Politics

[meadows 615]

Confirmed by his only other club Pompey that Billy Wilson a popular Rovers fullback of the 60s/early 70s passed away this week at a relatively young age of 71

Billy was a smashing player. The first Rovers player I ever saw sent off too I think although how he managed it I can’t fathom as he was a cool, classy player in an age you had to literally commit ABH to get ordered off

He may hold a curious record - in around 270 games for us he never scored. I can’t recall any other outfield player who played so many without scoring. 

Took a couple of pubs after playing including at one point The Fratton which was virtually attached to the ground

I remember he lived on Langdale between the Hordens & The Beechwood where many players lived & his wife Val (I think) was receptionist at Star Paper. 

As lads we would knock on players’ doors at Christmas, carol singing, or asking for any firewood pre Bonfire Night - you would usually get a few bob and an autograph or something. 

Thoughts with his family and those fans like myself for whom a little part of our childhood has also died. 

Edited February 24, 2018 by meadows

[Preben 138]

Sad news, great player

[den 7714]

Very sad news. I loved watching Billy. 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 24, 2018 by den

[arbitro 9769]

It's strange really as we spoke about him during our recent visit to Portsmouth and how he became the landlord of the Fratton pub. I remember him as a talented player about the time when full backs were morphing from cloggers to players. In one match a player was down injured and needed treatment. The ball had gone out of play in front of the Riverside and whilst waiting for the restart Billy sat on the ball and engaged in a conversation with several supporters. It was the first time I ever heard a footballer talk. It's strange what you remember.

RIP Billy and condolences to his family and friends.

[meadows 615]

4 minutes ago, den said:

Very sad news. I loved watching Billy. 

 

 

 

 

Fabulous pics. 

[meadows 615]

2 minutes ago, arbitro said:

It's strange really as we spoke about him during our recent visit to Portsmouth and how he became the landlord of the Fratton pub. I remember him as a talented player about the time when full backs were morphing from cloggers to players. In one match a player was down injured and needed treatment. The ball had gone out of play in front of the Riverside and whilst waiting for the restart Billy sat on the ball and engaged in a conversation with several supporters. It was the first time I ever heard a footballer talk. It's strange what you remember.

RIP Billy and condolences to his family and friends.

Yes I spoke to a pal this morning & he said he remembered being thrilled chucking the ball back to him from the Enclosure a couple of times! 

[AllRoverAsia 6413]

17 minutes ago, den said:

Very sad news. I loved watching Billy. 

RIP Billy Wison.

A class player and one of my all time Rovers favourites.

Great pics! I had the Rovers one as my profile pic not too long ago.

[philipl 7032]

RIp and condolences.

Another part of my childhood gone.

[Waggy76 1588]

Rip ...Played in the first game I ever saw !

[Stonesrick 773]

RIP Billy. A talented player who proved to be an excellent full back pairing with Keith Newton. 

[meadows 615]

3 hours ago, Waggy76 said:

Rip ...Played in the first game I ever saw !

He was part of my ‘first’ team after I got hooked ...you know when you could name the starting XI week in week out. It was along the lines Blacklaw Newton Wilson Clayton Coddington Hole Ferguson Darling Gilliver Rogers Connelly with Dougie in & out and like of Walter Joyce, Mulvaney, George Sharples, Ben Anderson & Gary Coxon making up the squad. First five plus Connelly & Walter Joyce  all gone now. 

[Tyrone Shoelaces 12863]

First time I saw Billy play  a pal of mine was playing on the right wing for Rochdale Reserves. He was nagging me to go up and watch him play and seeing as the opposition was Rovers " A " team I went up to Spotland. His immediate opponent was a little tubby blonde lad. My pal was pretty rapid and he gave the blonde lad a bit of a chasing. Afterwards he said to me " You're a better left back  than that blonde kid Tyrone, he was hopeless ".  I said " You're right, he'll never make a player as long as he lives ! "The little tubby blonde lad was Billy Wilson. I remembered his name from the team sheet because he was so bad ! 

