Date / Year of birth: 1921*

Position: Midfielder

Season of first appearance: 46/47

Season of last appearance: 56/57

Also played for: Partick Thistle (Scotland) (0), St.Bernard's (Scotland) (0), Arsenal (0), Ramsgate Athletic, Canterbury City and Snowdown Colliery Welfare

5' 7" tall, long-serving talented Scottish left-sided player born in Kingseat who had two spells at Margate. Billy began his career in Scotland, playing for Partick Thistle and St.Bernard's before representing Arsenal during the Second World War.

He then joined Ramsgate and spent the 45/46 season at Southwood before moving to Margate for the 46/47 season.

Billy made his debut in Margate's first game after World War II - a 1-1 draw at Gillingham Reserves on 31.8.46.  His clever play and hard work made him one of the stars of the 46/47 campaign and he was virtually ever-present. He made 37 appearances and scored ten times.  Several of his goals were long-range efforts - something of a trademark for Billy. His tally included a hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Betteshanger at Hartsdown on 29.3.47 - all from distance. Billy also displayed his versatility during the season by filling in at left back and playing as a striker on occasions.

However he struggled to win a regular place in the side at the start of the 47/48 season and even when he did play it was rarely in his favoured midfield position. Billy mostly played on the left wing and struggled to show his true ability. Although he managed to score four times in ten games Billy wasn't happy with his lot at Margate and in November 1947 he asked to be released. His request was granted and he soon joined Canterbury.

Within weeks he was playing for City against Margate and on 26.12.47 he had a penalty saved by Doug Read as his new side went down 2-1 at home. Billy stayed with Canterbury for the 48/49 season too and was club captain.

After a spell at Snowdown Billy returned to Hartsdown in January 1951 and made 18 appearances, scoring once, before the end of the 50/51 campaign.

He continued to be a regular during 51/52 and made 35 appearances, scoring two goals.

52/53 saw Billy in and out of the side but he added a further 14 appearances to his tally and scored twice. One of his goals was a bizarre 40 yard effort in a game against Canterbury. The other came in a 1-1 draw at home to Folkestone on 9.5.53 and it earnt Margate a share of the Kent Senior Shield.

Billy played almost exclusively for the reserves during the 53/54 season and only made one first team appearance.

During 54/55 he made two senior appearances and was a fixture in the reserves once again.

Billy continued to be a mainstay of the reserves during the 55/56 season and he made just one first team appearance. That was in an FA Cup tie at Epsom and Billy scored with a 25 yard shot to show that he hadn't lost his touch.

Billy also made two first team appearances during the 56/57 campaign, the first of them as a left-back in a 1-1 draw at Ashford on 30.3.57. He was also captain of the reserves and his experience helped them win the Kent League Division 2 and two cups.

After Vic Pilcher emigrated to South Africa in December 1957 Billy took over as reserve team player-manager although he only made a handful of appearances during the 57/58 season and none for the first team.

Having retired from playing he continued to manage the reserves during the 58/59 season and was still in charge of them in the 60/61 campaign. Billy was still working at the club during 62/63.

In August 1973 the 'Club Notes' section of Margate's programme reported that Billy was suffering with ill health and had been unable to work for two years. A collection was made for him and the total raised, including a donation from the Supporters Club, was £25.

Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 46/47 onwards.

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