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{{Short description|English footballer (1930–2023)}}
{{Short description|English footballer (1930–2023)}}
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{{Infobox football biography
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'''Wilfred Francis Billington''' (28 January 1930 – 1 October 2023) was an English professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] in England and Australia. He began his career with [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]], later playing for [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]], [[Workington A.F.C.|Workington Reds]], and [[Oxford United F.C.|Headington United]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 December 2023 |title=Sports Personality of the Year 2023: Remembering the stars we have lost |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sports-personality/67726877 |access-date=2023-12-22}}</ref><ref name="BH">{{Hugman|1570|accessdate=28 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{ENFA}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Anson |first=John |date=22 July 2010 |title=Ex-Blackburn Rovers keeper Wilf saves memories of Jack |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/8286769.ex-blackburn-rovers-keeper-wilf-saves-memories-jack/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Lancashire Telegraph}}</ref> In Australia, Billington was best known as the goalkeeper for [[South Coast United SC|South Coast United]]'s championship-winning side led by former England international [[Jimmy Kelly (footballer, born 1931)|Jim Kelly]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=1966 |title=Sydney Club Patrol |work=Soccer World |url=https://archive.org/details/soccer-world-1966/Soccer%20World%2C%20Vol.%2009%2C%20No.%2032%2C%20Friday%20August%2026th%201966/page/6/mode/2up |access-date=2023-12-25 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref><ref name=":2" />
'''Wilfred Francis Billington''' (28 January 1930 – 1 October 2023) was an English professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] in England and Australia. He began his career with [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]], later playing for [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]], [[Workington A.F.C.|Workington Reds]], and [[Oxford United F.C.|Headington United]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 December 2023 |title=Sports Personality of the Year 2023: Remembering the stars we have lost |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sports-personality/67726877 |access-date=2023-12-22}}</ref><ref name="BH">{{Hugman|1570|accessdate=28 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{ENFA}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Anson |first=John |date=22 July 2010 |title=Ex-Blackburn Rovers keeper Wilf saves memories of Jack |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/8286769.ex-blackburn-rovers-keeper-wilf-saves-memories-jack/ |access-date=2023-12-22 |website=Lancashire Telegraph}}</ref> In Australia, Billington was best known as the goalkeeper for [[Safeway United|South Coast United]]'s championship-winning side led by former England international [[Jimmy Kelly (footballer, born 1931)|Jim Kelly]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=1966 |title=Sydney Club Patrol |work=Soccer World |url=https://archive.org/details/soccer-world-1966/Soccer%20World%2C%20Vol.%2009%2C%20No.%2032%2C%20Friday%20August%2026th%201966/page/6/mode/2up |access-date=2023-12-25 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref><ref name=":2" />


== Early life ==
== Early life ==
Born in [[Blackburn]], Billington attended [[St Albans School, Hertfordshire|St Alban's School]].<ref name=":0" /> His schoolmates included [[Jack Walker]], who went on to help the Blackburn Rovers win the Premier League in 1995.<ref name=":0" />
Born in [[Blackburn]], Billington attended St Alban's School.<ref name=":0" /> His schoolmates included [[Jack Walker]], who went on to help the Blackburn Rovers win the Premier League in 1995.<ref name=":0" />


==Professional career==
==Professional career==
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In the summer of 1954, Billington was signed by [[Workington A.F.C.|Workington]] manager [[Bill Shankly]] as the cover goalkeeper for [[Malcolm Newlands]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bowler |first=Dave |title=Shanks: The Authorised Biography of Bill Shankly |publisher=Orion |year=1996 |isbn=0-75280-246-1 |location=London |pages=175}}</ref><ref name="auto" /><ref name=":1" /> After Newlands was injured, Billington played the opening match of the 1954–1955 season at Darlington, which the club won 2–1.<ref name=":1" /> He made a total of 19 appearances during his first season, and 24 during his second.<ref name=":1" />
In the summer of 1954, Billington was signed by [[Workington A.F.C.|Workington]] manager [[Bill Shankly]] as the cover goalkeeper for [[Malcolm Newlands]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bowler |first=Dave |title=Shanks: The Authorised Biography of Bill Shankly |publisher=Orion |year=1996 |isbn=0-75280-246-1 |location=London |pages=175}}</ref><ref name="auto" /><ref name=":1" /> After Newlands was injured, Billington played the opening match of the 1954–1955 season at Darlington, which the club won 2–1.<ref name=":1" /> He made a total of 19 appearances during his first season, and 24 during his second.<ref name=":1" />


