Willie Irvine (footballer, born 1956)
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 26 May 1956 | ||
Place of birth | Whitburn, Scotland | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Youth career | |||
1972–1975 | Celtic | ||
1975–1977 | Fauldhouse United | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1977–1979 | Alloa Athletic | 54 | (17) |
1979–1982 | Motherwell | 121 | (49) |
1982–1986 | Hibernian | 88 | (25) |
1986 | → Falkirk (loan) | 8 | (0) |
1986–1987 | Ayr United | 20 | (6) |
Total | 291 | (97) | |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Willie Irvine (born 26 May 1956) is a Scottish former professional footballer. Irvine, a direct, left-sided forward, started his senior career with Celtic, but failed to break into the first team.[1] After playing in junior football for a spell, he signed for Alloa Athletic.[1] His play for Alloa quickly attracted the attention of Motherwell, who paid £25,000 to Alloa for his services in 1979.[1]
Irvine had a successful spell with Motherwell, as he was their top scorer with 21 goals during their promotion season of 1981–82.[1] Like his manager Davie Hay, Irvine left Motherwell soon after that success, choosing to join Hibs.[1] Irvine was also initially successful with the Edinburgh club, forming a strike partnership with Bobby Thomson that led to him being the second top goalscorer in the Scottish Premier Division in 1983–84.[1] After this, however, Irvine enjoyed less success, and he was loaned out to Falkirk before joining Ayr United.[1]
References
[edit]- Willie Irvine at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database
- Jeffrey, Jim (2005). The Men Who Made Hibernian F.C. since 1946. Tempus Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7524-3091-2.