William Frame was a Scottish footballer who played as a left back, although he could also play at left half. He spent six years with Clyde and six with MotherwellWillie Frame, MotherWELLnet (being heavily involved during a period in the late 1920s where the "Steelmen" consistently finished near the top of the Scottish Football League table, being runners-up in the 1926–27 and 1929–30 seasons). Serving as captain at some points, he was also reported as being on the verge of leaving the club when left out of the team,Willie Frame Wants A New Club, Sunday Mail, 20 November 1927, via British Newspaper Archive Will Frame Go?, Motherwell Times, 25 November 1927, via British Newspaper Archive and eventually fell out of favour at Fir Park and moved to second-tier Dunfermline Athletic.Now With Dunfermline Willie Frame Leaves Fir Park, Hamilton Advertiser, 16 August 1930, via British Newspaper Archive He did not score any goals in over 430 appearances in Scotland's leagues or the Scottish Cup.
During his time at Clyde, Frame played in the Glasgow FA's annual challenge match against Sheffield in four consecutive years, and he was a guest member of a squad organised by Third Lanark that toured South America in the summer of 1923,Río de la Plata Trip of Third Lanark 1923, Pablo Ciullini, RSSSF, 19 August 2020Tommy McInally: Celtic's Bad Bhoy, David Potter; Black & White Publishing, 2009; also visiting that region with Motherwell in 1928.Motherwell Cheery, Sunday Post, 1 July 1928, via British Newspaper Archive Motherwell: Beating Argentina & bringing football to South America , BBC Sport, 16 July 2020
After retiring, he unsuccessfully applied to be manager of Ayr UnitedWillie Frame, Motherwell, Daily Record, 10 October 1931, via British Newspaper Archive and Raith RoversThe Real Raith At Last Favoured Four For Managership, Dundee Courier, 9 October 1933, via British Newspaper Archive and later joined the AEI works at Motherwell, where his sons already worked;The Frames Are Very Much A Part of A.E.I., Motherwell Times, 19 August 1960, via British Newspaper Archive 1960s player John Moore credited Frame with providing good advice on becoming a professional having seen him play in casual workplace games.John's the Manager of Luton, Motherwell Times, 19 June 1986, via British Newspaper Archive Frame was also a groundskeeper at a local park.Football At George St. Park, Motherwell Times, 11 September 1964, via British Newspaper Archive
Frame's career has been merged in some sourcesFrame Willie Image 1 Motherwell 1925, Vintage Footballers with that of a younger player of the same name, a goalkeeper who was a reserve with Motherwell at the same time as the defender left the club,Willie Frame Free, Daily Record , 2 October 1931, via British Newspaper Archive then played in England's Football League for one year with Gateshead in 1931–32,Getting Brighter At New Brighton, The People, 3 January 1932, via British Newspaper Archive; "Willie Frame, who has just displaced Crowther in the Gateshead goal, is the former Motherwell 'keeper. We mention this as many are puzzled as to Frame' a footballing history." followed by two seasons at Bray Unknowns in the Republic of Ireland and four seasons with Linfield in Northern Ireland,Scot Between the Posts Linfield's Goalkeeper, Ireland's Saturday Night, 7 March 1936, via British Newspaper Archive returning to Motherwell for a short spell in 1938.Last Minute Thrill Saves Ibrox, Motherwell Times, 26 August 1938, via British Newspaper Archive Hunter Plays, Dundee Courier, 14 October 1938, via British Newspaper Archive
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