Billy Elliot – Albion’s wartime number 7
SAY the name Billy Elliot and many will think of the balletic young lad in the film of 2000 but Black Country football aficionados will have someone quite different in mind.
William Bethwaite Elliot was born on August 6, 1919, at Harrington in Cumberland and as a lad played for Carlisle Grammar School.
As a 16-year-old in 1935, he signed as an amateur with Carlisle United but later that year he was plying his trade in the Black Country with a brief stint with Dudley Town.
The promising teenager was snapped up by Wolves and Billy turned professional in March 1936 but, for some reason, the Molineux boss Major Frank Buckley decided that Billy was not quite what he wanted and the youngster transferred to Bournemouth and Boscombe AFC in July 1937.
However, it wasn’t long before Billy was back in the Black Country. Albion boss Fred Everiss evidently liked what he saw and transferred Billy to the Hawthorns for £4,000 in December 1938, bringing the youngster in to replace winger Jack Mahon, who had joined Huddersfield Town.
Billy made his Albion debut on Christmas Eve 1938, in a 3-1 defeat away to Luton Town in the Second
Division. He scored is first goal for the Baggies in his next game, on December 27, 1938 – a 3-2 defeat away at Swansea Town.
Billy scored three goals in 17 appearances before the outbreak of the Second World War. He continued to play for the Baggies throughout the hostilities, banging in 117 goals in 148 games.
The picture at the top of the page shows Billy in his wartime Albion days. Government restrictions on material and dyes meant that striped cloth was banned and so Albion played in plain blue shirts for the duration.
England
His excellent form brought Billy to the attention of the England selectors and he was chosen for a Wartime International against Wales in May 1944 and the 1946 Victory Home Championship match against Scotland. Sadly, neither of these games are classed as full internationals. During the war he also played in matches for the FA, the Army and Western Command.
Billy Elliot never received a full England cap – his misfortune was to be playing at the same time as Stanley Matthews and Tom Finney, who were selected ahead of him.
With League football resumed, Billy continued his sterling efforts for the Baggies. He missed only a handful of games in the first three seasons after the war, helping Albion to regain their place in the top flight when they won promotion at the end of the 1948-49 season.
Albion historian Tony Matthews described Billy as, “a brilliant outside-right, fast and clever with incredible close ball control and a powerful shot.”
The West Bromwich Albion Former Players Association website says, “Elliott’s great strength was remarkable close control, but the quality of his crossing was top class as well.”
Unfortunately, an Achilles tendon injury cut short Billy’s professional playing career. In July 1951 he switched to Bilston United, becoming their player-manager in August 1952. He retired fully from the game in 1954.
His playing days over, Billy became licensee of the Farcroft Hotel in Handsworth and was later boss of the Red Lion in Smethwick.
Sadly, Billy died in July 1966, while on holiday in the Canary Islands – he was 47.
Incidentally, was Billy’s surname Elliot or Elliott? Sources are divided on the matter – can readers provide a definitive answer?