Willie Thornton

William Thornton was born on 3rd March 1920 in Winchburgh, West Lothian.

His first club was Winchburgh Albion, before signing for Rangers as an amateur in 1936. He was still at school at this point, and stayed on to do his Highers. Turning professional the following year with a signing on for a fee of £20. He was to be a one club man, staying with the Ibrox club for his whole playing career.

During World War 2 Willie served with the 80th (Scottish Horse) Regiment of the Royal Artillery. He enlisted as a Trooper, rising to the rank of Sergeant. He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery at the Battle of Anzio in 1943. His citation read:

On the night of 31/7 , 586278 Gunner Thornton, accompanied his Battery Commander as signaller to an O.P on Point 22. He maintained constant communication for 18 hours and passed down Fire Orders often under heavy shelling and mortar fire.

By his coolness and devotion to duty Gunner Thornton gave great assistance to his Battery Commander in bringing down his fire on the enemy.

During his time in the military he also played football for the British Eighth Army.

After the war he returned to Rangers, and became a Scotland internationalist, gaining eight caps, and one Scottish Football League XI cap. His favourite match for Scotland, was apparently against England in 1948, which they lost 2-0. This was because he was able to shake hands with his wartime hero Marshall Montgomery who was a special guest at the game.

George Anderson interviewed Willie for the job of Dundee manager just as he was due to leave on a tour of Canada & the U.S.A. with Rangers. He took up his post at Dens Park in July 1954, after returning from a short holiday, and appointed Archie MacAuley as his assistant.

Initially he tried to get the team play in a more defensive style, than they had under George Anderson, but it didn’t prove successful.

With a young side they were referred to in the press as “Thornton’s Babes”, this was quite apt as they beat Manchester United’s “Babes” 5-1 in 1956 (which was also Bobby Charlton’s Utd debut.)

As his reputation as a manager grew, directors around the UK showed interest in taking him to their club. In 1956 Preston North End approached  Dundee, followed a year later by Kilmarnock. Then in 1959, as club were preparing to leave on a tour of the U.S.A., Leeds United offered him a salary of £3,000 per annum.

When Partick Thistle persuaded Willie to move to Firhill in September 1959, it caused a huge shock in the Scottish football world, being totally unexpected. It was thought that a move back to Glasgow might have been the reasoning behind  Though his wife, according to his daughter, hated relocating to Bearsden  after settling in Broughty Ferry. Dundee were quick in appointing Bob Shankly, manager of Third Lanark as his successor.

His legacy at the club was huge, Pat Liney, Alan Gilzean, Alex Hamilton, Bobby Cox, Ian Ure, Andy Penman, Hugh Robertson , Alex Stuart, George McGeachie and Bobby Waddell got their Dundee debuts under his tutelage. All going on to be part of the legendary line-up that won the Scottish First Division in the 1961-62.

An unusual fact is that the biggest win and loss, during his time at Dens Park, was against Airdrie. Dundee won 7-1 in a League Cup match on the 1st September 1956, and lost 1-7 in a league match on 28th September 1957.

Willie would remain at Firhill until 1968, when he returned to Rangers as assistant to Davie White (who later went on to manage Dundee). He spent the rest of his managerial career at Rangers. After retiring he became a match day host in the Thornton Lounge, and was custodian of its Trophy Room.

Willie Thornton died in August 1991, aged 71.

Willie Thornton died, aged 71, on 26th April 1991