Queen's Park and Rangers before moving to England to play for Port Vale in the summer of 1919. He scored on his debut at inside-right in a 2-0 win at Aston Villa Reserves in a Central League match on 20 August 1919. After Vale were elected to the Football League in October 1919, the Vale were forced to pay £500 to Rangers for his and Peter Pursell services. He was in the cup winning sides of 1920, but was sold on to Newcastle United for £2,500 in May 1920, which was considered a bargain at the time. Here he began playing as an inside forward and although he only scored ten league goals in four seasons at the club, his unselfishness in attack and overall contribution to the team was greatly appreciated. In 1924 Aitken signed for Preston North End for £11,500. He then joied Chorley, Norwich City, Bideford Town.[1] He spent the 1929-30 season with Juventus,[2] before eventually ended up playing football in France for AS Cannes, Stade Reims and FC Antibes. At Cannes he was part of the team that reached the Coupe de France final on 24 April 1932, which they won 1-0 over RC Roubaix.

Honours

with Port Vale

References

  1. ^ Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 4. ISBN 0952915200. http://www.amazon.ca/Port-Vale-Personalities-Jeff-Kent/dp/0952915200. 
  2. ^ http://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10328~1325829,00.html
Stade Reims – managers