Guest Billy Image 1 Birmingham City 1935

Description

Brierley Hill born outside left Billy Guest played local football for Brierley Hill Juniors and Kingswinford club Bromley before joining First Division Birmingham’s ground staff as a 14 year old in August 1928, turning professional in February 1931, and making his Football League debut at Arsenal in August 1933. Having quickly established himself in the Birmingham first eleven, scoring a hat-trick in a 7-3 win over Leicester at Filbert Street in April 1934, he was sold to Blackburn Rovers in January 1937 after 17 goals in 84 appearances. During his first months at Ewood Park he scored four times in a 9-1 demolition of Nottingham Forest in April 1937. He was an ever present and Rovers’ second top goalscorer in 1937-38 with 18 goals but the following season only made 8 League appearances as Blackburn won the 1939 Second Division Championship. His career was then interrupted by the Second World War.

During the War, he won a runners-up medal with Blackburn Rovers in the 1940 Football League War Cup Final as they lost 1-0 to Weat Ham United at Wembley. He also guested for several clubs including West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City. After the conflict he returned to Ewood Park and made a further 24 appearances during 1946-47 before joining Walsall in August 1947 having scored 32 goals in 94 appearances for Rovers. His spell at Walsall lasted a single season and 5 first team appearances. He went on to play for Peterborough United in the Midland League in 1948, for Kidderminster Harriers in 1949 and Lovell’s Athletic in the Southern League in 1950, and then for Hinckley Athletic in 1951 and Bilston United in 1952.