Willie Kivlichan

Who was Willie Kivlichan?

William F. Kivlichan was a Scottish football player. He played for both of the Old Firm rival clubs Rangers and Celtic in the early 1900s.

Kivlichan signed for Rangers in 1905 from Glasgow University and played 29 games in two years. He transferred to Celtic in 1907 in a swap deal, with Alex Bennett going to Ibrox. He represented the Scottish League XI three times while he was a Celtic player.

During the First World War, Kivlichan served as a lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps, attached to the King’s Own African Rifles. After he qualified in medicine from the University of Glasgow, Kivlichan became the Celtic team doctor. He was by the side of John Thomson as the young Celtic goalie died from an injury sustained in an Old Firm match on 5 September 1931.