Willie Irvine (footballer, born 1956)

Willie Irvine

Personal information
Date of birth	(1956-05-26) 26 May 1956 (age 68)
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

1. Jeffrey, pp77.

• 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.