Eighteen months into his transfer to Workington, the ''[[Liverpool Echo]]'' noted that Billington was regarded as "extremely promising", commending his performance at [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Prenton Park]] during his first season.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 October 1955 |title=Workington's Challenge at Prenton Park |work=[[Liverpool Echo]] |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000271/19551015/296/0019 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-12-25 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref> Similarly, the ''[[Derby Telegraph|Derby Evening Telegraph]]'' called Billington one of Shankly's best signings, noting that he had "developed into an extremely sound and reliable goalkeeper".<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 October 1955 |title=Today's visitors to the baseball ground |work=[[Derby Evening Telegraph]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph-todays-visitors-to-th/137387433/ |access-date=2023-12-25 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> In December 1955, when Shankly was confirmed to be moving to [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]], the ''[[Lincolnshire Echo]]'' called Billington "one of the best [goalkeepers] in the Third North" and suggested that he was a natural choice to follow suit.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 December 1955 |title=Workington players for Huddersf'ld |work=[[Lincolnshire Echo]] |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000332/19551224/004/0004 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-12-25 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>
Eighteen months into his transfer to Workington, the ''[[Liverpool Echo]]'' noted that Billington was regarded as "extremely promising", commending his performance at [[Prenton Park]] during his first season.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 October 1955 |title=Workington's Challenge at Prenton Park |work=[[Liverpool Echo]] |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000271/19551015/296/0019 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-12-25 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref> Similarly, the ''[[Derby Telegraph|Derby Evening Telegraph]]'' called Billington one of Shankly's best signings, noting that he had "developed into an extremely sound and reliable goalkeeper".<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 October 1955 |title=Today's visitors to the baseball ground |work=[[Derby Evening Telegraph]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-telegraph-todays-visitors-to-th/137387433/ |access-date=2023-12-25 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
Shankly himself had told the press following the hard-fought match against the [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] that he predicted Billington would be selected as [[England national football team|England goalkeeper]] within two years' time.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thompson |first=Phil |title=Emlyn Hughes: A Tribute to Crazy Horse |date=2006 |publisher=History Press |isbn=9780750959810}}</ref> In December 1955, when Shankly was confirmed to be moving to [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]], the ''[[Lincolnshire Echo]]'' called Billington "one of the best [goalkeepers] in the Third North" and suggested that he was a natural choice to follow suit.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 December 1955 |title=Workington players for Huddersf'ld |work=[[Lincolnshire Echo]] |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000332/19551224/004/0004 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2023-12-25 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>


Over the course of his five-year Workington Reds career, Billington made a total of 55 League and Cup appearances, and kept 16 clean sheets.<ref name=":1" /> He also made 75 appearances for the Workington Reserves playing in the [[North Eastern League]].<ref name=":1" /> In his final match for the club in 1958, he conceded 6 goals in a 6–3 defeat at Mansfield Town.<ref name=":1" />
Over the course of his five-year Workington Reds career, Billington made a total of 55 League and Cup appearances, and kept 16 clean sheets.<ref name=":1" /> He also made 75 appearances for the Workington Reserves playing in the [[North Eastern League]].<ref name=":1" /> In his final match for the club in 1958, he conceded 6 goals in a 6–3 defeat at Mansfield Town.<ref name=":1" />


Billington moved south after his release by Workington manager [[Joe Harvey]], transferring to [[Headington United]], which later became Oxford United, for the 1958–59 season.<ref name="auto" /> He decided to emigrate to Australia after a two-year offer to move there.<ref name="auto" /> Later deciding to live there permanently, he played for [[Balgownie Rangers FC|Balgownie Rangers]], [[South Coast United SC|South Coast United]] and [[Melbourne Hellas]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=10 October 2023 |title=Reds mourn fifties 'keeper |url=https://www.workingtonafc.com/reds-mourn-fifties-keeper/ |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=Workington AFC}}</ref><ref name="auto" />
Billington moved south after his release by Workington manager [[Joe Harvey]], transferring to [[Headington United]], which later became Oxford United, for the 1958–59 season.<ref name="auto" /> He decided to emigrate to Australia after a two-year offer to move there.<ref name="auto" /> Later deciding to live there permanently, he played for [[Balgownie Rangers FC|Balgownie Rangers]], [[Safeway United|South Coast United]] and [[Melbourne Hellas]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=10 October 2023 |title=Reds mourn fifties 'keeper |url=https://www.workingtonafc.com/reds-mourn-fifties-keeper/ |access-date=2023-12-23 |website=Workington AFC}}</ref><ref name="auto" />


