Local Legends: One Scottish Striker Beats Messi and Ronaldo to Top of the Scoring Charts
The beautiful game has seen many players achieve incredible feats on the field. Among these feats, scoring goals remains one of the most celebrated achievements. Throughout the history of football, a handful of players have etched their names in the history books by scoring the most goals in a single season.
In part one of our Local Legends, we highlight a gifted centre-forward from the east end of Glasgow, whose remarkable goal-scoring exploits leave greats such as Gerd Muller and Dixie Dean so far behind they’d need to get a supporters’ bus to catch up.
Plying his trade in the rough and tumble amateur ranks in and around the city of Glasgow, 6ft 1’ striker, William Hill was a sure bet to score every time he pulled on the coveted number 9 shirt for his clubs.
He was a typical Glasgow boy born and raised from humble origins. Football was more than an outlet; it was a way of life.
William, from a hardworking working-class family, would spend hours each day honing his skills within touching distance of Celtic’s iconic stadium. At that particular time in the 1970s, Celtic Football Club had more than enough legends to look up to, but it was those of a continental persuasion that William looked up to the most as he’d stand back in awe watching their greatness unfold before his young eyes under the floodlights or in front of the TV watching World Cup classics.
From meeting Dutch icon Johan Cruyff at a very young age and capturing supreme moments on TV during the 1978 World Cup where Argentina’s first World Cup hero, Mario Kempes, would capture 12-year-old William’s imagination, William soon developed his own brand in the game: scoring goals and scoring them for fun.
There are records of William’s goals scattered throughout notebooks from managers of his former clubs and there are many who can verify the numbers, but they’ll also tell you in the manner of how he scored an incredible 112 goals in one single season. Unlike records of goalscorers today, you won’t find many penalties among those 112 goals. What you will find, however, are diving headers, the odd overhead kick, volleys, tap-ins, rounding the keeper and the full range of headers from bullets from six yards to left and right-sided glances and flick-ons. He wasn’t short on variation.
During the 80s, William Hill adopted the nickname of Willie van Basten (after another Dutch legend Marco van Basten). A great compliment indeed from one of the game’s greatest-ever finishers.
Ally McCoist once said, “You can’t really coach someone to score goals. It’s more of a natural thing, to be honest,” and in William Hill’s situation, this was clearly the case.
His goal tally would attract the interest of junior clubs and Partick Thistle. Turning out for the Jags and Ayrshire junior outfit Troon resulted in netting for both the junior and professional ranks with ease…such was his natural ability to score goals.
A spokesperson said of William’s goalscoring records: “When Willie played, you were guaranteed goals. Back then, nobody got any preferential treatment but because Willie travelled a lot to games, he was excused from training during the week. All the other players were fine with this as long as he did the business on the pitch – and he certainly did. He paid us all back with his goals.”
Another spokesperson added: “I often wonder how good Willie could be if he did train more than playing. He had so much striking ability he didn’t really need to train but if he did, I can just imagine he might have gone all the way in the game.”
Another added: “I was fortunate enough to have trained and played alongside some of the game’s most recognized strikers such as Frank Stapleton and many more but Willie was by far the best striker I had the privilege to have played with. Anything and everything inside that box was his. Two and three goals each game was nothing for him; whereas I was happy with one goal a season.”
“You can’t really coach someone to score goals. It’s more of a natural thing, to be honest.” – Ally McCoist
An avid music lover – and for many years ran his own DJ entertainment business – the humble east end boy tops the charts of a list of iconic names.
These days William Hill lives a relatively quiet life and spends a lot of it watching his beloved American football.
Below is a list of some of these exceptional players who have showcased their prowess by finding the back of the net with astonishing frequency.
- Lionel Messi (Barcelona, 2011-2012)
Lionel Messi, often regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, had an unforgettable season in 2011-2012 with FC Barcelona. During this campaign, Messi scored an astonishing 73 goals in official competitions, breaking numerous records. His scoring spree included 50 goals in La Liga, 14 in the UEFA Champions League, and the remainder in domestic cup competitions. Messi’s extraordinary ability to dribble past defenders and his lethal finishing made him unstoppable that season.
- Gerd Müller (Bayern Munich, 1972-1973)
Gerd Müller, known as “Der Bomber,” was a prolific striker for Bayern Munich and the West Germany national team. In the 1972-1973 season, Müller scored an impressive 67 goals in official matches. He was renowned for his incredible goal-scoring instinct and ability to position himself perfectly in the penalty box. His record stood for decades before being surpassed by Messi.
- Dixie Dean (Everton, 1927-1928)
One of the earliest legends of English football, Dixie Dean’s 1927-1928 season with Everton is still talked about today. Dean scored an incredible 60 goals in the English First Division (now known as the Premier League). This record remains the highest number of league goals scored in a single English top-flight season. Dean’s heading ability and physical prowess were key to his success.
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, 2014-2015)
Cristiano Ronaldo, another player frequently mentioned in the ‘greatest of all time’ debates, had a phenomenal season with Real Madrid in 2014-2015. Ronaldo netted 61 goals across all competitions, demonstrating his exceptional athleticism, versatility, and scoring ability. His contributions helped Real Madrid secure multiple victories and further solidified his status as a soccer icon.
- Josef Bican (Slavia Prague, 1943-1944)
Josef Bican, a lesser-known name to many modern fans, was an outstanding goal scorer during his time. Playing for Slavia Prague in the 1943-1944 season, Bican scored 57 goals in the Czechoslovak First League. Bican’s incredible speed and technical skills made him a nightmare for defenders, and he remains one of the most prolific goal scorers in soccer history.
Summary:
These players have achieved remarkable feats by scoring the most goals in a single season, each leaving an indelible mark on the sport. Their dedication, skill, and passion for the game continue to inspire future generations of players and fans alike. Whether it was through Messi’s magical dribbles or Müller’s clinical finishing, these goal-scoring machines have set standards that are admired worldwide. No matter the level, scoring goals is not an easy task and records are notably reserved for those born to score goals.
Our Local Legend, William Hill, is one of those born and destined to find the net.
