A Yorkshireman, born in 1924 in Royston near Barnsley, Bill was signed by Wolvehampton Wanderers and played for the club’s Yorkshire-based junior side, Wath Wanderers, during wartime. He made several appearances for the Wolves first team in wartime football before joining the Royal Air Force.

Bill originally appeared for Worcester City as a guest player in the 1945/46 season, by which time he had started training to be a teacher. He also guested for Swindon Town before being signed by City manager Jack Vinall. Playing mainly as a right winger, Bill scored 21 goals in his first season here and established himself as a first-team regular. He went onto complete 134 first team appearances (43 goals), playing until 1953 when he moved on to Stourbridge.

After retiring as a player, Bill maintained his links with the club throughout the fifties and sixties, during which time he was involved in a number of backroom jobs including coach and trainer, as well as manager of the reserves and the A team. Late in 1973, he was appointed caretaker manager of the first team after Graham Newton was sacked. He was unable to save City from relegation, but carried on working under his successor, Ron Radford, before standing down from football for good shortly after the appointment of Nobby Clark in 1974.

Bill was equally well known locally as a schoolteacher. Much of his career was spent at St. Stephen’s School, before becoming headteacher of the newly opened Northwick Manor Junior School in the late sixties.

Bill lived locally in St. John’s and remained active until shortly before his death. He followed his grandson Danny’s football career closely and came to watch him playing for City on a number of occasions last season.

Bill gave the club great service and was always remembered fondly by those who knew him. We would like to extend our sympathies to all his family and friends.