Rennet, William

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Fullname: William James Rennet
aka: Willie Rennet, Bill Rennet, William Rennet
Born: 25 Oct 1924
Died: […]
Birthplace: Perth, Perth & Kinross
Signed: 27 Aug 1949
Left: 27 Apr 1951 (free)
Position: Outside-left
Debut: Rangers 0-4 Celtic, League, 24 Sep 1949
Internationals: n/a

Biog

Diminutive winger William Rennet was signed by the Bhoys in August 1949 after impressing at junior level with hometown club Perth Celtic. Prior, he was a goods checker at Dundee West railway station.

It was quite a chance for him, as his father wanted to play for Celtic (having played for the junior Perth Celtic for 20 years with offers to step up but not to Celtic).

He made his debut in a 4-0 league defeat at Rangers on 24th September 1949 in a match best forgotten by all Celtic followers. It was a day which Celtic fans were boycotting, and the Celtic end was just 1/10th full! The match report reflected the poor state of Celtic by stating that:

“A Rangers v Celtic match used to be the greatest club game in the world; now it is an anaemic lustreless fixture“.

His finest day came on 5 Nov 1949, when he scored a hat-trick v Clyde in a league match in a 4-1 victory, helping Celtic in his first league victory he had played in with Celtic. He even stole the limelight from Clyde’s striker Linwood who was to lead the line for Scotland in an upcoming match v Wales. It was a great moment as it had helped Celtic to their best league start for many a year, and were now sitting in fourth place.

Curiously there was little thereafter, with his only other Celtic goal being a single goal which helped Celtic to win 1-0 v Partick Thistle.

Problem was that Celtic were stuttering badly, and over his appearances Celtic only won five games. He was a regular until the Hogmanay 4-2 defeat to Hearts. Celtic also got knocked out quickly from the Scottish Cup v Aberdeen after a replay in which he played in, his only appearance in the Scottish Cup.

All his matches were in season 1949/50, as Celtic finished fifth behind Rangers (who took the league title), the Edinburgh top two, and even East Fife. He never made a first team appearance the next season as Celtic fell further behind in the league with Hibernian winning the title. Sadly it meant that he never got to play in any of the matches on the run to the Scottish Cup title in 1951, Celtic’s first major title in 13 years.

He made a total of 15 competitive appearances for the Celts – scoring four goals – but after failing to claim a regular starting place he was released in April 1951.

He signed for Arbroath in June 1951 who had finished the league season near the bottom of the second tier. He was offered a role to move to Ipswich but did not want to lose his job as a clerk with the railways in Glasgow.

Said to have been a keen follower of Perth Panthers ice hockey team.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

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