Willie Fotheringham

William Cowan Fotheringham (1899 – 1981) was a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He made over 700 first team league and cup appearances during his career with Dundee, Morton, Queen of the South, Airdrieonians and St Mirren, and was later manager of the latter two clubs as well as Cowdenbeath.

Playing career Airdrieonians A native of Larkhall, Fotheringham joined Airdrieonians in 1919 from hometown junior club Larkhall Thistle. He played 81 matches for Airdrie before departing in summer 1921.

Dundee Fotheringham joined Dundee in summer 1921 where in his three-year spell he only missed three out of 118 matches. Fotheringham provided correspondence on that tour for the Dundee Evening Telegraph.

Morton Fotheringham joined Morton in 1924. They reached the 1925–26 Scottish Cup quarter-finals, losing to Rangers. He made another 105 appearances at Cappielow before departing in June 1927 for £275.

St Mirren He joined St Mirren, playing 183 times for the Buddies. including a highly successful first season in the top division finishing fourth – their highest finish to date. Queens also made it to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup for the second time. He was at the club for the elimination of Rangers from the Scottish Cup in 1937. In one game away to Arbroath, Fotheringham left behind his false teeth in the goalmouth at the ground in error. The teeth were returned to Fotheringham via a fish delivery lorry from Arbroath.

Although he played for 17 seasons in Scotland's top division, Fotheringham was never selected for the national team, nor the League Select team; the closest he came to international recognition was an appearance in the Home Scots v Anglo-Scots trial match in 1923 during his Dundee spell.

Managerial career In 1942, he returned to Paisley to manage St Mirren and he steered them to winning the Summer Cup the following year against Rangers. While at Love Street he introduced Jimmy Cowan and Willie Telfer into the senior grade. Due to ill health he left the Saints in 1945, soon becoming Cowdenbeath's manager. Five years later he took over the reins at another of his former clubs, Airdrieonians. His stewardship at Broomfield Park terminated in 1954 following the club being relegated.

Fotheringham later on in life scouted for Carlisle United then Queen of the South, bringing George 'Chopper' Dickson to Dumfries.