Graham Billy Image 1 Norwich City 1939

Description

Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham born inside left Billy Graham began his football career with Hetton Juniors and played for Blyth Spartans in 1932, from where he was signed by Second Division club Burnley the same September, making his Football League debut at Millwall in December 1933, his only appearance of his breakthrough season. He scored twice for The Clarets in 4 further appearances during their 1934-35 campaign, but in May 1935 he signed for Lancashire divisional rivals Bury, where he saw more regular first team action during four seasons at Gigg Lane.

In 1936-37 Graham missed only four matches for The Shakers and scored 18 goals for the club, finishing joint top goalscorer along with Ernie Matthews, as Bury narrowly missed out on promotion to the top flight, finishing third, but he lost his place in their starting line up in September 1938 and made only 5 more appearances after Christmas before transferring to Second Division club Norwich City at the start of February 1939 after 30 goals in 85 appearances for Bury. Although he couldn’t prevent The Canaries’ relegation at the season end, he was a regular in their team until the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 forced the abandonment of peacetime football.

He remained on Norwich’s books during the War years and returned to make one further appearancein their 1946 FA Cup campaign, scoring in a 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at Carrow Road in January 1946, but he was released by Norwich after 5 goals in 21 appearances, joining non league Barry Town. He subsequently played for Aberaman Athletic in 1947 and Holywell Town in 1948 before his eventual retirement.