Bertram Billy Image 2 Rochdale 1930

Description

Brandon, County Durham born inside forward Billy Bertram was born on the very last day of the nineteenth century and began his football career with Browney Colliery in 1914 before joining Durham City as an amateur in 1919 after the end of the First World War, before being signed by First Division Newcastle United for £150 in April 1920, making his Football League debut a few days later against Manchester City, playing twice more before the end of the season. However he spent 1920-21 in the reserves before joining Norwich City in May 1921, again for £150.

He had a single season in East Anglia, scoring 3 goals in 30 appearances for The Canaries before returning to the north east, initially with non league Leadgate Perkins in 1922. He returned to Football League action when he signed for Durham City in January 1923, where he was a near ever present for two and a half seasons scoring 28 goals in 105 appearances, including a hat-trick in a 4-3 win over Wrexham in April 1923, four goals in a 6-1 thumping of Grimsby Town in December 1925 and another treble on New Year’s Day 1925 in a 5-0 demolition of Lincoln City.

He joined Rochdale in May 1925 and helped them finish third in the Third Division (North) in 1925-26, and he was a consistent goalscorer during his six seasons at Spotland, his best season return being 18 goals in 32 games in 1928-29. He managed 4 goals for ‘Dale against Barrow in October 1929 as well as a hat-trick against Doncaster Rovers in April 1926 amongst his 74 goals in 206 appearances for Rochdale, before he left the club in the summer of 1931, having a trial with Accrington Stanley that October before finishing with professional football.