Willie Ormond

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This article is about the former Scotland player and manager. For the former Oldham Athletic and Barrow player, see Willie Ormond (footballer, born 1926).

Willie Ormond
OBE
Personal information
Full name William Esplin Ormond[1]
Date of birth (1927-02-23)23 February 1927
Place of birth Falkirk, Scotland
Date of death 4 May 1984(1984-05-04) (aged 57)
Place of death Musselburgh, Scotland
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Outside left
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1946 Stenhousemuir 9 (0)
1946–1961 Hibernian 335 (147)
1961–1962 Falkirk 27 (4)
Total 371 (151)
International career
1947–1958 Scottish League XI 10 (3)
1952[2] Scotland B 1 (0)
1954–1959 Scotland 6 (2)
1959[3] SFL trial v SFA 1 (0)
Managerial career
1967–1973 St Johnstone
1973–1977 Scotland
1977–1980 Heart of Midlothian
1980 Hibernian
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

William Esplin Ormond OBE (23 February 1927 – 4 May 1984) was a Scottish football player and manager. As a player, Ormond was well known as one of Hibernian's Famous Five forward line, winning three league championships in the late 1940s and early 1950s. After a successful spell managing St Johnstone he led Scotland to the 1974 World Cup finals. Scotland were unbeaten at that World Cup, but were eliminated on goal difference.

Ormond was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1975 New Year Honours.[4]

Playing career[edit]

Club[edit]

Born in Falkirk, Ormond began his career nearby at Stenhousemuir.[5] He then signed for Hibernian in November 1946. An outside-left, he played for Hibs over a fifteen-year period. He was one of the "Famous Five" forward line, one of the strongest front fives ever in Scottish football. The other forwards were Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Gordon Smith and Eddie Turnbull, who each scored over 100 goals for the club. Ormond scored a total of 187 goals in 503 appearances in all games for Hibs, and won the Scottish League Championship three times. He was the last member of the Famous Five to leave Hibs, signing for hometown Falkirk in 1961.[5]

Scotland[edit]

Ormond won six Scotland full international caps, and he played in Scotland's ill-fated venture to the 1954 FIFA World Cup finals.[6] Ormond also represented the Scottish League XI 10 times.[7][5]

Managerial career[edit]

After he retired from playing, Ormond became assistant trainer at Falkirk.

St Johnstone[edit]

In 1967, he was appointed as manager of St Johnstone. He led the club to the 1969 Scottish League Cup Final (October) and third in the 1970–71 Scottish Football League campaign behind Celtic and Aberdeen. This league finish meant that St Johnstone qualified for European competition for the first time. Ormond is still remembered as one of the club's most revered figures and his contribution to the club was later recognised by the club naming the South Stand at McDiarmid Park in his honour.

One of the reasons Ormond's time at St Johnstone is so fondly remembered was the quality of football he played, with his 'if you score two we'll score three' outlook. The abilities of players such as John Connolly, Henry Hall, Kenny Aird and Jim Pearson enhanced the attacking style of play.[citation needed]

Although greatly disappointed at Ormond leaving in 1972, St Johnstone were proud that he had become manager of Scotland.

Scotland national team[edit]

The Scottish Football Association replaced Tommy Docherty with Ormond in 1973 after Docherty left to join Manchester United. Ormond guided Scotland to the 1974 World Cup Finals in West Germany. Scotland beat Zaire and drew with Brazil and Yugoslavia to return home as the only unbeaten team in the tournament. They were eliminated after the group stage first round,[8] but this remains the best-ever performance by a Scotland team in a World Cup.[9]

UEFA Euro 1976 qualifying was unsuccessful in large part due to losing 2–1 at home to Spain in the campaign opener. On 5 February 1975 he sent Paul Wilson on as a 75th-minute substitute in the return game in Valencia (a 1–1 draw);[8] this was the only appearance by a non-white footballer in the Scotland national team in the 20th century.[10]

Ormond resigned as Scotland manager in May 1977.

As Scotland manager, Ormond was also responsible for the Scottish League XI.[11] He also managed a Glasgow Select against a Football League XI to mark the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[12]

Heart of Midlothian[edit]

In May 1977 Ormond was appointed as manager of Heart of Midlothian – the arch rivals of his old team, Hibs. Ormond was dismissed in 1980.

Hibernian[edit]

Ormond returned to Hibernian as assistant to his old Famous Five colleague Eddie Turnbull. When Turnbull resigned, Ormond took over as manager but he was forced to retire soon afterwards due to health issues.

Personal life[edit]

His brother Gibby also played league football, for Airdrie, Dundee United, Cowdenbeath and Alloa.[13] Gibby also represented the Scottish League.[14] Another brother, Bert Ormond, emigrated and represented New Zealand at international level in 1962.[15]

Career statistics[edit]

International[edit]

Appearances and goals by national team and year[6]
National team Year Apps Goals
Scotland 1954 5 2
1959 1 0
Total 6 2
Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ormond goal.
List of international goals scored by Willie Ormond
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 3 April 1954 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland  England 2–4 2–4 1953–54 British Home Championship [6][16]
2 25 May 1954 Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland  Finland 1–0 2–1 Friendly match [6][16]

Managerial record[edit]

As of 28 March 2015

Team Nat From To Record
G W D L Win %
Scotland Scotland 1973 1977 38 18 8 12 047.37

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Willie Ormond". www.londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club.
  2. ^ Scotland B player Ormond, Willie, FitbaStats
  3. ^ The selectors still have problems, The Bulletin, 17 March 1959
  4. ^ United Kingdom list: "No. 46444". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1974. p. 12.
  5. ^ a b c WILLIE ORMOND, Hibernian Historical Trust
  6. ^ a b c d Willie Ormond at the Scottish Football Association
  7. ^ "Scotland FL Players by Appearances". Londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  8. ^ a b Scotland - International Matches 1971-1975 RSSSF
  9. ^ "World Cup 1974: Scotland's undefeated campaign in West Germany". BBC Sport. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  10. ^ Ideally suited to face up to racism | Why the boy from Possil is mystified over Scots game, The Herald, 25 November 2016
  11. ^ "Scots look the part, but then struggle". The Scotsman. 28 March 1973. Retrieved 18 May 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
    "Sir Alf bloods young talent". Evening Express. 19 March 1974. Retrieved 18 May 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
    "Ormond calls in striker Dickson". The Scotsman. 17 March 1976. Retrieved 18 May 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ^ "Glasgow Select 2 Football League 1". Press and Journal. 17 May 1977. Retrieved 18 May 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ "Gibby Ormond". www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  14. ^ "Gibby Ormond". Londonhearts.com. London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  15. ^ "Peter Lorimer, Leeds and Scotland Hero" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2011.
  16. ^ a b Brown, Alan; Tossani, Gabriele (11 April 2019). "Scotland - International Matches 1951-1955". RSSSF. Retrieved 25 February 2020.

External links[edit]

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