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23 February 2022
 
 

Billy Betts

Wednesday FC

1 appearance, 0 goals

P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 F 4: A 1
100% successful

1889

captain: none
minutes played:
90

Timeline

  William Betts
Birth Saturday, 26 March 1864 in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire
  registered in Sheffield January-March 1864
Baptism Sunday, 15 May 1864 at St Peter's & St Paul's Cathedral, Sheffield. Living in Russell Street.
Education Attended Pitsmoor School
 

According to the 1871 census, seven year-old William is the second eldest of four children to William and Mary Anne (née Cook), living on Barnsley Road, Brightside Bierlow in Sheffield. His father was a file cutter.

 

According to the 1881 census, now a file cutter himself, William is the eldest of three children still living with their parents at 37 Haywood Road in Brightside Brierlow.

First marriage to Charlotte Taylor, on Sunday, 30 July 1882 at St Phillip's Church, Shalesmoor
  registered in Sheffield July-September 1882
Children Billy and Charlotte Betts had nine children together. George Edward (b.12 October 1882), Harry (b.27 February 1885), William Herbert (b.1889), Harold (b.24 February 1891), Lottie (b.24 January 1893), Leonard (b.30 May 1896), May (b.16 February 1898) and Annie (b.1903).
 

According to the 1891 census, William is now married to Charlotte, and they have four sons, George, Harry, William and five-week old Harold. They live with the in-laws, the Taylors, at 52 Danville Street in Brightside Brierlow. William is a gas stoker.

 

According to the 1901 census, still married and still a gas stoker, and now with three more children, Lottie, Leonard and May. All living in 93 Mulehouse Lane in Nether Hallam, Ecclesall Bierlow.

 

According to the 1911 census, still married with five of his children with him, one of them new in the past ten years, Annie. All living at 26 Lonsdale Road in Ecclesall Bierlow. He is now a Foreman gas stoker.
(His wife Charlotte Betts died in 1918)

Second marriage to Charlotte Payling, in early 1919, in Wortley
  registered in Wortley January-March 1919
Neither William or Charlotte can be found on the 1921 census.
(His eldest son, George Edward Betts, died on 19 August 1925, this third son, William Herbert Betts, died on 13 July 1935)
  According to the 1939 register, William and Charlotte are still married, they are living at 965 Penistone Road in Sheffield. William is a retired assistant groundsman. His son, Harold and his wife, Annie, live at 957.
Death Friday, 8 August 1941 in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire
aged 77 years 135 days registered in Sheffield July-September 1941
  the second Charlotte Betts died in 1961.

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], Jason Dickinson's Sheffield Wednesday Who's Who [2005] &

=Playing Career


Club(s)
Began his football playing as a full-back for his school team, Pitsmoor FC, and then onto Parkwood Rovers FC (the Burton Star FC reserve side), Clarence FC and then for Pyebank FC in 1881-82. Heeley FC invited Betts to play for them after he played against them in the Sheffield Cup Final. The following season, 1882-83, Betts was invited to assist Wednesday FC, whilst still turning out for Pyebank. In 1883-84, he was playing with Lockwood Brothers FC, where he became a half-back. Also played one match for Lincoln City FC after he was loaned to them by Lockwood Bros. Betts played against Sheffield Club on Saturday, 21 March 1885. Returned to the Wednesday club from the following season, turning professional with them in 1887. Despite efforts from Preston North End FC and Sheffield United FC to secure his services, Betts remained until 1895, becoming the popular club captain.
League History
49 appearances, three goals
Wednesday FC 1892-95, 49 appearances, three goals.
debut: 3 September 1892 Notts County FC 0 Wednesday FC 1.
last: 12 April 1895 Preston North End FC 3 Wednesday FC 1.
Club honours Sheffield Challenge Cup runners-up 1881-82, winners 1883-84, 1884-85; Wharncliffe Charity Cup runners-up 1881-82;
Football Alliance winners
1889-90;
FA Cup
runners-up 1889-90;
Football League best finish: - Division One, eighth place, 1894-95 (1ᵃ 1ᵍ).
Individual honours Sheffield FA

Distinctions
Bett's grandson is Sheffield Wednesday FC's left-winger Dennis Woodhead (1947-55), born 12 June 1925. His father, Joseph Woodhead married Billy's youngest daughter, Annie, in Wortley, in 1923.
Billy Betts' benefit match was played on 23 April 1894 between Wednesday club and Liverpool FC, the recent League Division Two winners. Wednesday won 4-0 in front of 3,000, with receipts of over £56.
He was also an accomplished cricketer, turning out for Pitsmoor United CC, Yorkshire Colts CC and the Neepsend Gas Company CC, winning many local honours
Height/Weight 5' 8", 11st. 8lbs [1891].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], Jason Dickinson's Sheffield Wednesday Who's Who [2005] & Lincoln's Gary Parle.

England Career

Player number One of five who became the 152nd player (154) to appear for England.
Position(s) Left-half
Only match No. 35, 23 February 1889, England 4 Wales 1, a British Championship match at Victoria Ground, Boothen, Stoke-upon-Trent, aged 24 years 334 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1888-89;
Distinctions Died just two days after Harry Cursham

Beyond England

Later Wednesday's groundsman and from 1922, the club's trainer. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.33/34.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes captain
2 1 1 90 0 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
1 1 0 0 4 1 +4 0 0 4 1 100 +1
His only match was played in the British Championship competition and at a home venue

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1888-89 1 1 0 0 4 1 +4 0 0 4.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC All 1 1 0 0 4 1 +4 0 0 4.00 1.00 100.0 +1

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1 1 0 0 4 1 +4 0 0 4.00 1.00 100.0 +1
1 1 0 0 4 1 +4 0 0 4 1 100 +1

Match History

 Club: Wednesday F.C. - one full appearance (90 min) F.A. International Select Committee - one full appearance (90 min)x

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 24
1 35 23 February 1889 - England 4 Wales 1
Victoria Ground, Stoke-upon-Trent
BC HW   ih

one of five who became the 152nd player (154) to appear for England
the seventh player from the Wednesday club to represent England

36 2 March 1889 - England 6 Ireland 1,, Anfield Road, Liverpool BC/em> HW withdrew
  


     

 
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