Thomas Billy Image 1 Oldham Athletic 1932

Description

Chorlton, Manchester born right half Billy Thomas began his football career with Sutton Rovers, playing for St Helens Town in 1926 and for both Runcorn and Burscough Rangers in 1927 before joining Liverpool on amateur forms in February 1928, for whom he didn’t appear in their first eleven. He returned to Runcorn later in 1928 from where he signed as a professional for Second Division club Oldham Athletic in January 1929, making his Football League debut, and only appearance of his debut season, against Bradford Park Avenue that May.

He didn’t get another opportunity in The Latics’ first eleven until just after Christmas 1930, again his only appearance in their 1930-31 campaign, but broke into the first eleven on a more regular basis in 1931-32 when he played in 14 of Oldham’s fixtures. After a loan spell with Rhyl Athletic in the first half of the next season he played 7 more matches for Oldham from the year end to February 1933, before signing for Third Division (North) club Tranmere Rovers in May 1933 after 23 appearances for Oldham Athletic.

Still unable to break through into regular football, he made 7 appearances for Tranmere Rovers in 1933-34, signing for Rochdale in June 1934, where he scored his only career goal on his Dale debut in a home defeat to Halifax Town that September. But he remained on the fringe at Rochdale, also making just 7 appearances for them, joining non league Ashton National (now Hyde United) in the summer of 1935. He later returned to play for Runcorn in 1938 and his career was ended by the outbreak of the Second World War the following year.

NB in the image he sits on the right with Oldham Athletic teammate Jack Pears.