Bannister Billy Image 2 Leicester Fosse 1907

Description

Burnley, Lancashire born centre half Billy Bannister played his junior football with Earby before signing for hometown First Division club Burnley in 1899, making his Football League debut against Blackburn Rovers that October and playing 5 matches as Burnley were relegated come the end of the season. He scored a further 5 goals in 53 appearances over the next two seasons.

He received England recognition in March 1901 when he played against Wales at St James’ Park in a 6-0 England victory, and he also played twice for The Football League, before Bolton Wanderers signed him in November 1901 for £75, where he won his second England cap against Ireland in a 1-0 win at the Balmoral Showgrounds, Belfast in March 1902, but after just over a year at Burnden Park he transferred to Arsenal in December 1902, where he played 22 matches before moving to Leicester Fosse in May 1904.

While at Leicester he was described as “a brainy player, fearless in tackling an opponent, clever at making openings for his forwards, and an excellent shot at goal.” He had 6 seasons at Leicester where he was The Fossils’ club captain, scoring 18 goals in 160 appearances, winning promotion to the First Division with Leicester in 1907-08 when they finished Second Division runners up, before returning to Burnley in 1910, where he scored once in 5 appearances before joining Crewe Alexandra in 1912 and finishing his career with Leicester Imperial in 1913.