The Moonlighter 3,624 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 121 Years Ago Today on the 1st June 1899 William Wilton was appointed first manager of Rangers at Trades House Glassford Street Glasgow. William Wilton (9 June 1865 – 2 May 1920) was the first manager of Rangers Football Club, serving the club in that position from June 1899 until his death in 1920. He had previously filled several roles including match secretary to the reserve and first teams. Mr Wilton joined the club in September 1883 as a player but never progressed beyond the second string eleven. He was soon appointed secretary to the club's youth team and reserve side. He was also on the special committee that oversaw the club's move from Kinning Park to the first Ibrox ground in 1887. Mr Wilton became match secretary of the first team in 1889, succeeding from Jimmy Gossland. The club shared the inaugural Scottish League title in 1891. Mr Wilton had been appointed as the league's first treasurer at the start of the season. When the club became a limited company ten years later Mr Wilton was chosen as manager. In his decade as match secretary for the first team, the club won two League championships in 1891 and 1899, as well as three Scottish Cups in 1894, 1897 and 1898. He also won four Glasgow Cup's in 1893, 1894, 1897 and 1898, and a Charity Cup in 1897. Rangers had achieved the first ever 100% league record, winning all 18 games and scoring 79 goals in 1898-99. To date no team has achieved the same. Under Wilton's stewardship as manager, Rangers won eight league championships and another Scottish Cup, nine Glasgow Cups and seven Charity Cups. In his final season as manager the club won its tenth league championship. Mr Wilton tragically died in a boating accident at Gourock in 1920. John Allan’s book, The Story Of The Rangers, paid him this fitting tribute: “The ideals for which he strove are still sought after by those who are left in custody of the cherished traditions of the club.” Mr Wilton’s final resting place at Cathcart Cemetery has been restored as part of our Restoration Of Rangers Project. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inigo 32,526 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 That some funeral cortege. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inigo 32,526 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 Any more detail on how he died? Did he simply drown? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
16BlueSherbert90 19,223 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 19 minutes ago, Inigo said: Any more detail on how he died? Did he simply drown? https://Rangers.co.uk/club/history/former-managers/william-wilton/ Drowned first day of holiday:( Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inigo 32,526 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 26 minutes ago, 16BlueSherbert90 said: https://Rangers.co.uk/club/history/former-managers/william-wilton/ Drowned first day of holiday:( Awful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwhiteandblue 3,330 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 3 hours ago, Inigo said: Any more detail on how he died? Did he simply drown? The taigs try to say that Bill Struth murdered him so he could become manager. Obviously that is bullshit, I couldn't believe it when I first read that when researching the accident. I know the waters around Gourock really well and it does seem a strange place to die, it's not exactly the high seas but the fishermen who died there a couple of years back and the overturned boat that still sticks out the water to this day prove that it's a very dangerous piece of water despite not looking like if is. All water is dangerous, no matter your experience. All it takes is a lack of judgement or complacency and you can have an accident which can easily kill you. Always be careful when on the water, never underestimate its power. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
George McLean 190 Posted June 1, 2020 Share Posted June 1, 2020 William Wilton and club director J.P. Buchanan were guest of James Marr, a former Rangers committee member, on Marr's boat, the Caltha which was moored in Gourock. In the early hours of Sunday 2nd of May 1920 the boat was torn from it's moorings, Buchanan, Marr and the boats skipper managed to jump to safety but Wilton, while managing to climb onto the mast of the boat was swept into the water, Marr dived in to try and save him and apparently got hold of him but the force of the wave pulled them apart whereby Wilton tragically perished. About 25 years ago a sickening story was put out by the moronic followers of the East End hovel dwellers that Struth had murdered Wilton in order to gain the managers job, that is how deluded and sickening fans of that club are, Struth not even being in Gourock that weekend never mind being on the boat. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cenotaph 34 Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 I have a share certificate with his signature on it from 1899 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.