About William Longair
Lived 1870 – 1926 (aged 56). William Longair was a British association football player.
William "Plum" Longair (19 July 1870 – 28 November 1926) was a Scottish footballer who played as a half-back for Dundee in the 1890s. When he retired from playing, he became the club's trainer for over two decades, and remained an influential figure at the club.
Born in Dundee, Longair began his football career with Dundee F.C. in the early 1890s. He made his debut for Scotland in March 1894, and signed for Newton Heath in February 1895. He played for Newton Heath for four months, making one appearance, before returning to Dundee in June 1895. Short spells at Sunderland and Burnley followed in the 1896–97 season, before he moved to Brighton United in 1898 after a brief return up north. He returned to Dundee once again in May 1899, retiring from football in 1902.
Longair would later go on to become the club's trainer and perform the role for over 20 years, including training the eventual 1910 Scottish Cup winners. Longair would also become Dundee's groundsman in 1924. Upon his death in 1926, a crowd of approximately 20,000 lined the streets as his coffin passed to honour his services to the club and the city.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped William Longair's
Frequently asked questions
Who was William Longair?
Scottish footballer (1870-1926)
When was William Longair born?
William Longair was born on 19 July 1870 in Scotland.
When did William Longair die?
William Longair died on 28 November 1926.
What was William Longair's occupation?
William Longair was an association football player.
What nationality was William Longair?
William Longair was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Longair. https://biography.guide/william-longair/
MLA: "William Longair." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-longair/.
Chicago: "William Longair." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-longair/.
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