| Birth date | 27 March 1957 (age 69) |
|---|---|
| Birth place | Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland |
William Allan Gilliland (born 27 March 1957) is a former badminton player from Scotland who won medals at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships.
Biography
Although he won the Scottish national singles title in 1979, the tall, angular Gilliland was a doubles specialist at the international level with his greatest success coming in mixed doubles. Gilliland won mixed doubles at the prestigious All-England Championships with England's Nora Perry in 1985.[1] He had previously reached the All-England final in both men's doubles and mixed doubles in 1982.[2]
He was a mixed doubles bronze medalist at the 1977 IBF World Championships with Joanna Flockhart.[3] Though he won numerous tournaments abroad, perhaps Gilliland's most impressive badminton accomplishment was sharing twelve consecutive Scottish national mixed doubles titles equally with two partners, between 1976 and 1987. With regular partner Dan Travers, he won nine Scottish national men's doubles titles during that period.[4]
In 1986 he represented his nation at the European Championships again[5] and also in 1986, was denied an almost certain mixed team bronze medal when Alison Fulton in the third match was carried off the court, with Scotland leading Australia 2–0 at the time.[6]
He now coaches badminton in a badminton academy.[citation needed]
Achievements
World Games
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | San Jose Civic Auditorium, California, United States | Dan Travers | Thomas Kihlström Stefan Karlsson | 15–10, 0–15, 9–15 | Bronze |
Commonwealth Games
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland | Dan Travers | Andy Goode Nigel Tier | align-"left" | 15–8, 15–5 | Gold |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Clare Drake Arena, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | Joanna Flockhart | Mike Tredgett Nora Perry | 7–15, 7–15 | Silver |
| 1986 | Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, Scotland | Christine Heatly | Ken Poole Linda Cloutier | 15–12, 17–14 | Bronze |
European Championships
Men's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Guild Hall, Preston, England | Dan Travers | Morten Frost Jens Peter Nierhoff | 13–15, 14–18 | Bronze |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Guild Hall, Preston, England | Joanna Flockhart | Steen Skovgaard Lene Køppen | 4–15, 4–15 | Bronze |
| 1980 | Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands | Christine Heatly | Mike Tredgett Nora Perry | 15–6, 7–15, 13–18 | Bronze |
IBF World Grand Prix (13 titles, 17 runners-up)
The World Badminton Grand Prix sanctioned by International Badminton Federation (IBF) from 1983 to 2006.
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Scottish Open | Dan Travers | Andy Goode Gerry Asquith | 15–6, 15–7 | Winner |
| 1984 | Dutch Open | Dipak Tailor | Michael Kjeldsen Mark Christiansen | 9–15, 15–7, 17–18 | Runner-up |
| 1984 | Canada Open | Dan Travers | Razif Sidek Jalani Sidek | 11–15, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | Canada Open | Dan Travers | Jens Peter Nierhoff Henrik Svarrer | 12–15, 11–15 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | Scottish Open | Dan Travers | Michael Kjeldsen Mark Christiansen | 2–15, 4–15 | Runner-up |
| 1986 | Dutch Open | Dan Travers | He Xiangyang Tang Hai | 13–18, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 1986 | Poona Open | Steve Baddeley | He Xiangyang Tang Hai | 7–15, 6–15 | Runner-up |
| 1986 | Scottish Open | Dan Travers | Jesper Knudsen Henrik Svarrer | 10–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Scottish Open | Gillian Gowers | Duncan Bridge Sara Leeves | 15–8, 15–7 | Winner |
| 1984 | Dutch Open | Gillian Gowers | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 14–17, 15–13, 6–15 | Runner-up |
| 1984 | Denmark Open | Imelda Wiguna | Dipak Tailor Nora Perry | retired | Runner-up |
| 1984 | English Masters | Gillian Gowers | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 15–18, 7–15 | Runner-up |
| 1984 | Canadian Open | Karen Chapman | Nigel Tier Gillian Gowers | 3–15, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | Hong Kong Open | Gillian Gowers | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 10–15, 16–18 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | Chinese Taipei Open | Gillian Gowers | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 8–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1985 | Japan Open | Gillian Gowers | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 15–10, 18–15 | Winner |
| 1985 | All England Open | Nora Perry | Thomas Kihlström Gillian Clark | 15–10, 15–12 | Winner |
| 1985 | English Masters | Gillian Gowers | Steen Fladberg Gitte Paulsen | 15–7, 15–5 | Winner |
