Scotland international goalkeeper Willie Fraser; born February 24, l929, died March 7, l996
WILLIE FRASER was capped just twice for Scotland and yet he was one or the more celebrated goalkeepers of his era because of his involvement with Sunderland's famous side of the early fifties.
That team, packed with big names and international players from all four home countries, was dubbed the ``Bank of England'' team becaue of the way the manager Bill Murray splashed out what were, at the time, huge transfer fees.
The fees would scarcely represent a weekly wage for some of the present-day stars but, back then, as Sunderland srived to match north-east rivals Newcastle United, they were scarcely the norm.
Fraser, who started his career with the now-defunct Third Lanark moved to Airdrie and then took the road south for a five-figure fee which was astonishing money for a goalkeeper. The Sunderland side he played for included fellow Scots, George Aitken, Charlie Fleming and Ken Chisholm. the Welsh giants Ray Daniel and Trevor Ford, Northern Ireland star Billy Bingham and the English giants Len Shackleton and Billy Elliott.
Fraser won only two international honours with Scotland, both in the Home Championships. They were sandwiched between two goalkeeping disasters for the nation. In the World Cup in Switzerland in l954 Freddy Martin let in seven goals against Uruguay.
Fraser took over against Wales in Cardiff when a Paddy Buckley goal gave Scotland a win and then, a month or so later, was chosen to face Northern Ireland in a game which ended in a 2-2 draw in Glasgow.
Martin returned for the Wembley game against England the following spring and the Aberdeen man lost another seven goals in a 7-2 defeat.
Fraser's Scotland games were in illustrious company - George Young, Tommy Docherty, Willie Waddell, Bobby Johnstone, Willie Fernie and Tommy Ring were among his team mates.
He moved back to Scotland after retiring from the game and eventually moved to Cupar wher he set up a florist's business. His son still runs a shop in St Andrews.
Fraser, known outside the game of football as Bill, is survived by his wife Margaret and his son Jamie.
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