Willie Laird
Willie Laird was a Scottish association football player, best known for his time with East Fife before and after the Second World War.
Willie Laird joined East Fife in 1937, signing from East Stirlingshire. Laird debuted for the Fifers in November of the same year in the 1-1 draw at Broomfield away to Airdrieonians. Laird established himself immediately as a first team regular and was selected for every one of the club's games in the run when won 1937-38 Scottish Cup - the only time the Methil men have won the trophy.[1]
Willie laird returned to East Fife after the Second World War as the club enjoyed further success. In 1946-47 (the first season after the war) the club finished third missing promotion by one place. The next season (1947-48) East Fife were promoted to the top flight of Scottish football as 'B' Division champions.
During this post-war "Golden Period", the East Fife won the Scottish League Cup on no fewer than on three separate occasions (1947-48, 1949-50, and 1953-54) in seven seasons. A third Scottish Cup final appearance was added to its achievements list in 1949-50. In Laird's two full seasons in Scotland's top division East Fife finished fourth on both occasions.[2]
Laird was playing at the club until 19 August 1950 with his last game being against Third Lanark at Bayview. He is the only man while playing for east Fife to win three major cup winners medals, a feat unlikely to be matched nor beaten. Laird made 219 East Fife appearances scoring one goal ironically against his former club East Stirlingshire. In the season when Laird stopped playing for East Fife the club's finishing League position dropped to tenth.[2] [3]
Among players who played at the club with Laird were Tommy Adams who also played in the Scottish Cup winning side before the war. Others joined club and would go on to represent Scotland while at the club - George Aitken, Davie Duncan, Allan Brown, Henry Morris and Charlie Fleming. Others such as Jimmy Philp and winger and later Scottish League cap Bobby Black were among those who picked up cup winners medals at the club. [2]
With Laird at the club at the beginning of their golden era East Fife spent ten successive seasons in Scotland's top league with five finishes in Scotland's top six. Away from this period the club have spent only four other seasons playing in Scotland's top division.