| 1985 | align-"left" | Canada Open | Nora Perry | Jesper Helledie Johanne Falardeau | 15–6, 15–9 | Winner |
| 1985 | Scottish Open | Gillian Gowers | Rob Ridder Erica van Dijck | 15–12, 10–15, 18–17 | Winner |
| 1986 | Chinese Taipei Open | Nora Perry | Jesper Helledie Erica van den Heuvel | 15–8, 15–3 | Winner |
| 1986 | Japan Open | Nora Perry | Nigel Tier Gillian Gowers | 17–15, 15–9 | Winner |
| 1986 | Poona Open | Nora Perry | Rob Ridder Erica van den Heuvel | align-"left" | 15–6, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1986 | Hong Kong Open | Nora Perry | Andy Goode Fiona Smith | 15–5, 15–3 | Winner |
| 1986 | English Masters | Nora Perry | Jan-Eric Antonsson Gillian Gowers | 12–15, 17–15, 17–14 | Winner |
| 1987 | Chinese Taipei Open | Gillian Gowers | Steen Fladberg Gillian Clark | 7–15, 18–14, 5–15 | Runner-up |
| 1987 | Japan Open | Gillian Gowers | Lee Deuk-choon Chung Myung-hee | 12–15, 5–15 | Runner-up |
| 1987 | Hong Kong Open | Gillian Gowers | Jiang Guoliang Nong Qunhua | 18–14, 13–15, 15–7 | Winner |
| 1987 | Malaysia Open | Gillian Gowers | Steen Fladberg Gillian Clark | 7–15, 6–15 | Runner-up |
| 1987 | World Grand Prix Finals | Gillian Gowers | Stefan Karlsson Maria Bengtsson | 8–15, 15–18 | Runner-up |
International tournament
Men's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Bells Open | Dan Travers | Ray Stevens Steve Baddeley | 9–15, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 1980 | Welsh Open | Dan Travers | Ray Stevens Mike Tredgett | 15–7, 11–15, 6–15 | Runner-up |
| 1981 | Dutch Open | Dan Travers | Andy Goode Mike Tredgett | 15–5, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1981 | Portugal International | Kevin Jolly | Ray Stevens Derek Talbot | 17–18, 15–12, 12–15 | Runner-up |
| 1981 | Bells Open | Dan Travers | Duncan Bridge Martin Dew | 18–17, 15–12 | Winner |
| 1982 | Scottish Open | Dan Travers | Mark Elliott Donald Burden | 15–10, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1982 | Dutch Open | Dan Travers | Martin Dew Mike Tredgett | 15–11, 5–15, 15–17 | Runner-up |
| 1982 | Irish Open | Dan Travers | Ed Romejin Bas von Barnau Sijthoff | 15–7, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1982 | All England Open | Dan Travers | Jalani Sidek Razif Sidek | 15–8, 9–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1982 | Portugal International | Dan Travers | Darren Hall Ray Stevens | 13–15, 8–15 | Runner-up |
| 1982 | Victor Cup | Dan Travers | Martin Dew Mike Tredgett | 3–15, 2–15 | Runner-up |
| 1982 | Canadian Open | Dan Travers | Torbjorn Petterson Lars Wengberg | 5–15, 3–15 | Runner-up |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | German Open | Christine Heatly | Steen Skovgaard Anne Skovgaard | 6–15, 11–15 | Runner-up |
| 1980 | English Masters | Karen Chapman | Christian Hadinata Imelda Wiguna | 6–15, 6–15 | Runner-up |
| 1980 | Scottish Open | Joanna Flockhart | Mike Tredgett Karen Chapman | 2–15, 2–15 | Runner-up |
| 1981 | Scottish Open | Gillian Gilks | Alastair Baker Linda Gardner | 15–5, 15–0 | Winner |
| 1981 | Swedish Open | Nora Perry | Martin Dew Gillian Clark | 15–4, 18–14 | Winner |
| 1981 | Bell's Open | Nora Perry | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 17–16, 15–10 | Winner |
| 1981 | Portugal International | Eva Stuart | Rob Ridder Marjan Ridder | 8–15, 17–14, 15–11 | Winner |
| 1981 | India Open | Karen Chapman | Ray Stevens Nora Perry | 12–15, 3–15 | Runner-up |
| 1982 | Scottish Open | Gillian Gilks | Morten Frost Lene Køppen | 18–13, 15–9 | Winner |
| 1982 | All England Open | Karen Chapman | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 10–15, 17–14, 7–15 | Runner-up |
| 1982 | India Open | Karen Chapman | Thomas Kihlström Jane Webster | 18–14, 15–11 | Winner |
| 1982 | Indonesia Open | Karen Chapman | Martin Dew Gillian Gilks | 15–5, 8–15, 10–15 | Runner-up |
| 1982 | Portugal International | Eva Stuart | Ray Stevens Nora Perry | 9–15, 9–15 | Runner-up |
| 1982 | Bell's Open | Gillian Gilks | Ray Stevens Nora Perry | 15–11, 7–7 retired | Winner |
| 1982 | Canadian Open | Karen Chapman | Paul Johnson Claire Backhouse | 10–15, 15–6, 15–8 | Winner |
| 1984 | Scottish Open | Karen Chapman | Dipak Tailor Karen Beckman | 15–3, 15–6 | Winner |
References
- ^ Steve Baddeley, "All England Championships," World Badminton, June 1985, 8, 9.
- ^ Pat Davis, "All change at Wembley," World Badminton, June 1982, 12, 13.
- ^ "worldbadminton.net". Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ^ "Scottish title for Billy". The Scotsman. 15 September 1980. p. 16. Retrieved 19 January 2026. – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Badminton". Dundee Courier. 12 March 1986. p. 13. Retrieved 19 January 2026. – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Tragic injury deprives Scots of a medal". Dundee Courier. 28 July 1986. p. 11. Retrieved 19 January 2026. – via British Newspaper Archive.