Willie Savage

Willie Savage from Burnbank was a Scottish footballer best known with Dumfries club Queen of the South.

Early days

Willie Savage was a native of Burnbank who began his football as an inside forward at the local St Cuthbert School and representing Lanarkshire elementary schools against Glasgow. On leaving school he played in the junior league as centre forward for his local club Burnbank. Three seasons later he went to St Cuthbert C.Y.M.S. This was a one season stay before returning to Burnbank for a further season. The next season was with Falkirk side Shieldhall Thistle. He played for the Hamilton 'A' team before rejoining the junior league with Motherwell Juniors.

Queen of the South

Willie Savage was a 1932 Queen of the South signing from Motherwell Juniors. Savage made his debut as a trialist on October 1st 1932 in the 10-0 league thrashing of Bo'ness at Palmerston Park. The result took Queens to the top of the table. A second trial followed two weeks later against Albion Rovers and he was signed immediately after that game as other clubs took an interest in him.

Savage was one of the mainstays of the side that were promoted to the to division for the first time when they ended their 1932-33 campaign with a victory over divisional champions Hibs. ["The Queens" by Iain McCartney on Creedon Publications, 2004]

As a player Willie Savage was part of many landmark events in the history of Queen of the South:-

* Queens highly successful first season in the top division finishing 4th - their highest finish to date. Queens also made it to the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup for the first time (a feat the club now counts into double figures).

* He was part of the 16 player squad for the 11 game 1936 overseas tour and the Algiers invitational tournament. Queens returned with the trophy after beating Racing de Santander in the final

* Savage was at the club for the 1937 knocking of Rangers out of the Scottish Cup and finishing 6th in the league in 1939

Savage was a tremendous player and Captain at the club making 369 appearances until 1947. He was known as a scrupulously fair tackler and he formed a great full-back partnership with Willie Culbert. [http://www.qosfc.com/qosaz.htm] His sterling performances made him a fans favourite as he was with team mates. Off the pitch he would entertain team mates on away fixture journeys with his exploits playing the mouth organ.

Among the others at Queens in the 1930s with Savage were fellow players Willie Culbert, Willie Ferguson, Joe Tulip, Irish international Laurie Cumming and Jackie Oakes. He played under managers George McLachlan, Ferguson as McLachlan's successor and also Jimmy McKinnell Senior.

After the promotion in Savage's 1st season all of Savage's time at Queens was spent in the top division (excluding war time interuption Queens spent every season in the top division following their promotion until 1959 except one).

Later days

References