William Aitken (footballer)
.jpg) Aitken in 1917 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William John Aitken[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 2 February 1894[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Peterhead, Scotland[1] | ||
| Date of death | 9 August 1973 (aged 79)[1] | ||
| Place of death | Gateshead, England[1] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Kirkintilloch | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1916–1918 | Queen's Park | 62 | (14) |
| 1918–1919 | Rangers | 21 | (2) |
| 1919–1920 | Port Vale | 30 | (4) |
| 1920–1924 | Newcastle United | 104 | (10) |
| 1924–1926 | Preston North End | 56 | (11) |
| 1926 | Chorley | ||
| 1926–1927 | Norwich City | 14 | (0) |
| 1927–1928 | Bideford Town | ||
| 1928–1930 |
Juventus | 0 | (0) |
| 1930–1934 | Cannes | ||
| 1934–1936 | Reims | ||
| 1936–1939 | Antibes | 6 | (0) |
| Total | 293+ | (41+) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1928–1930 |
Juventus | ||
| 1932–1934 | Cannes | ||
| 1934–1936 | Reims | ||
| 1937–1939 | Antibes | ||
| 1947–1948 | Union SG | ||
| 1949 | Brann | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
William John Aitken (2 February 1894 – 9 August 1973) was a Scottish football player and manager.
A
Career
Aitken played for amateur sides
He began playing as an inside-forward at St James' Park, and although he only scored ten goals in 110 league games in four seasons at the club, his unselfishness in attack and overall contribution to the team was greatly appreciated. Newcastle finished fifth in the First Division in 1920–21, with Aitken claiming three goals in 38 appearances.[4] He was limited to 16 games as United finished seventh in 1921–22.[4] They then finished fourth in 1922–23, with Aitken scoring four goals in 26 matches.[4] He scored three goals in 30 appearances as Newcastle posted a ninth-place finish in 1923–24.[4] He played alongside Stan Seymour and Tommy McDonald.[4] In 1924 Aitken signed for Preston North End for £1,000.[4] He then joined Chorley, Norwich City and Bideford Town.
He travelled to Italy, and impressed
Later life
He returned to Britain during World War II, and worked as a defence contractor at Vickers-Armstrongs. He later coached in Belgium (Union SG) and Norway (Brann), and became a representative of a wine and spirits distributor in Tyne and Wear.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | Division | League | Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Rangers | 1918–19 | Scottish Division One | 21 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 3 |
| Port Vale | 1919–20 | Second Division | 30 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 4 |
| Newcastle United | 1920–21 | First Division | 35 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 3 |
| 1921–22 | First Division | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
| 1922–23 | First Division | 25 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 4 | |
| 1923–24 | First Division | 28 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 3 | |
| Total | 104 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 110 | 10 | ||
| Preston North End | 1924–25 | First Division | 41 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 6 |
| 1925–26 | Second Division | 15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 5 | |
| Total | 56 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 58 | 11 | ||
| Norwich City | 1926–27 | Third Division South | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
Honours
Cannes
Reims
- Championnat de France amateur: 1935
References
- ^ ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
- ^ Tynesider (21 August 1922). "Few big transfers in the First Division of the Football League. Newcastle United". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
- ^ Aitken, William John QPFC.com
- ^ a b c d e f g "Player profile: William John "Willie" Aitken". toon1892.co.uk. Kenneth H Scott. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "George AITKEN". ilpalloneracconta.blogspot.it (in Italian). Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ^ Craig, Ross 'Teddy' (26 August 2013). "Scottish Football's Coaching Pioneers 3: William 'George' Aitken". Scottish Comedy Football Club. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
- ^ William Aitken at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
- ^ "Rangers Player William J Aitken Details". fitbastats.com. Retrieved 13 February 2017.