Reid Duggie Image 1 Portsmouth 1947

Description

Mauchline, Ayrshire born inside forward Duggie Reid began his football career with Heaton Chapel in 1933 before joining Third Division Stockport County in August 1935, making his debut in a Third Division Cup tie at Crewe Alexandra in September 1936, scoring twice in a 3-3 draw. He also scored 3 times in 11 League appearances as The Hatters won the Third Division (North) Championship, and by the beginning of the next season he established himself as a regular starter in their first team. Although they were relegated in 1938, he remained with County until peacetime football was abandoned due to the outbreak of the Second World War, by when he had scored 26 goals in 93 appearances.

With the conflict over, he returned to Stockport in 1946, at the age of 28, but was sold to First Division Portsmouth for £7,000 before making a further appearance for County. Although Portsmouth fans were initially sceptical, he won them over by scoring 29 goals in his first season, scoring twice on his debut and bagging a hat-trick at Chelsea at the end of the season, finishing it as the club’s top scorer. Known for his blistering shots, his nickname ‘Thunderboots’ was re-affirmed when, at Fratton Park he put the ball through the net and into the crowd when scoring a penalty against Manchester City. His goals helped Portsmouth win First Division in 1948-49 and 1949-50, with a hat-trick in a 5-1 final-day win in the 1949-50 season helping Portsmouth claim the title on goal average. He scored more than 20 goals in 1950-51 and continued playing for Pompey until April 1956, when after 135 goals in 326 appearances Reid moved to non-league Tonbridge in the 1956 close season aged 38, before, having hung up his boots, returning to Fratton Park again as Portsmouth’s groundsman, a post he held until 1978.

Reid’s son David also played for England at amateur level.