Next time I saw him was a year or two later and he was in the first team ! He had slimmed down a fair bit and put on a bit of pace. He was still a bit raw but you could see he had the makings of a player. As time went by he became the tough, uncompromising little terrier of a player that rarely got a chasing off anybody. His partnership with Keith Newton gave us the two best full backs in the old second division. He was neat and tidy on the ball and quick in the tackle, the sort of player that never took a backward step irrespective of the size of the opponent.  I always thought he'd the makings of a good defensive midfield player and I believe Pompey played him there later in his career.

I came to be a big fan of his and I was gutted when he was allowed to drift away to Portsmouth. Thanks for the memories Billy, you proved me and my pal wrong.

Incidentally we had a midfielder that day that was absolutely awesome. He was like a more mobile David Dunn, he covered every blade of grass and he was tackling at one end and scoring a goal at the other. He had it all. Both me and my pal said " He can't fail, he's a world beater ". He was called Roy Wilford . This game would be in the October and at the end of the season he was released and went straight into non-league. He had a good career at that level but he never made the heights we thought he would. Funny game football.

Edited February 24, 2018 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[Exiled in Toronto 2921]

18 minutes ago, meadows said:

He was part of my ‘first’ team after I got hooked ...you know when you could name the starting XI week in week out. It was along the lines Blacklaw Newton Wilson Clayton Coddington Hole Ferguson Darling Gilliver Rogers Connelly with Dougie in & out and like of Walter Joyce, Mulvaney, George Sharples, Ben Anderson & Gary Coxon making up the squad. First five plus Connelly & Walter Joyce  all gone now. 

My first team was Blacklaw, Newton, Wilson, Hunter, Mulvaney, Knighton, Connelly, Metcalfe, Martin, Rogers, Hill, sub Darling. 

[meadows 615]

55 minutes ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

First time I saw Billy play  a pal of mine was playing on the right wing for Rochdale Reserves. He was nagging me to go up and watch him play and seeing as the opposition was Rovers " A " team I went up to Spotland. His immediate opponent was a little tubby blonde lad. My pal was pretty rapid and he gave the blonde lad a bit of a chasing. Afterwards he said to me " You're a better left back  than that blonde kid Tyrone, he was hopeless ".  I said " You're right, he'll never make a player as long as he lives ! "The little tubby blonde lad was Billy Wilson. I remembered his name from the team sheet because he was so bad ! 

Next time I saw him was a year or two later and he was in the first team ! He had slimmed down a fair bit and put on a bit of pace. He was still a bit raw but you could see he had the makings of a player. As time went by he became the tough, uncompromising little terrier of a player that rarely got a chasing off anybody. His partnership with Keith Newton gave us the two best full backs in the old second division. He was neat and tidy on the ball and quick in the tackle, the sort of player that never took a backward step irrespective of the size of the opponent.  I always thought he'd the makings of a good defensive midfield player and I believe Pompey played him there later in his career.

I came to be a big fan of his and I was gutted when he was allowed to drift away to Portsmouth. Thanks for the memories Billy, you proved me and my pal wrong.

Incidentally we had a midfielder that day that was absolutely awesome. He was like a more mobile David Dunn, he covered every blade of grass and he was tackling at one end and scoring a goal at the other. He had it all. Both me and my pal said " He can't fail, he's a world beater ". He was called Roy Wilford . This game would be in the October and at the end of the season he was released and went straight into non-league. He had a good career at that level but he never made the heights we thought he would. Funny game football.

Great anecdotes. I remember earnestly & genuinely asking my dad why Billy wasn’t in the England side as he was equally as good for us on the left as Keith was on the right. Just off the top of my head I can’t think who replaced the magnificent Ray Wilson from the 1966 side but I honestly thought Billy should have had it!

 

[Stonesrick 773]

45 minutes ago, Exiled in Toronto said:

My first team was Blacklaw, Newton, Wilson, Hunter, Mulvaney, Knighton, Connelly, Metcalfe, Martin, Rogers, Hill, sub Darling. 

