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Willie Finlay

1926 – 2014

Scottish footballer

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About Willie Finlay

Lived 1926 – 2014 (aged 88). Willie Finlay was a British association football player and association football coach.

William Morris Finlay (9 August 1926 – 4 September 2014) was a Scottish professional football player and coach.

Career Born in Auchterderran, Finlay played as a centre half for Bowhill Rovers, East Fife, Clyde and Raith Rovers, making a total of 476 appearances in the Scottish Football League.

With East Fife he won the League Cup three times (1947–48, 1949–50, 1952–53) plus the 1947–48 Scottish Division Two title, two B Division Supplementary Cups and a Scottish Cup runners-up medal in 1949–50; with Clyde he won the Scottish Cup in 1957–58 plus two lower-tier titles (1956–57 and 1961–62). He was among the most highly regarded players of the period never selected to represent Scotland, though at the time there was a strong pool of local talent at various clubs across the country.

After retiring from playing he became manager of Lochore Welfare. He died in 2014, at which time he had been the longest-living member of East Fife's 'golden era' between the 1930s and 1950s.

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Important facts

People in Willie Finlay's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Willie Finlay's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Willie Finlay?

Scottish footballer (1926-2014)

When was Willie Finlay born?

Willie Finlay was born on 9 August 1926 in Auchterderran.

When did Willie Finlay die?

Willie Finlay died on 4 September 2014 in Fife.

What was Willie Finlay's occupation?

Willie Finlay was an association football player and association football coach.

What nationality was Willie Finlay?

Willie Finlay was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Willie Finlay

· Wikidata: Q18043603

· DBpedia: Willie Finlay

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Willie Finlay. https://biography.guide/willie-finlay/

MLA: "Willie Finlay." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/willie-finlay/.

Chicago: "Willie Finlay." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/willie-finlay/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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