19 Billy Thornton

Biography

Versatile half back William “Billy” Thornton joined the Tigers in February 1905 and made 14 starts in friendly games during the next three months, contributing a goal against a Coldstream Guards XI on April Fools Day 1905 when he started at inside right. Retained for City’s first two Football League seasons, a combination of new signings and Thornton’s diminutive 5 foot 4 inch stature combined to deny him many first team chances. He made one League start in late September 1905 when he deputised at right half ahead of George Browell’s signing, then added a second appearance in late October 1905 when City sent a reserve team to Denaby United for an FA Cup tie on the same day that the first team played Manchester United in the League. Thornton remained at Hull City for another two years and scored for the Tigers in the 1907 East Riding Cup Final before his release in September 1907.

William Thornton was born in the Attercliffe district of Sheffield but was raised by his maternal aunt in Mexborough after his mother’s death at the age of 2. His uncle worked on the railways as a stationmaster where young William also worked as a telegraph messenger. In his late teens he began played football for local side Mexborough Victoria and after two years he signed for Division Two side Doncaster Rovers. In nine months with Rovers Billy was unable to break into the first team and moved on in February 1905.

Thornton signed for Denaby United in September 1907 and after one season he returned east and played for local league sides Beverley Old and Hull Orientals – when the Orientals collapsed in 1911 he joined Driffield Town, drawing his playing career to a close in 1913. During this period he was living with his wife and young family in the Sculcoates area of Hull, working as clerk for a coal agency he set up with a partner. During the First World War he served the Army as a dispatch rider in North Africa. After the conflict he returned to his home town Mexborough and worked as a weighman at Denaby Colliery. He remained in Mexborough for the rest of his life and died in June 1966.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 16 March 1883, Sheffield
Hull City First Game: 23 September 1905, Leeds City A (Division Two), 22 years, 191 days old
Hull City Final Game: 28 October 1905, Denaby United A (FA Cup Second Qualifying Round), 22 years, 226 days old

Clubs

Mexborough Victoria (1902-1904), Doncaster Rovers (1904-1905), Hull City (1905-1907), Denaby United (1907-1908), Beverley Old (1908-1909), Hull Orientals (1909-1911), Driffield Town (1911-1913)

Hull City Record

Career: 2 apps, 0 goals

Billy Thornton
SeasonLGE
App
LGE
Gls
FAC
App
FAC
Gls
FLC
App
FLC
Gls
EUR
App
EUR
Gls
OTH
App
OTH
Gls
1904/05----------
1905/061010------

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