Furness Billy Image 3 Leeds United 1933

Description

New Washington, County Durham born inside left Billy Furness began his football career with Washington Colliery in 1926 and played for Usworth Colliery in 1927 before signing for Leeds United for a fee of £50 in August 1928, making his Football League debut against Middlesbrough in November 1929. By the following season he was a Leeds United regular and although they were relegated in 1930-31, his 12 goals helped Leeds to promotion at first time of asking in 1931-32 as Second Division runners up.

An ever present back in the First Division in 1932-33, he was rewarded with his solitary England cap awarded in a 1-1 draw with Italy in Rome in May 1933, the first ever match between the countries. In a memorable match against Leicester City on 7th April 1934 Furness, Harry Duggan, Joe Firth and Johnny Mahon each scored twice in an 8-0 victory, a game that remains Leeds’ best ever League win. His best season’s return was 17 goals in their 1934-35 campaign as Leeds narrowly avoided relegation, seven of those coming in the last 6 matches of the season.

In June 1937, Furness was transferred to Norwich City for a fee of £2,700 after nine years, 257 appearances and 66 goals for The Whites. At Carrow Road he only missed 3 games until peacetime football was abandoned due to the outbreak of the Second World War, and he resumed playing for City after the War, retiring in June 1947 after 23 goals in 99 matches for The Canaries. He stayed at Carrow Road as assistant trainer, head trainer until 1955 and latterly physiotherapist until 1963. In 2003 he was inducted into the Norwich City Hall of Fame.

NB In this photograph he appears n the far right with club captain Ernie Hart and centre forward Charlie Keetley.