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Fullname: Walter Donald Lees
aka: Walter Lees, William Lees, Donald Lees, Don Lees
Born: 1873
Died: […]
Birthplace: Cronberry, Ayrshire
Signed: Sep 1892; 29 May 1894
Left: 1893 (Lincoln); 13 Oct 1894 (Lincoln)
Position: Centre-Forward
Debut: Celtic 3-1 Clyde, League, 1 Oct 1892
Internationals: none
Biog
A centre-forward with a good eye for goal, Walter Lees was signed by Celtic in September 1892 from Cronberry Eglinton in the first of two brief stints at Celtic.
He made his debut in a 3-1 league win at home to Clyde on 1st October 1892 but by 1893 he had joined English side Lincoln City. He only played a single league game that season for Celtic, but Celtic still won the league that season (1892/9), winning by just the 1 point ahead of Rangers, so Walter Lees could at least say he played a walk-on part in that successful campaign.
The Bhoys were actually accused of using illegal financial incentives to lure Lees back to Glasgow in May 1894, where on his return in his second time at Celtic he played and hit fine form scoring in his few games for the club.
He scored in his return game, a late equaliser at the death in a 1-1 draw with Dundee away, and then a double the next week v St Bernards, both matches in the league. His last league game was a 2-1 defeat to Third Lanark, and was the only match he didn’t score in this second spell.
As a consequence of the surroundings of his transfer to Celtic, the English FA banned Celtic from playing any friendly games against clubs from south of the border. The matter was finally resolved in the October of that year, with the club concerned at losing out on lucrative friendly clashes with English clubs, Celtic agreed that Walter Lees would return to Lincoln.
So Walter Lees’ time at Celtic was mightily brief but productive scoring a total of 3 goals in 4 league games, as well as a double over Battlefield in the first round of the Glasgow Cup in a 4-1 victory just before he left the club. A fine form he recaptured at Barnsley in the second tier in England, where he was to be a notable goal scorer.
He played for a number of clubs in England, across the lower and regional tiers, so seems to have been a man much in demand.
He hit troubles with drink at Watford where after several drink-related breaches of training which led to even his wife threatening to descend down from Barnsley to sort him out. One Watford website writing on the club’s history timeline described him as having been a “stalwart captain of Barnsley, boozer extraordinaire at Watford“.
At time of writing, it is still not clear about his life after football, although one investigation points that he was possibly living in Barnsley and alive as late as 1939 [all to be confirmed].
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1892-93 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
| Goals | 0 | – | – | – | 0 |
| 1894-95 | 3 | – | – | – | 3 |
| Goals | 3 | – | – | – | 3 |
| Total |
0 |
– |
– |
– |
4 |
| Goals | 3 | – | – | – | 3 |
Honours with Celtic
Scottish League
Anecdote
(From: http://www.watfordfcarchive.com/downloads/players/MergedplayersL.pdf)
Falling well short of the club’s requirements in the matter of personal conduct, Don Lees (or William Lee, as he actually was) was twice sacked (and once reinstated) for repeated transgressions, mostly booze‐related. His wife even wrote to the committee, offering to come down from Barnsley and live with him and keep him in order. When finally sacking him the club presented him with a single ticket home from Watford Junction to the Yorkshire town, in which he’d earlier been a major figure with the local Football League club, which he captained. He was a versatile half‐back or forward. Such was the endless confusion over his name that the birth of his first child was registered as John George Lee and the second, the following year, as Louisa Mary Lees.
