Billy shut out England but Shilton got past him

Billy Mcnulty only has a Scotland team badge to remind him of the time he kept England at bay. The yellow jersey he wore in goal in March 1967, has long since disintegrated.

But memories of representing his country will never fade.

Billy was part of the Scotland youth team that came agonisingly close to reaching the European Championships in Turkey. A no-scoring draw at Tannadice Park in Dundee wasn’t enough to knock out an England side that included Mick Mills, Joe Royle, Brian Kidd and Trevor Brooking. The disappointment of not making it to the finals denied him the chance to swap shirts with opposite number Peter Shilton. He said: “I had been on the bench for the first leg of the tie at The Dell in Southampton.

“We lost that game 1- 0 and the keeper, Burnley’s Matt Tyrie, was dropped from the return match. “We had a team that included Ab e rd e e n’s Ma r t i n Bu c h a n , Sandy Jardine from Rangers and Coventry’s Willie Carr.

“I kept a clean sheet, which is always pleasing for a goalie, but we couldn’t get the goal we needed.

“After the game, our coach took us into the dressing-room and was giving us a hard time about how we should have won the game.

“Peter Shilton came looking to swap jerseys but was sent away.”

It was only during his time with Scotland that Billy first realised his size might affect his career.

He said: “We had a get-together in Arbroath before we played England and Roy Small, who was in charge of the team, asked me how my height affected my play as a goalkeeper.

“I admitted that I’d never thought about it until then.

“I’m five foot, nine-and-a-half but was always seen as good enough. “Looking back, I now know that what other people thought of my height did hinder my career.”

Billy was a goalkeeper playing for Sa l v e s e n B oy s C l u b in Edinburgh when he was spotted by a Port Vale scout.

He recalled: “I had to admit that I’d never heard of them.

“But my ears pricked up when I heard that Stanley Matthews was general manager at the club. “His presence convinced me to sign and I have to say that he was always very good to the young players that he recruited.

“A lot of young Scots were brought to join me. They included my old schoolmate Mick Cullerton — who had been a part- timer at Hibs.

“We also signed a young goalie from Liverpool called Mick Miller. He went on to become better known as a comedian.

“The week leading up to the 1966 World Cup Final I was sitting directly behind Sir Stan in a car crash in Leek, Staffordshire, which almost killed him.”

Billy, now 71, played just one first- team game for Port Vale before j oining Chester field, where team- mates included Neil Warnock.

He said: “I was amazed when I was released by Chesterfield.

“I had interest from other clubs, including Nottingham Forest, but they wanted me to go on trial.

“I wasn’t big-headed but I didn’t feel I should have to prove myself. “I came back to Scotland and played one game for Berwick Rangers.

“After that I had three matches with Dunfer mline but their manager, George Farm, only wanted me as a part-timer. “Celtic came to see me and it was said they were considering three goalies — me, Murray Mcdermott and Evan Williams.

“There was little difference in height between Evan and I but they decided to take him.

“So I started work in a factory, where I stayed for 33 years, and played junior football.”