Bill Finlayson

{{short description|Scottish footballer (1899–1979)}}

{{for|the Australian rules footballer|Bill Finlayson (Australian footballer)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Bill Finlayson

| image = Bill Finlayson, Brentford FC footballer, 1925.jpg

| caption = Finlayson while with Brentford in 1925.

| fullname = William Finlayson{{Cite book |last=Joyce |first=Michael |title=Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 |publisher=Tony Brown |year=2012 |isbn=978-1905891610 |location=Nottingham |page=98}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1899|3|29|df=y}}

| birth_place = Thornliebank, Scotland

| death_date = {{Death year and age|1979|1899}}{{Cite web |title=Bill Finlayson Player Profile |url=http://stamford-bridge.com/player.php?id=184&surname=Finlayson&firstname=Bill |access-date=17 February 2022 |website=Stamford-Bridge.com |language=en-GB}}

| death_place = Inverness, Scotland

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}{{cite news |title=First Division prospects. Chelsea |author=Achates |newspaper=Athletic News |location=Manchester |date=22 August 1921 |page=5}}

| position = Forward

| years1 = 1918–1919

| clubs1 = Ashfield

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 1919–1920

| clubs2 = Thornliebank Juniors

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 1920–1924

| clubs3 = Chelsea

| caps3 = 5

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 1924–1925

| clubs4 = Clapton Orient

| caps4 = 21

| goals4 = 2

| years5 = 1925–1926

| clubs5 = Brentford

| caps5 = 21

| goals5 = 5

| years6 = 1926

| clubs6 = Springfield Babes

| caps6 = 16

| goals6 = 1

| years7 = 1926–1929

| clubs7 = Providence Clamdiggers

| caps7 = 113

| goals7 = 8

| years8 = 1928

| clubs8 = → Montreal CNR (loan)

| caps8 = 3

| goals8 = 0

| years9 = 1929

| clubs9 = → Montreal CNR (loan)

| caps9 = 2

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 1929–1930

| clubs10 = Bethlehem Steel

| caps10 = 17

| goals10 = 0

| years11 = 1930

| clubs11 = Montreal CNR

| caps11 = 3

| goals11 = 0

}}

William Finlayson (29 March 1899 – 1979) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a forward in the Football League for Brentford, Clapton Orient and Chelsea.{{Cite book |last1=Haynes |first1=Graham |title=Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 |last2=Coumbe |first2=Frank |publisher=Yore Publications |year=2006 |isbn=978-0955294914 |location=Harefield |page=56}}{{Cite web |title=Finlayson Bill Clapton Orient 1924 |url=https://www.vintagefootballers.com/product/finlayson-bill-image-1-clapton-orient-1924/ |access-date=6 July 2019 |website=Vintage Footballers}} He later played in the United States and Canada. His brother Bob was also a footballer.{{cite journal|title=A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players|author=John Litster|publisher=Scottish Football Historian magazine|date=October 2012}}[http://bethlehemsteelsoccer.org/gl090927c.html A Glance At Soccer In American League], The Globe-Times Bethlehem, September 9, 1927; via Bethlehem Steel Soccer Club[Robert Finlayson Robert Finlayson], StatsCrew