longair_william
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| Name: William Longair |
Nationality: Scotland |
| Position: centre-half |
Signing Information: Transferred from: Dundee, 02/1895, £ |
| Birthdate: 19-07-1870 |
Years at Club: 1895 |
| Age: (154) |
Debut: 20/04/1895 v Notts Country (Bank Street) 3-3 (League Division Two) |
| Birthplace: Dundee, Scotland |
Previous clubs: Dundee |
| Height: |
Farewell to Manchester United: Transferred to Dundee, 04/1895, £ |
| Weight: |
Passed Away: 28/11/1926 |
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Newton Heath conducted so many transfers with Scottish side Dundee during the 1890s that the two clubs formed an alliance that was "unprecedented in the annals of football history": they would assist each other whenever players were needed. Harry Erentz, for instance, was allowed up north one time to help Dundee in an important cup tie while, in the other direction, William Longair made his services available in 1894-95. As it was, he only assisted the Heathens during an injury-plagued April, appearing at centre-half in the ultimate game of the campaign - a 3-3 draw with Notts County.
Longair was the type of hard man who "neither gave nor asked for mercy", striking fear into opposition forwards as he rushed in with chest expanded and arms rigid, his father shouting encouragement from the stands all along. One time, two revenge-seeking hardmen at Newcastle attempted to 'sandwich' him, until he adroitly pulled back at the last moment and they nearly killed themselves!
No wonder they loved him at Dundee where he was nicknamed "Plum". He had been induced as a 16-year-old centre-forward from Rockfield Lads Club at a time when the team was still known as Dundee East End, and he had become their lynchpin by the time they played their first league match in 1893. Apart from his brief spell in Manchester, William also spent part of 1896-97 in England - first with Sunderland then Burnley - then he migrated with a bevy of teammates to newly-formed Brighton United when Dundee were undergoing reorganization in 1898-99.
As ever, Longair returned to Dundee until he finished his career in 1902, though only to assume their trainer's position for the next 22 years. Having earned a cap for Scotland (against Ireland) back in March 1894, he also trained the Scottish national team in 1905 and even took charge of them for a match versus Wales in 1908.
Longair died at Dundee Royal Infirmary in November 1926 after a surgery and, such was the measure of his popularity, that mourners lined up the streets from his house at 19 Victoria Street to the Eastern Necropolis cemetery for his burial. Biography kindly provided by Charbel Boujaoude. |
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Season
Goals |
Season
Apps |
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1894-1895 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
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0 |
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1 |
| TOTALS |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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1 |
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