William 'Willie' McCall (also nicknamed 'Puff' was a professional footballer who played for Dumfries club Queen of the South F.C., Blackburn Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Willie McCall was born on 5 May 1898 in Wallacetown. While a pupil at Glasgow Street School he was the captain of the Scottish Schoolboys' team.
He served in the Great War with the 5th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, and after the war returned to football, and the Maxwelltown Juniors (known locally as the "Fish Suppers"). Joining Queen of the South in 1919 - the year of their inception - he played many a good game at outside left for Queens during his stay at Palmerston. McCall made 24 appearances in season 1919/20 scoring 11 goals and 10 appearances in season 1920/21 scoring 3 goals,
Willie McCall was a goal scorer along with Dave Halliday for then non league Queen of the South as they won the Dumfries Charity Cup Final in 1920 against Dalbeattie Star. This was the first ever trophy win for fledgling Queens.[1]
Willie McCall moved from Queen of the South to Blackburn Rovers in 1920. McCall was one of the three players to make such a move in a short time frame along with Jimmy McKinnell and Tom Wylie. This along with the transfer of Ian Dickson to Aston Villa helped fund Queens' purchase of Palmerston Park.[2]
McCall made only 11 league appearances for Blackburn before joining Wolves in 1922.[3]
After several years with Southampton he finished his professional playing career with Carlisle United.
His interest in footall remained strong as ever and he became trainer for a local team in Dumfries - Troqueer Juniors. McCall worked with the Caledonian bus company at their Eastfield Road premises in Dumfries.
Aged 68 he died in Dumfries Infirmary. He was survived by his wife, son and married daughter. His son flew into Prestwick Airport for the funeral from Canada where he had been living for 11 years.