Bill McNaughton

Born:

08.12.1905

Birthplace:

Poplar

Height:

5' 10"

Weight:

11st 10lb

Position:

Centre Forward

Debut:

27.08.32 Walsall (a) 0-1

Joined From:

Gateshead (June 1932)

Left For:

Stockport County (October 1934)

Died:

27.08.1980

Honours:

(Hull City): Champions FL Div. 3 (N) 1932/33

Elected:

September 2000

Clubs:

Barking Town Amateur
Millwall
Peterborough & Fletton Utd.
Northampton Town
Gateshead
HULL CITY
Stockport County
Durham City

Profile:

The name of McNaughton is etched firmly in the Hull City record book. His 42 League and Cup goals in the Championship season of 32/33 have never been bettered since and it is a record that is likely to remain elusive for many years to come.

Such proficiency in front of goal was not a feature of McNaughton's early career; his eleven games at Northampton yielded only 2 goals. It was not until he joined Gateshead that glimmers of his talent were to emerge. There he scored 46 times in 63 games, including two games in five days when he scored 4 goals in each game and his acquisition by the Tigers was achieved in the face of stiff competition. The consequences of their efforts were not to be felt immediately, for McNaughton took 3 games to find his touch but having located it, he did not waste any more time and in his 41 League games during the 32/33 season, he scored 41 goals. It was consistency of the highest order.

Understandably, perhaps, it was a consistency that could not be maintained and in the following season his 42 games only brought in 15 goals. Maybe the energy expanded in his earlier efforts had drained his reserves, or possibly defenders were now getting wise to his tactics. Whatever the reason he was not the same man and his subsequent transfer to Stockport suggested that he was considered to be a spent force. McNaughton did not share this view for his 'goal touch' returned and the goals flowed once more.

There have been many great and prolific scorers in the Club's history but few have come close to matching McNaughton's remarkable record of 2 goals every 3 games.