Ramsay: John McFadyen (John)
WW2 Guest: 1941-1942
(Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)
Outside Right
Born: Peebles: 00-00-1921
Debut: v Bradford Park Avenue (a): 11-10-1941
Height & Weight: Unknown
Ramsay played two games for Leeds United in the 1941-42 Football League Northern Section
(First Championship). He made his debut at Outside Right on 11th October 1941 in a 0-6 defeat
away at Bradford Park Avenue and retained his position the following week in the reverse
fixture when United gained revenge with a 4-0 win at Elland Road. Mr Lawrence Broadie of
Heart of Midlothian Football Club advised that John Ramsay came from Peebles and was born in
1921. He started with Peebles YMCA and then played for Edinburgh Ashton Juvenile FC. He
signed for Heart of Midlothian FC on 16th August 1939 from Edinburgh Ashton. He was then
eighteen years old and described as an harassing centre-forward. He was immediately loaned to
Musselburgh Athletic Junior FC to gain experience. He joined the RAF after the outbreak of
the Second World War. In June 1941 he was stationed in England and allowed to play down south
while on service. It was then that he assisted Leeds United. When back on leave, he was
recalled from Musselburgh Athletic in March 1942 by Heart of Midlothian and played five first
team matches in 1941-42, scoring six goals. This included four goals against Leith Athletic
in the East of Scotland Shield Semi-Final. His other two goals came against Rangers and Third
Lanark in the Southern League Cup. This proved to be his total of games for Hearts, having
played once in the Southern League, three in the Southern League Cup and once in the East of
Scotland Shield. When he came back from Musselburgh Athletic he was paid £10 with the promise
of another £10 at the end of the War when he was to go full time. Sadly, Sergeant Air Gunner
John Ramsay of the RAF was reported missing in September 1942 at the age of twenty-two. His
father, Ralph Ramsay, was advised on 24th October 1942 that he had been killed. He was buried
at Lasswade Cemetary, Midlothian