Billy Thirlaway

Billy Thirlaway

Born in Washington, County Durham in 1896, Billy was playing for a pit side when he was enticed south by West Ham in 1921.

A short, stockily built and balding right winger he did not look like a footballer but his speed and directness earned him a place in the Hammers side. After a good first season a loss of form meant that he turned out only three times over the next two seasons so he tried his luck at Southend for half a season before turning up at Kenilworth Road in February 1925.

Remaining ever-present for the remainder of that campaign he became a crowd favourite on the right wing with several match winning performances so it came as a shock when he sent a telegram to the club’s directors that summer saying that he had signed for South Shields! This caused a major stir at the time but eventually the transfer was sanctioned.

Billy then gave good service to South Shields, Birmingham and particularly Cardiff before finishing up back where it all started at Usworth Colliery.

Billy passed away in Sunderland in 1983.