Loved watching this team. Alan Hunter, class player, Kenny Knighton, bustling midfielder, Eamonn, my favourite at that time. If we had a better centre half and left winger, we could have done something with this team. Connelly was at the end of his career but scored plenty of goals for a winger.Happy days in the Darren End.

 

 

[meadows 615]

48 minutes ago, Exiled in Toronto said:

My first team was Blacklaw, Newton, Wilson, Hunter, Mulvaney, Knighton, Connelly, Metcalfe, Martin, Rogers, Hill, sub Darling. 

Yes I bet Ronnnie and Bryan were still around but coming to the tail end. One of my big regrets is that I saw them both play but not at the level they’d made themselves legends. I envy those who saw the 63-64 forward line at its peak. But at least I saw them. 

[Stonesrick 773]

27 minutes ago, meadows said:

Yes I bet Ronnnie and Bryan were still around but coming to the tail end. One of my big regrets is that I saw them both play but not at the level they’d made themselves legends. I envy those who saw the 63-64 forward line at its peak. But at least I saw them. 

Me too Meadows. Saw them both but Dougie at that time was knackered with injured knees. Saw the famous five of Fergie, McAvoy, Pickering, Douglas, Harrison but can’t remember too much as I was 7 at the time. ?

Edited February 24, 2018 by Stonesrick
Spelling

[BucksBlue 4]

RIP Billy, he lived on Langdale, in one of the Semi's backing on to the canal, actually opposite my Grandad's, with whom he worked at the Star. When I joined the Navy and was posted in Portsmouth, my Grandad told me to go and see him in his pub, he had moved from Fratton to one Fareham way I think, he was a lovely bloke and loved me coming in in the blue and white halves!

[Tyrone Shoelaces 12863]

Just now, Stonesrick said:

Me too Meadows. Saw them both but Dougie at that time was knackered with injured knees. Saw the famous five of Fergie, McAvoy, Pickering, Douglas, Harrison but can’t remember too much as I was 7 at the time. ?

I was privileged to see that team in their prime. When they were on song they were an absolute goal scoring machine. Same story as before though - no cover  for players injured or not quite at their peak and no money to get any. If only Jack had been born 30 years sooner. Now I'm being greedy.

Edited February 24, 2018 by Tyrone Shoelaces

[Parsonblue 5538]

A wonderful full-back and one of a number of youngsters who came down from the North-east in the early sixties - Martin Hall, Roland Horrey, Dick Mulvaney Dave Holt and Billy who I well remember watching in the reserves before Billy and Dick broke into the first team.  Billy was a great attacking full-back who served the club well during a difficult period.  I hope we do something to remember him on Sunday before the Wigan game.

2 hours ago, meadows said:

Yes I bet Ronnnie and Bryan were still around but coming to the tail end. One of my big regrets is that I saw them both play but not at the level they’d made themselves legends. I envy those who saw the 63-64 forward line at its peak. But at least I saw them. 

I've seen nothing better than that 63-64 forward line at Ewood Park and the 7-2 destruction of the famous Spurs team remains one of my great Ewood memories.

[Herbie6590 1551]

Possibly my first Rovers Hero - the no.2 on the shorts was for him.

RIP Billy.

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces 12863]

Just now, Herbie6590 said:

Possibly my first Rovers Hero - the no.2 on the shorts was for him.

RIP Billy.

 

Same haircut also.

[Riversider28 1454]

I'm really sad to hear that Billy has passed away. He was my first Rovers hero and someone who I really admired as a player. He was totally committed and it's a shame there probably isn't any footage of him playing, as a lot of so called defenders playing today could learn an awful lot from the way he played the game. He was a no-nonsense, get the job done player who gave his all in every game. No doubt he will be playing in heavens All Star X1 team right now. RIP fella.  

[meadows 615]

More sad news too...Jeff Whalley a local lad who played a handful of games around the turn of the 60s/70s but scored bundles of goals in non league has also died  

 

[Tyrone Shoelaces 12863]

Just now, meadows said:

More sad news too...Jeff Whalley a local lad who played a handful of games around the turn of the 60s/70s but scored bundles of goals in non league has also died  

 

Both lads were around my age. It's getting worrying.