In 1963, Billington played for South Coast United in the [[National Premier Leagues NSW|New South Wales grand final]], defeating [[APIA Leichhardt FC|APIA Leichhardt]] 4–0 for the title in front of a crowd of 30,000 at the [[Sydney Sports Ground]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Barnes |first=Martin |date=4 July 1990 |title=Kelly back in Wollongong |work=Australian Soccer Weekly |url=https://archive.org/details/australian-soccer-weekly-1990/Australian%20Soccer%20Weekly%2C%20Vol.%2011%2C%20No.%200437%2C%20Wednesday%20July%204th%201990/page/2/mode/2up?q=%22wilf+Billington%22 |access-date=2023-12-23 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
In 1963, Billington played for South Coast United in the [[National Premier Leagues NSW|New South Wales grand final]], defeating [[APIA Leichhardt FC|APIA Leichhardt]] 4–0 for the title in front of a crowd of 30,158 at the [[Sydney Sports Ground]]. This broke the Australian attendance record at the time.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Barnes |first=Martin |date=4 July 1990 |title=Kelly back in Wollongong |work=Australian Soccer Weekly |url=https://archive.org/details/australian-soccer-weekly-1990/Australian%20Soccer%20Weekly%2C%20Vol.%2011%2C%20No.%200437%2C%20Wednesday%20July%204th%201990/page/2/mode/2up?q=%22wilf+Billington%22 |access-date=2023-12-23 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref><ref name="SW635">{{cite news|url=https://archive.org/details/soccer-world-1963/Soccer%20World%2C%20Vol.%2006%2C%20No.%2035%2C%20Friday%20September%2027th%201963/mode/1up?view=theater|title=Cocky APIA pulverised by fast-raiding S.Coast|last=Gautier|first=Lou|date=27 September 1963|accessdate=30 December 2023|work=Soccer World|page=5|volume=6|issue=35}}</ref> The following week, Billington played in the [[1963 Australia Cup]] against APIA, who enacted revenge against South Coast United. Whilst Billington played well, saving point-blank shots from [[Leo Baumgartner]] and [[John Giacometti]], he was unable to prevent a 0–2 loss to APIA.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.org/details/soccer-world-1963/Soccer%20World%2C%20Vol.%2006%2C%20No.%2036%2C%20Friday%20October%204th%201963/page/5/mode/1up?view=theater|title=APIA Gains Sweet Revenge|work=Soccer World|volume=6|issue=36|date=4 October 1963|accessdate=30 December 2023|page=5}}</ref>


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
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[[Category:Oxford United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Oxford United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Balgownie Rangers FC players]]
[[Category:Balgownie Rangers FC players]]
[[Category:South Coast United SC players]]
[[Category:Safeway United players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:English expatriate footballers]]
[[Category:English expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Australia]]
[[Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Australia]]
[[Category:Expatriate soccer players in Australia]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Australia]]
[[Category:Footballers from Blackburn]]
[[Category:Footballers from Blackburn]]


Latest revision as of 05:43, 27 January 2024

Wilf Billington
Billington in 1955
Personal information
Full name Wilfred Francis Billington[1]
Date of birth (1930-01-28)28 January 1930
Place of birth Blackburn, England
Date of death 1 October 2023(2023-10-01) (aged 93)
Place of death Australia
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Rochdale
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1948–1954 Blackburn Rovers 0 (0)
1954–1958 Workington 53 (0)
1958–1959 Headington United
Balgownie Rangers
South Coast United
Melbourne Hellas
Total 53+ (0+)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Wilfred Francis Billington (28 January 1930 – 1 October 2023) was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper in England and Australia. He began his career with Rochdale, later playing for Blackburn Rovers, Workington Reds, and Headington United.[2][1][3][4] In Australia, Billington was best known as the goalkeeper for South Coast United's championship-winning side led by former England international Jim Kelly.[5][6]

Early life

[edit]

Born in Blackburn, Billington attended St Alban's School.[4] His schoolmates included Jack Walker, who went on to help the Blackburn Rovers win the Premier League in 1995.[4]

Professional career

[edit]

After a brief stint at Rochdale, Billington joined Blackburn Rovers, his hometown club.[7] He was with Blackburn for six years, playing regularly for the reserve team in the Central League.[7]

