Billy Redfern

William Joseph Redfern Date of Birth: Oct 15, 1910

Born at Connahs Quay in 1910, Billy needed to move to Newry Town in Ireland to get decent level first team football where he soon caught the attention of Football League scouts attracted by his goalscoring abilities.

Newly promoted Luton fought off all-comers to take him to Kenilworth Road in September 1937 but he had to bide his time at first due to the form of Fred Roberts and Joe Payne. In his second season, with Payne gone and Roberts switched to the half-back line, he formed a devastating partnership with local boy Hugh Billington and with it the attentions of top flight clubs.

A swap deal with Derby County, which involved cash plus Reg Stockhill coming the other way, was arranged in the summer of 1939 but the outbreak of War put paid to Billy’s plans to play at the top level.

Billy played for Wrexham during the War and on retirement from the game opened a grocery shop in Connors Quay before passing away in the town in 1988.