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Fullname: William McNair
aka: Willie McNair, W. D. McNair
Born: 29 Apr 1885
Died: […]
Birthplace: Renfrew, Renfrewshire
Signed: 26 Jan 1905 (from Forth Rangers)
Left: 10 Sep 1906 (to East Stirling); May 1907 (to Tottenham Hotspur)
Position: Outside-left
Debut: Celtic 3-1 Motherwell, League, 19 Aug 1905
Internationals: none
Biog
Renfrew born Willie McNair was signed by Celtic in January 1905 from Forth Rangers.
Note, that despite having the same surname, he is no relation to the great ex-Celt Alec McNair.
His first appearance for Celtic was in the Barney Battle’s family benefit match at Rugby Park on 11 March 1905 with Alec McNair at left-half. He then played in a Glasgow League fixture against Partick Thistle on 1 April 1905.
The outside-left made his only league appearance for the Bhoys in a 3-1 league triumph over Motherwell at Parkhead on 19th August 1905. This was in retrospect a key match as this was the first league match of the season, a season that Celtic went on to retain the league title and then go on to monopolise the league title for six campaigns in a row. Sadly for him he only got a one-off appearance in this golden era but still something to cherish.
He left Celtic without making another appearance in any of the major competitions, and joined East Stirling in September 1906.
He then went on to play for Tottenham Hotspur (where he became a centre-forward), as an understudy for England international Vivian Woodward in 1907:
“He brings his wingmen nicely into play, is quick to seize opportunities and plays a strong, bustling game”.
However, Willie McNair only played when his Spur’s team-mate Vivian Woodward was invited to take part in exhibition games. Willie McNair scored on his Southern League debut in a 3-3 draw with QPR in the season that Spurs went up to the Football League, but by the time Spurs were promoted from Division Two, Willie McNair had left the club
He then moved on to Aberdeen, Reading and Alloa (linking up again with ex-Celt Willie McAuley). At Aberdeen he played for them in a 2-0 defeat to Celtic in December 1908, as Celtic went on to win that season their fifth title in a row. It was to be Willie McNair’s last league game for Aberdeen.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1905-06 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
| Goals | 0 | – | – | – | 0 |