Barnsley Chronicle, etc.-Saturday 30 November 1901
see: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/celtic_graves/lees-walter-1892-92-94-t1161.html#p39506
WILLIAM LEES Ask tho-ordinary Barnsley football enthusiast , who William Leo« ia, and ho will not be able to toll you; ask him who Donald Lees ia, and you may rely getting a satisfactory answer. It is, nevertheless, a fact—and it will be nows to many people—that Donald Lees is not Donald Lees at all, the Irishman might pot it* ** Donald ’* is merely a nick-name—uotn- de-gnerro would sound better, admitconferred gratuitously on its bearer his oomia<!e< when engaged at Lincoln. “We were with a party one day,” said, telling tho story of Low bis rechrisfcning was brought about, when a fellow began telling a tale about a Scotch soldier named Donald. I woo only in the room, so when be hod finished gavo mo noil, and asked, * What d’yo think that, Donald ?* They call’d me Donald ever since. When I came to Barnsley, a Lincoln fellow wits with me. He called mo * Donald so did ail Barnsley; and when I went to Darren with Tom Nixon, be called me * Donald,’ and they had it there.” But whntcTer may his Christian name, Donald or William, there is little doubt that the subject of this article, whose surname is Lees, was born footballer. He does not know where he learned his football, came to bun somehow,” was hi* reply to a leading question on the point, and few persons who have any knowledge of the game will inclined to-dispute the fact that “it” has not yet left him. In his brilliant moments Lees ha* mo*t wonderful command over the balk was stated in adjoining column short time ago, it would be almost impossible to find a player who ho* boon more criticised, both adversely and favourably, than Lees, and yet, when everything is said that can be said against Liux, one is bound to admit that no Barnsley footballer bos ever shewn such a brilliant command over football as has, and does regularly. some days, one would almost just died m including him amongst the smartest players the land on other occasions shows ability,but auergy make use of that ability. He is the most puzzling player who ever stepped on to field, and it would difficult to find a person who bus laid bate more frequently the notorious fickleness the sporting public. We have heard that public laud him to the sides ; we hare beard growl him if was •very man’s deadly enemy. And all this is because does not maintain a regular brilliance.” But when all is said, be is a great favourite with the crowd, and perhaps his popularity was never greater than it is at the present moment. For since the beginning of the season, Lees has played good footballsometimes better than others, bat always good. Lees has not had eventful football career. Bom years ago, at the small Ayrshire mining village of Cranberry, he began at the age 10 play with the village team, either back ox outside left. remained at home, working the Lugar Ironworks until ho reached bis 19tl» year, when, after having played trial games with the Edinburgh and Glasgow Celtic, signed for Lincoln City, with whom he played during one season. Returning to Scotkiud the end of April, was persuaded join the Celtic, and played in one two of their end of the season matches in that year the Scottish season is longer than the Kogli&h—and after remaining during the summer Glasgow, commenced the season with the Celtic. only remained there three months, however, and was soon back at Lincoln, with whom remained until September. He joined Barnsley at the beginning of the season 1890-G, playing centreforward during the greater port the year, and then ho migrated to Dorwen, Tom Mixon accompanying him. It is interesting to note that that time, Sam Hunt, the present Barnsley trainer, was acting in that capacity for DarweQ, and ou charge poaching being brought against him in regard to Nixon, was suspended for a mouth. Neither Nixon nor Lees enjoyed themselves ever well in Lancashire, and both were as glad to get bock to Barnsley old club was to receive them. That season—JB97-d—was Barnsley’s last in the Midland League. Promotion was gained before the next year came round to the company of the Second Division, and, notwilhataodiug occasional iucoosistenees in bis Lues baa very valuable member of bis team ever since. He came to Barnsley centre forward. Sometimes has played inside left; sometimes inside right; once or twice Le bus at outside left, and once back. But true positiou, the position in wluch he is seen to the greatest ad ran tage, is oenlre-baJf, where he has figured lately. In this position have seen him play perfect football, and we hope to see him play more of it, fur there lot of good football him yet. Lees is not the only Barnsley player who bails from Cranberry. Young McCartney is a native of the same spot, and the two arc rather fond going buck the ** when were boys together.” Evr-BTQ.NiAN. —We are afraid yoa wrong. Haugen beat Kvertou in beptember, 15*a6, laverpuol, and McCartney played hgbt back wnii lAiuaid partner.