The skillful forward found the net with unerring regularity during a career in which he represent no fewer than six sides in the Lewis and Harris league.
Willie wowed fans of Back, Ness, Tong, Carloway and United but he started his Lewis football career with Tolsta as a junior.
He said: "I started off playing for Tolsta at junior level under the inspirational manager, the late John 'Patchy' Murray. I played for Tolsta as they had Tong as their home pitch and I only had to cross the road to play.
"Patchy gave me my first start in the outdoor leagues and I still remember how nervous I was before my first game. Our most notable achievement was beating a strong Ness team in the final of the Clydesdale Cup.
"We had a good side that day that included players from the Southern Isles such as striker Hector Macleod and Angus Macinnes in goals. Patchy did his usual managerial miracle by signing another excellent player on the afternoon of the final - John 'Brownie' Morrison from Harris.
"The Tolsta senior team was great to watch and the games were usually high-scoring. There were some tremendous players & personalities such as Davie Hanlon, Dol Macdonald, Foxy Maclean, George Murray, Charlton Murray, Fred Hamilton, Freddie Maciver, and goal scorer extraordinaire Donald 'Sweeney' MacSween. There was also a season when Tolsta had two notable goalkeepers – Nickers & Nylons."
Willie jumped ships to neighbouring Back in 1986 and it was here where his vast collection of silverware really began.
"I joined Back around 1986 and had a fine season scoring a few goals with strike partner David Macleod. 'Cloudy' was a great striker who I don't think got the recognition he deserved. Most of my goals were laid on by the tireless DA Macleod. Tolsta came calling once again and I enjoyed a couple of seasons with them before rejoining Back.
"We had a couple of good seasons, one in which we reached the semi-final of the Highland Amateur Cup. We had a number of chances to win the game but unfortunately couldn't find the net. It was a huge disappointment, more so as the majority of the team were nearing retirement and this was effectively their last chance. I feel fortunate that I managed to play with these players and also some greats who were just coming to the end of their playing careers, including Back's Nero Macdonald and Rasper Macdonald from Ness.
He continued "It was on one of these trips that a sleepy supporter had half his beard shaved off on the ferry using the finest shaving gel – McEwan's Lager!
"We were also unbeaten in the league at the half way stage until Dano Macdonald suffered a serious injury and we struggled to find our form after that. It was also at this point that my run of bad injuries started.
"I was playing for my college as well as an amateur side in Edinburgh and was playing well. There were a couple of senior teams looking at me but unfortunately I suffered serious ligament damage to my ankle and that was that.
"I think I must have collected nearly all the injuries you can get. However, I've also been extremely lucky in Lewis football and have won all there is to win so no real complaints."
Willie possessed a vast repertoire of tricks but one of his favourites was to pretend to go and take a corner, then change his mind and leave it for someone else. However, he would have touched the ball forward for his replacement to run in unchallenged with the ball. This ingenious tactic fooled a few teams.
Ness was the next port of call on Willie's whirlwind tour of the league but for a twist of fate Willie would have remained in the blue of Back and his side would have been bolstered by the addition of one of the leagues 'top guns'.
He added: "A coin flip led to the next part of my travels. Myself and Sweeney did a deal – whoever lost the toss would join the other's team – if I lost I would go to Ness, if he lost he would go to Back. I lost and went on to play with Ness for three years. I'm not sure if MacSween would have gone to Back or if he would have asked for 'best of three'!
"Nevertheless I enjoyed a productive time under manager Norman 'Squiggles' Mackenzie. It was a privilege playing with some of the most talented players ever to have played in Lewis football. We won a number of competitions in that time including winning almost everything in 1992 (including the Highland Amateur Cup). Another highlight for me was scoring against St. Johnstone in a friendly in Fivepenny.
"I think the best times we had were on trips away from the island. The craic was always good between the players and supporters, especially on the many Highland Amateur trips taken in 1992. I remember coming across the first sonic television in a hotel in Dingwall.
"My room mate (who shall remain nameless) was wondering how to change the TV channel that was perched on top of the wardrobe. I told him it was a sonic TV and he had to clap to change channels. So, picture the scene, this fellow clapping away to the TV and me with the remote control hidden by my side. Another time I was away with the Select team and we were going back to our rooms after an 'enjoyable' evening. Going up the landing there were 3 steps. I decided to do a forward roll and stood up again.
"One legendary Lochie striker attempted to do the same but managed to get his angles wrong and his feet ploughed straight through the wall – there was plasterboard everywhere. I also remember playing a friendly for Harris in Skye. "We had no water bottles at half time so someone found a large empty vodka bottle and filled it with water. The look on the spectator's faces as the players were slugging the 'vodka' down was priceless."
Willie picked up dozens of winners medals in his career but one of his proudest moment in island football actually came from the opening game of the season.
"One of my proudest moments was when the Tong team ran out for the first time in senior football under manager Murdo 'Soggo' Macdonald, who himself had had a distinguished playing career. We had a great team in that first season and gave a few big teams a hard time. Unfortunately, over the years we lost a number of key players to other teams and it became harder and harder to get more players in.
"Some players preferred watching all season from the sidelines for the big teams than actually playing the game themselves. Ultimately it was a losing battle and the team had to fold. There were a few stalwarts who had the best interests of the team at heart and stayed on when they could have easily gone to other teams.
"The year after Tong folded, I played a few games for Carloway and enjoyed playing with some very good young players there, including Domhnall Mackay, Neil Bowman & Scott Macaulay. I took up rugby a couple of years ago and so football went on the back burner.
"The experience has been thoroughly enjoyable and I wish I had taken it up years ago – I might have known the rules by now! However, I did play one game for United last year when we defeated Harris 1-0. Manus McGhee has an excellent young squad who will be much wiser and harder to beat next season after having gained experience from last year."
Like most of the players featured in this column, Willie struggled most picking his dream team.
"I've played with a lot of excellent players over the years and found it hard to exclude a number of them, players like George Murray, Duncan 'Dicey' Murray, Archie 'Doodle' MacCorquodale & Dol Macdonald (Tolsta), Tanky Macdonald, John Macleod and Roddie 'Barvas' Macrae with Ness. I still find it astonishing how Roddie managed to continue playing to such a high standard after losing an eye.
"I've included my brother John Neil as I think he had the finest left foot I've seen in Lewis football. He played for the Royal Air Force team all over the world. One of my highlights was playing with him in the same Back team that won the Eilean an Fhraoich Cup in 1996.
"I had scored a hatrick in a fantastic semi-final against Ness in Coll and scored a brace against a weakened Tolsta side in the final.
He continued: "It was a hard choice for goalkeeper. Billy just edges it as he would be redundant for most of the game but would produce a miraculous save when needed.
"His performance in the 1-0 Highland Amateur win against Kirkwall Thorfinn proved the point. The rest of the team more or less picks itself – I can't think of many teams that would beat this one.
"I would have five subs in Angus 'Nickers' Nicolson (Tolsta/Back), Iain 'Tod' Mackenzie (Ness), Davie Hanlon (Tolsta), Allan George Macaskill (Back) and Alasdair 'Red' Mackenzie (Back), and John 'Patchy' Murray would be manager."