Walter Fairgrieve
FullnameWalter Robert Fairgrieve[1]
Birth date30 August 1874
Birth placeEdinburgh, Scotland
Death date2 June 1915 (aged 40)[2]
Death placeTroon, Scotland
PositionOutside-right
Youthclubs 1Dalry Primrose
Clubs 1Glasgow Perthshire
Years 21898–1899
Clubs 2Southampton
Caps 21
Goals 20
Years 31899–1900
Clubs 3Luton Town
Caps 315
Goals 35
Years 41900
Clubs 4Hibernian
Caps 40
Goals 40
Years 51900
Clubs 5Partick Thistle
Caps 55
Goals 51
Years 61900
Clubs 6Heart of Midlothian
Caps 62
Goals 61
Clubs 7Dunfermline Athletic

Walter Robert Fairgrieve (30 August 1874 – 2 June 1915)[3] was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an outside forward for Southampton and Luton Town in the late 1890s.[1]

Football career

Fairgrieve was born in Edinburgh and started his football career with Dalry Primrose and Glasgow Perthshire, during which time he earned Scottish junior international honours and represented Glasgow in a game against Lanarkshire.[4]

After a spell with Liverpool and a month's trial period at Everton, he joined Southern League champions Southampton in May 1898 on a professional contract.[2] With a reputation for heavy drinking and general misconduct,[2] he failed to secure a regular first-team place and spent most of his time at The Dell in the reserves, with his only first team outing coming when he took the place of Tom Smith for the second match of the 1898–99 season, a 2–0 defeat by New Brompton.[5]

In the summer of 1899, he left "the Saints" to join Luton Town of the Football League Second Division,[4] but after six months, he returned to Scotland in January 1900.

He finished his career with a brief spell in the Scottish League with Hibernian, Partick Thistle, Heart of Midlothian and Dunfermline Athletic.[1][6][7][8]

Personal life

Fairgrieve enlisted as a private in the 15th Battalion, Royal Scots of the British Army early in the First World War but did not see any active service.[3] He died in Troon on 2 June 1915[2] following an attack of angina.[3] He is buried in North Merchiston Cemetery in Edinburgh.[2]

References

  1. ^ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 95. ISBN 978-1905891610.
  2. ^ "Robert Walter Fairgrieve - Service Record - Football and the First World War". Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  3. ^ Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan; Bull, David (2013). All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC. Southampton: Hagiology Publishing. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-9926-8640-6.
  4. ^ Holley, Duncan & Chalk, Gary (1992). The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing. p. 120. ISBN 0-9514862-3-3.
  5. ^ Chalk, Gary & Holley, Duncan (1987). Saints – A complete record. Breedon Books. pp. 24–25. ISBN 0-907969-22-4.
  6. ^ "Hibernian Player WR Fairgrieve Details". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  7. ^ "Partick Thistle - The Early Years 1900-01". Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  8. ^ "Walter Fairgrieve - Hearts Career - from 03 Nov 1900 to 10 Nov 1900". www.londonhearts.com. Retrieved 3 October 2016.