Balmer Billy Image 3 Everton 1905

Description

West Derby, Liverpool born rightl back Billy Balmer began his football career with Aintree Church in 1895 and joined First Division Everton in 1897 from Blackpool’s South Shore, making his Football League debut at West Bromwich Albion in November 1897. In his debut season he played for Everton in the 1898 FA Cup semi final as they lost to Derby County at Molineux. He was a tough tackling full back who could play on either side of the pitch with equal assurance, on some 50 occasions he partnered his brother Bob in the Everton defence. He played 331 games over eleven seasons at Goodison Park scoring once, a penalty at Nottingham Forest in February 1900, and played his last match in April 1908.

In February 1905 he was selected to play for England against Ireland at Ayresome Park, and he also played once for The Football League against The Scottish League at Ibrox Park in March 1901. He was in the Everton teams which were runners-up in the Football League in 1901-02 and 1904-05 and was part of the team that lost the 1905 FA Cup semi final to eventual winners Aston Villa in a replay at The City Ground, Nottingham. The next season he played in Everton’s 1906 FA Cup Final triumph when they beat Newcastle United in the Final at The Crystal Palace, and he played in the FA Cup Final a year later when Everton lost 2-1 to Sheffield Wednesday, also at The Crystal Palace. He joined Southern League Croydon Common in 1908 scoring once in 46 matches over the next two seasons, before joining Chester City in 1912. He became trainer at Huddersfield Town in 1921.

His younger brother Bob Balmer played only for Everton, and he was also the uncle of Everton and Liverpool’s Jackie Balmer.