william ritchie

Signed by Dundee in November 1898 as cover for Tom Stewart, Billy made his debut against Celtic a few days later on the 19th November 1898 in a 4-1 defeat. Despite the defeat the Dundee Courier would point to, “Ritchie’s saving at times being nothing short of miraculous.” He would appear a further 4 times for Dundee and despite creditable performances was unable to remove Stewart as first choice. Leaving at the end of the season he signed for his hometown club Arbroath in July 1899. His stay was a short one however and after one season he signed for Orion in Aberdeen. Here he was to find regular football for his three seasons at the club and was to win an Aberdeenshire Cup medal in his first season. With the formation of Aberdeen Football Club the other three clubs in the City were dissolved and Billy found himself without a club. However, such was his performances in his time at Orion that he was one of the players offered the opportunity to sign for the new club. He signed in July 1903 and his role was very much to be a backup to first choice Frank Barrett. He would make his debut in September 1903 in a 2-1 Northern League defeat to Arbroath. It was noted by the local press that, “Ritchie was in no way to blame for the shots which passed him and kept a capital goal throughout.” Although a regular in the reserve team from its inception in October 1903 to the end of the season his first team appearances were limited. His next senior appearance came in a 2-1 defeat to Cowdenbeath in February 1904.  However, the local press was not quite so complimentary on this occasion with The Bon Accord pointing out that, “Ritchie was very shaky in the Aberdeen goal. He has a lot to learn yet before he makes a really capable substitute for Barrett.” Returned to the reserves following week Billy’s final appearance for the club would come against Lochgelly United in a 3-1 defeat in April 1904. He would leave the club at the end of the season.

Research: Derek Giles