In the summer of 1954, Billington was signed by Workington manager Bill Shankly as the cover goalkeeper for Malcolm Newlands.[8][7][9] After Newlands was injured, Billington played the opening match of the 1954–1955 season at Darlington, which the club won 2–1.[9] He made a total of 19 appearances during his first season, and 24 during his second.[9]

Eighteen months into his transfer to Workington, the Liverpool Echo noted that Billington was regarded as "extremely promising", commending his performance at Prenton Park during his first season.[10] Similarly, the Derby Evening Telegraph called Billington one of Shankly's best signings, noting that he had "developed into an extremely sound and reliable goalkeeper".[11]

Shankly himself had told the press following the hard-fought match against the Tranmere Rovers that he predicted Billington would be selected as England goalkeeper within two years' time.[12] In December 1955, when Shankly was confirmed to be moving to Huddersfield Town, the Lincolnshire Echo called Billington "one of the best [goalkeepers] in the Third North" and suggested that he was a natural choice to follow suit.[13]

Over the course of his five-year Workington Reds career, Billington made a total of 55 League and Cup appearances, and kept 16 clean sheets.[9] He also made 75 appearances for the Workington Reserves playing in the North Eastern League.[9] In his final match for the club in 1958, he conceded 6 goals in a 6–3 defeat at Mansfield Town.[9]

Billington moved south after his release by Workington manager Joe Harvey, transferring to Headington United, which later became Oxford United, for the 1958–59 season.[7] He decided to emigrate to Australia after a two-year offer to move there.[7] Later deciding to live there permanently, he played for Balgownie Rangers, South Coast United and Melbourne Hellas.[9][7]

In 1963, Billington played for South Coast United in the New South Wales grand final, defeating APIA Leichhardt 4–0 for the title in front of a crowd of 30,158 at the Sydney Sports Ground. This broke the Australian attendance record at the time.[6][14] The following week, Billington played in the 1963 Australia Cup against APIA, who enacted revenge against South Coast United. Whilst Billington played well, saving point-blank shots from Leo Baumgartner and John Giacometti, he was unable to prevent a 0–2 loss to APIA.[15]

Personal life

[edit]

Billington returned to England in the mid-1960s after leaving South Coast United, but announced his return to Australia in 1966.[5][16] He lived in Wollongong and worked in a steelworks, first as a fitter and then as a salesman.[7]

At age 55, he obtained an honours degree from Wollongong University in Australia, and later worked for a politician.[7] His son also played as a goalkeeper.[17]

At the beginning of October 2023, Billington died at the age of 93.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Wilf Billington". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Sports Personality of the Year 2023: Remembering the stars we have lost". BBC Sport. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  3. ^ Wilf Billington at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  4. ^ a b c Anson, John (22 July 2010). "Ex-Blackburn Rovers keeper Wilf saves memories of Jack". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Sydney Club Patrol". Soccer World. 1966. Retrieved 25 December 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ a b Barnes, Martin (4 July 1990). "Kelly back in Wollongong". Australian Soccer Weekly. Retrieved 23 December 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Workington Reds goalie Wilf Billington dies aged 93". Cumbria Crack. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  8. ^ Bowler, Dave (1996). Shanks: The Authorised Biography of Bill Shankly. London: Orion. p. 175. ISBN 0-75280-246-1.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "Reds mourn fifties 'keeper". Workington AFC. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Workington's Challenge at Prenton Park". Liverpool Echo. 15 October 1955. Retrieved 25 December 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ "Today's visitors to the baseball ground". Derby Evening Telegraph. 1 October 1955. Retrieved 25 December 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Thompson, Phil (2006). Emlyn Hughes: A Tribute to Crazy Horse. History Press. ISBN 9780750959810.
  13. ^ "Workington players for Huddersf'ld". Lincolnshire Echo. 24 December 1955. Retrieved 25 December 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ^ Gautier, Lou (27 September 1963). "Cocky APIA pulverised by fast-raiding S.Coast". Soccer World. Vol. 6, no. 35. p. 5. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  15. ^ "APIA Gains Sweet Revenge". Soccer World. Vol. 6, no. 36. 4 October 1963. p. 5. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Sydney Club Patrol". Soccer World. 2 September 1966. Retrieved 25 December 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  17. ^ Murphy, Phil (5 April 1983). "News from Illawarra". Australian Soccer Weekly. Retrieved 23 December 2023 – via Internet Archive.
[edit]
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