Moore Billy Image 1 Stoke City 1937

Description

Born in Washington, Tyne and Wear, wing half Billy Moore played for Walker Celtic in the early 1930’s before joining First Division Stoke City for whom he made his Football League debut against Middlesbrough in September 1936 and made only four appearances for Stoke in defence over two seasons. In 1938 he moved to Mansfield Town and scored a goal against Walsall when playing in the FA Jubilee match in 1939. He also played once for Mansfield in a (subsequently abandoned) League fixture in August 1939, and the advent of the Second World War effectively ended his senior playing career.

After the War Moore was appointed trainer of Notts County, who at the time were managed by former Aston Villa and England forward Eric Houghton. Tommy Lawton and Jackie Sewell were two of the star players under Moore’s supervision at Meadow Lane. When Houghton returned to Villa Park as manager, Bill Moore went with him as right-hand man and he played a big part in Villa’s FA Cup triumph over Manchester United in 1957.

In the December following that Wembley victory, Moore was asked to take over from Jack Love as manager of Walsall who had been going through a difficult time and were in deep trouble at the foot of Third Division (South). In no time at all he rallied the players, re-election was averted, the Fourth Division title was won in 1960 and 12 months later promotion gained to the Second Division as Third Division runners up.

After Walsall slipped back into the Third Division in 1963, in the most unfortunate of circumstances, being reduced to nine men in the final game of the season from which they needed a point but ended up going down by two goals to one against Charlton Athletic, Moore left Fellows Park in November 1963 to take up a scouting position with Fulham. He returned to Fellows Park in February 1969, to succeed Ron Lewin, and over the next three years developed players such as Phil Parkes and Ray Train. But as financial problems loomed large, Moore resigned his post in October 1972 after a disagreement with coach John Smith over a substitution.