Finlay Speedie
Scottish footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Finlay Ballantyne Speedie (18 August 1880 – 5 February 1953) was a Scottish footballer who played for Rangers, Newcastle United and Scotland in the 1900s. He was a versatile forward who was most at home at inside left.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Finlay Ballantyne Speedie[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 18 August 1880 | ||
| Place of birth | Dumbarton, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 5 February 1953 (aged 72) | ||
| Place of death | Dumbarton, Scotland[2] | ||
| Position | Inside forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Artizan | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Clydebank Juniors | |||
| Strathclyde | |||
| 1900–1906 | Rangers | 98 | (38) |
| 1906–1908 | Newcastle United | 52 | (13) |
| 1908–1909 | Oldham Athletic | 15 | (6) |
| 1909 | Bradford Park Avenue | 5 | (1) |
| 1909–1915 | Dumbarton | 100 | (27) |
| 1918–1920 | Dumbarton | 3 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1903 | Scotland | 3 | (2) |
| 1905 | Scottish League XI[3] | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| Dumbarton (trainer) | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
Speedie began his career with junior clubs Clydebank and Strathclyde (playing for both in different competitions) then joined Rangers in 1900.[2] Playing under William Wilton he won two League championships, a Scottish Cup, two Glasgow Cups, a Charity Cup and the 1901 Glasgow Exhibition Cup.
He left Rangers in 1906 after a match against Celtic was played for his benefit[4] and joined Newcastle United, where he won the English First Division in 1906–07 in his first season.[5] He stayed on Tyneside for another season before joining Oldham for a season and then moved to Bradford Park Avenue for a few months before eventually re-joining old club Dumbarton; he won the old Scottish Division Two title in 1911.[6]
Speedie won three Scotland caps, scoring two goals — all in 1903.[2]
During the First World War he served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was awarded the Military Medal.[7] He maintained his links with Dumbarton and coached the team in the 1930s. His brother Willie had also played for the club[8] (as well as for Third Lanark),[2][9] and his nephew Bob (son of Willie, and nephew and cousin respectively of footballers Bob Ferrier of Sheffield Wednesday and Bob Ferrier Jr. of Motherwell) was a Sons player in the late 1930s.[10][2][9]
Speedie died on 5 February 1953, aged 72.
Honours
- Newcastle United
- Football League champions: 1906–07
- Sheriff of London Charity Shield: 1907
- FA Cup: Runner-up 1908
