Billy Kirton |
Aston Villa FC
1 appearance, 1 debut goal
P 1 W 0 D
1 L 0 F 1: A 1
50% successful
1921
captain: none
minutes played: 90 |
 |
Profile |
Full name |
William John Kirton |
Born |
2 December 1895 in
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland [registered in
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, March 1896]. Attended Todds Nook School, North Shields |
Birth notes |
All media states that Kirton was born in 1896. Not so, he was registered
in March 1896. The mistakes come from the fact that upon his death
registration, the birthdate of 2 December 1896 was stated, but his birth
registration does not back it up. His census returns give an age correct
to his 1895 birth. |
Census Notes |
According to the 1901
census, the five year old William J. is the second of two sons to Andrew
and Isabella. His father is a cabinet maker at they live at 248 Stanton
Street in Elswick, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. |
According to the 1911
census, fifteen year old William Kirton is now an office boy, still the
youngest of two sons and still living with his their parents at 248
Stanton Street. |
According to the 1939 register, William J., a
newsagent, and Margaret E. are still married and living 164 Old Oscott
Lane, in the Great Barr area of Birmingham. |
Married |
to
Margaret Eleanor Goodfellow
[registered in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, June 1921]. |
Died |
27 September
1970 in Hartopp Nursing Home, Sutton Coldfield, aged
74 years 299 days
[registered in Sutton Coldfield, September 1970]. |
Height/Weight |
5'
6½", 11st.
11lbs [1919]. 5'
7", 11st.
4lbs [1924]. |
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An
English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], FindMyPast.com &
OzWhite/AVFC database |
Club Career |
Club(s) |
Played local football in North
Shields, including Todd Nook's School, before appearing for Pandon
Temperance FC in 1917. Signed for Leeds City FC in May 1919, he had made one solitary City league
appearance, before being auctioned off to Aston Villa FC on 17
October 1919 for £400 after City folded. After 22 league appearances, in which
he scored 54 goals, he signed for Coventry City FC on 7 September
1928 and then Kidderminister Harriers FC from September 1930. He remained
a month before signing for Leamington Spa FC in October. Retiring soon
after. |
Club honours |
FA Cup
winners 1919-20, runners-up 1923-24; |
Individual honours |
None |
Distinctions |
None |
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An English
Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990]. |
England Career |
Player number |
One of five who
became the 421st players (424) to
appear for England |
Position(s) |
Inside-right |
Only match |
No.
127,
22 October 1921,
Ireland
1 England
1,
a British Championship match at
Windsor Park, Donegall Avenue, Belfast, aged 25 years
324 days.
 |
Major tournaments |
British Championships 1921-22; |
Team honours |
None |
Individual honours |
None |
Distinctions |
His father Andrew
was born in Aberdeen, Billy could have played for Scotland instead. |
Beyond England |
No information, but apparently ran a
newsagent's shop in Kingstanding, Birmingham, after his retirement. -
An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who.
Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.152. |