Willoughby was born in Springburn,
Glasgow, and educated at Petershill Primary School and Colston Junior Secondary School, both located in the Springburn area. He played youth football with his local
Boys' Brigade team, and then with
Drumchapel Amateurs before commencing his career with
Rangers as a schoolboy signing at 15 years of age in 1959. He subsequently signed professional terms with Rangers in 1961. He scored in the
1963 Scottish League Cup Final win over
Morton, but was omitted from the
1967 European Cup Winners' Cup Final team to the surprise of many, with
Roger Hynd preferred, despite Willoughby having scored 17 goals in 14 games in the three months prior. He joined
Aberdeen in 1969, and left Scotland in 1974 to play for
Hong Kong Rangers, before spells in Australia and South Africa. ==Personal life==