“Has strong claims to being the finest Scottish ‘keeper of the post-war era. Consistently brilliant, of willowy build, Bill’s acrobatics brought off many an ‘impossible’ save.”
He made his last appearance for Spurs in May 1966 and transferred to Northampton Town FC the following October. He spent a season at Northampton Town where he played a total of 21 games.
In April 1967 he signed for the Canadian club Toronto Falcons. He played another 16 games for them before retiring from the game.
After retiring he was a property developer for a short period before being employed by the Ontario Government Land Department for 20 years retiring in 1995. A keen sportsman all his life having played Basketball as a youth in retirement he enjoyed a game of Curling. His passion however was Golf which he played up to a few months before his passing and at one time had a handicap of two.
Bill did return to White Hart Lane in 1984 to pay tribute to his former manager Bill Nicholson. In March 2004 he was too ill to return when he was inducted into the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame. He sadly passed away in November of the same year.
Throughout his career Bill was known for being ‘a safe pair of hands’. He is described as possessing a good positional sense and great concentration which allowed him to carry out his duties without fuss in a characteristically calm manner. There was no hint of a showman about him. Yet when called upon was quick, agile and breathtakingly acrobatic with immaculate handling. He inspired confidence throughout his own team.
As a youngest I had the pleasure of watching him play a number of times. I also had the privilege of speaking to him several times at the training ground and I remember a kind friendly man who always had time to stop and speak to the schoolboys.
2014 will mark the tenth anniversary of his passing. I believe there is no better time or manner to honour his memory and pay tribute to a fine ambassador to the game, his clubs and his country than to induct him into The Scottish Hall of Fame. An honour I feel is long overdue.
I wish to thank for their kind assistance in preparing this nomination Dundee FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC and Northampton Town FC.
PLEASE - if you haven't already done so support this nomination by emailing<Colin.Lobban@scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk>