Billy Bassett	West Bromwich Albion FC 16 appearances, 6 or 7 goals P 16 W 12 D 2 L 2 F 64: A 17 81% successful 1888-96 disciplined: none captaincies: none minutes played: 1440
Profile
Full name	William Isaiah Bassett JP
Born	27 January 1869 in West Bromwich, Staffordshire [registered in West Bromwich, March 1869].
Census Notes	According to the 1871 census, William Isaiah is the third child of four to Charles and Rebecca (née Waites). They live in Phoenix Street in West Bromwich. His father is a coal merchant.
	According to the 1881 census, and William I. now has two more younger brothers, they live at 48 Overend Street in West Bromwich. Father is now a colliery agent.
	According to the 1891 census, now a writing clerk, William I. is one of five children remaining with their parents, now at 28 Nichols Street, West Bromwich.
	According to the 1901 census, William I. is now a licensed victualler, and married to Beatrice. He runs the public house, the Anchor Inn at 303 High Street in West Bromwich.
	According to the 1911 census, William Isaiah, still a victualler, is now running Dartmouth Hotel, 2 Paradise Street in West Bromwich, with his wife and three children. Norman, Beatrice and Mary.
Married	to Beatrice Birch, 27 June 1900 [registered in West Bromwich, June 1900].
Died	8 April 1937 at his home in West Bromwich, aged 68 years 71 days [registered in West Bromwich, June 1937], of a heart-attack. Funeral held on 12 April 1937, officiated by Rev W. C. Jordan.
Height/Weight	5' 5½", 10st. 4lbs [1892], 5' 5½", 10st. 6lbs [1895].
Source	Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & FindMyPast.com
Club Career
Club(s)	After playing for several amateur sides including Christ Church School FC, Oak Villa FC, West Bromwich Strollers FC and Old Church FC, Bassett joined West Bromwich Albion FC in August 1886. Playing 261 league appearances and scoring 61 goals, Bassett retired in April 1899.
Club honours	FA Cup winners 1887-88, 1891-92, runners-up 1894-95;
Individual honours	None
Distinctions	On 28 April 1894, Bassett became the first ever West Bromwich Albion FC player to be sent off, he was dismissed for using "unparliamentarily language" in a friendly match away at Millwall FC.
Source	Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].
England Career
Player number	One of five who became the 147th player (150) to appear for England.
Position(s)	Outside-right
First match	No. 34, 7 April 1888, Ireland 1 England 5, a British Championship match at Ulster Cricket Ground, Ballynafeigh Park, Belfast, aged 19 years 71 days;
Last match	No. 58, 4 April 1896, Scotland 2 England 1, a British Championship match at Celtic Park, Kerrydale Street, Parkhead, Glasgow, aged 27 years 68 days.
Major tournaments	British Championship 1887-88, 1888-89, 1889-90, 1890-91, 1891-92, 1892-93, 1893-94, 1894-95, 1895-96;
Team honours	British Championship winners 1887-88, 1890-91, 1891-92, 1892-93, 1894-95; shared 1889-90
Individual honours	FA Tour of Germany 1899
Distinctions	None
Beyond England
Bassett became an Albion director in 1905, following the resignation of the previous board in its entirety. The club was in deep financial trouble and had had a writ served upon them by their bank, but Bassett and returning chairman Harry Keys rescued the club, aided by local fund-raising activities. Bassett became chairman in 1908, and helped the club to avoid bankruptcy once more in 1910 by paying the players' summer wages from his own pocket.  He remained Albion's chair until his death. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.135-6. He was a member of the Football League Management Committee and one of the League's representatives on the Football Association Council. He was a member of several F.A. committees including the International Selection Committee. - Western Daily Press and Bristol Mirror, Friday, 9 April 1937, p.3.

Billy Bassett - Match History
Club: West Bromwich Albion F.C. - 16 full caps Coach: F.A. International Select Committee - 16 full capsx
Age 19
1	34	7 April 1888 - Ireland 1 England 5, Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast	BC	AW	Start	or
Age 20
2	35	23 February 1889 - England 4 Wales 1, Victoria Ground, Stoke-upon-Trent	BC	HW	Start 2nd half	or
3	37	13 April 1889 - England 2 Scotland 3, The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington		HL	Start ?	or
			unsure who scored the 2nd goal
Age 21
4	38	15 March 1890 - Wales 1 England 3, The Racecourse, Wrexham	BC	AW	Start	or
5	40	5 April 1890 - Scotland 1 England 1, Hampden Park, Glasgow		AD	Start	or
Age 22
6	41	7 March 1891 - England 6 Ireland 1, Molineux, Wolverhampton	BC	HW	Start 63	or
7	43	4 April 1891 - England 2 Scotland 1, Ewood Park, Blackburn		HW	Start	or
Age 23
8	46	2 April 1892 - Scotland 1 England 4, Ibrox Park, Glasgow	BC	AW	Start	or
Age 24
9	48	13 March 1893 - England 6 Wales 0, Victoria Ground, Stoke-on-Trent	BC	HW	Start 47	or
10	49	1 April 1893 - England 5 Scotland 2, Athletic Ground, Richmond		HW	Start	or
Age 25
11	52	7 April 1894 - Scotland 2 England 2, Celtic Park, Glasgow	BC	AD	Start	or
Age 26
12	53	9 March 1895 - England 9 Ireland 0, County Ground, Derby	BC	HW	Start 30	or
13	55	6 April 1895 - England 3 Scotland 0, Goodison Park, Liverpool		HW	Start	or
Age 27
14	56	7 March 1896 - Ireland 0 England 2, Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast	BC	AW	Start	or
15	57	16 March 1896 - Wales 1 England 9, Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff		AW	Start 33	or
16	58	4 April 1896 - Scotland 2 England 1, Celtic Park, Glasgow		AL	Start 75	or
Age 28
-	59	20 February 1897 - England 6 Ireland 0, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham	BC	HW	withdrew
Age 30
FA Tour of Germany		23 November 1899 - Germany 2 England 13, Athletik-Sportsplatz, Berlin	tour	AW	Start	or
		24 November 1899 - Germany 2 England 10, Athletik-Sportsplatz, Berlin		AW	Start	or
		26 November 1899 - Austria 0 England 8, Stadión Letná, Praha		AW	Start	or
		28 November 1899 - Germany 0 England 7, Military Exercise Ground, Karlsruhe		AW	Start	or

Notes

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