Willie Thornton

For the Canadian football wide receiver, see Willie Thornton (Canadian football).

Willie Thornton

Personal information
Full name	Willam Thornton
Date of birth	(1920-03-03)3 March 1920
Place of birth	Winchburgh, Scotland
Date of death
Position(s)	Striker
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1936–1954	Rangers	219	(138)
International career
1946–1952	Scotland	8	(1)
1949	Scottish League XI	1	(0)
Managerial career
1954–1959	Dundee
1959–1968	Partick Thistle
1969	Rangers (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

William Thornton MM (3 March 1920 – 26 August 1991) was a Scottish footballer and manager. His entire senior playing career was spent with Rangers, and he is considered to be one of the greatest players in the club's history. He served in World War II in the Scottish Horse winning the Military Medal for his bravery.

Thornton played for Rangers from 1936 to 1954, then became a manager with first Dundee and then Partick Thistle. He later returned to Rangers as assistant to Davie White in the summer of 1968 and was briefly caretaker manager in 1969 after White's dismissal. Thornton then worked as assistant to William Waddell until 1972. The side won the two matches that he took charge. Thornton is one of Scotland's all-time top scorers, with 139 League goals.

He died in August 1991 at the age of 71.

Honours

Manager

Dundee

• Forfarshire Cup : 1954-55, 1955–56

External links

• Willie Thornton at scottishfa.co.uk
• Willie Thornton stats
• Rangers Hall of Fame