William Hinshelwood welcomed to Cappielow
Director Sam Robinson and Club Historian Niall McGilp were delighted to meet former Morton player and club captain, 90-year old Willie Hinshelwood, who was accompanied by his daughter on a visit to Cappielow on Monday 29th May.
A left half or left full back, Willie signed for Morton from Junior outfit Stonehouse Violet as a 16-year old in November 1949; he went on to make 217 appearances for the club over the subsequent decade, scoring six goals. His debut was at East Fife in April 1951, Morton drawing 3-3 thanks to goals from two future Scottish internationals, a double from Tommy Orr (who was capped twice as a Morton player the following year) with Neil Mochan (capped in 1954 after a move to Celtic) getting the other. Willie was voted Player of the Year by the Morton Supporters’ Club in 1957. He eventually moved on to Hamilton Accies in January 1960 for a £500 transfer fee and went on to play there until 1965/66 season.
Willie recalled his Morton career with great affection, and spoke fondly of former colleagues and team-mates, such as Tommy Orr, Jimmy Cowan and Bert Gourlay, whose celebrated uncle Jimmy was also the Morton trainer at that time. He also brought a fantastic scrap book of press cuttings and photos as well as a number of old programmes from his time at Cappielow. Willie is pictured back row right in this Morton team group taken at Third Lanark’s Cathkin Park in August 1955, with Jimmy Gourlay seated in front of him.
