Billy Fitchford
William Fitchford | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date |
| Died | April 13, 1966 (aged 69) |
| Occupation(s) | Footballer, Cricketer |
| Years active | 1914–1928 |
| Known for | Footballer for Port Vale; Staffordshire Minor Counties cricketer |
William Henry Fitchford (14 May 1896 – 13 April 1966) was a dual-sport English athlete, excelling in both football and cricket. Operating primarily as an inside-left, he amassed 14 goals across 98 league and cup appearances during a nine-year tenure with Port Vale from 1914 to 1923. Following this period, he had short spells at Glossop, Congleton Town, Stoke, and Northern Nomads. Concurrently, he represented Staffordshire in the Minor Counties Championship between 1922 and 1928.
Career
Fitchford entered Port Vale's ranks as an amateur, transferring from Porthill St. Andrew's in March 1914. His football progression was interrupted by military service during the First World War, where he held the rank of Lieutenant. Upon returning, he made his debut on 23 November 1918, marking the occasion with a goal despite a 4–1 defeat to Burnley. Early in his career, his commitments to banking restricted his availability for matches. During the 1919–20 season in the Second Division, Fitchford participated in 19 fixtures, scoring against teams such as Nottingham Forest and Birmingham, including netting the decisive goal that secured the Staffordshire Senior Cup.
In the subsequent 1920–21 campaign, he appeared in 25 games and found the net against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bury, and Barnsley. The following season saw him score three goals over six league matches facing Hull City, Leicester City, and Blackpool. Additionally, he played a role in Port Vale sharing the North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup in 1922. During the 1922–23 season, Fitchford made 19 league appearances plus one FA Cup outing but did not score.
After being released at the close of that season, his career continued with brief engagements at Glossop, Congleton Town, Stoke—where he did not make any first-team appearances—and Northern Nomads.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Port Vale | 1919–20 | Central League | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| 1919–20 | Second Division | 19 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 2 | |
| 1920–21 | Second Division | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 3 | |
| 1921–22 | Second Division | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | |
| 1922–23 | Second Division | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| Total | 77 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 9 | ||
| Stoke | 1923–24 | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Honours
Port Vale
- Staffordshire Senior Cup: 1920
- North Staffordshire Infirmary Cup: 1922