Bill Furby Explained

Bill Furby
Fullname:William Furby
Birth Date:1 May 1869
Birth Place:Leek, Staffordshire, England
Death Place:Worcester, England
Position:Half-back
Years1:1894–1895
Clubs1:Southampton St. Mary's
Caps1:5
Goals1:0
Years2:1895–????
Clubs2:Freemantle

William Furby (1 May 1869 – 1949)[1] was an English amateur footballer who played for Southampton St. Mary's in the club's first season in the Southern League.

Football career

Furby was one of several players from Staffordshire who joined St. Mary's in 1894.[2] His first recorded match was at centre-half in a Hampshire County Cricket Club Charity Cup tie on 18 April – he retained his place for the remaining two matches in this tournament including the final against Royal Artillery five days later, when he scored in a 5–0 victory.[3]

Although he was an adaptable half-back and a good crosser of the ball,[2] during the inaugural Southern League season, Furby's first-team opportunities were restricted due to the form of Ernie Taylor and Lachie Thomson. After only five league and two FA Cup outings, he left the "Saints" to join arch-rivals Freemantle.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Chalk . Gary . Holley . Duncan . Bull . David . All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC. 2013. Southampton . Hagiology Publishing. 978-0-9926-8640-6. 73.
  2. Book: Holley, Duncan . The Alphabet of the Saints. Chalk, Gary. ACL & Polar Publishing . 1992. 0-9514862-3-3. 134.
  3. Book: Chalk, Gary. Saints – A complete record. Holley, Duncan . Breedon Books. 1987. 0-907969-22-4 . 15.
  4. Book: Saints – A complete record. 16–17.