| Bill Townsend | |
| Fullname: | William Townsend |
| Birth Date: | 27 December 1922 |
| Birth Place: | Bedworth, England |
| Death Place: | Thornton-Cleveleys, England |
| Position: | Goalkeeper |
| Youthclubs1: | Nuneaton Borough |
| Youthyears2: | 1939–1942 |
| Youthclubs2: | Derby County |
| Years1: | 1942–1953 |
| Clubs1: | Derby County |
| Caps1: | 79 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 1953–1957 |
| Clubs2: | Burton Albion |
| Years3: | 1957–1959 |
| Clubs3: | Banbury Spencer |
| Years4: | 1959–1960 |
| Clubs4: | Burton Albion |
| Manageryears1: | 1959–1960 |
| Managerclubs1: | Burton Albion (player-manager) |
| Manageryears2: | 1960–1962 |
| Managerclubs2: | Burton Albion |
William "Bill" Townsend (27 December 1922 – 21 December 1988)[1] was an English football player and manager. A goalkeeper he played for Nuneaton Borough, before moving to Derby County as a wartime guest, then becoming a professional player, he would then end his career at Burton Albion and Banbury Spencer. He would later return to Burton Albion as a player and later manager.
Townsend started his footballing career as a teenager at home town Nuneaton Borough before joining Derby County in 1939 as a wartime guest player.[1] He signed a professional deal in 1942[1] and became a regular member of the Derby side during the war.[2]
After World War II ended, Townsend made his Derby senior debut on 2 March 1946, in a FA Cup quarter final tie against Aston Villa in front of 74,588 fans at Villa Park.[3] [2] Towsend would play in the 2nd leg a week later which ended in a 1–1 draw at the Baseball Ground.[4] However Vic Woodley was not eligible to play in the games against Villa would play in the semi-final and the 1946 FA Cup final, so Townsend missed out on a winners medal.[2]
As league football returned the following season, Townsend would start as third choice keeper behind Woodley and Alick Grant.[5] In 1947–48, Woodley and Grant would both leave Derby and Townsend had three seasons where he came first choice goalkeeper.[5] Injuries however hit Townsend's time at Derby County and he missed Derby's 1947–48 FA Cup semi final loss against Manchester United.[6] Terry Webster and Harry Brown took over goalkeeping duties and when Ray Middleton joined in 1951, Townsend went two years and nine months without making a first team appearance.[5] Townsend would play four games in 1953, with his last game for Derby being in a 1–1 draw against Charlton Athletic on 7 February 1953.[7] Townsend left Derby in July 1953,[7] he played 93 times for Derby, 79 times in the Football League.[1]
Townsend would join Staffordshire club Burton Albion in July 1953,[1] he played in Burton's 0–0 FA Cup third draw against Halifax Town where made a string of impressive saves despite injuring a shoulder in the game.[8] In June 1957, Townsend would join Banbury Spencer.[1] He played for Banbury for two seasons.[9]
Townsend would return to Burton Albion in September 1959, as player-manager, Townsend would retire as a player in 1960 and he made 204 appearances in his two spells as a player.[8] Townsend would remain as manager of Burton until October 1962.[1]
After leaving Derby, Townsend became landlord of the Smiths' Arms in Branston.[10]
Townsend died 21 December 1988, six days short of his 66th birthday in Thornton-Cleveleys.[1]
In 2021, Townsend was posthumously inducted into the Burton Albion Hall of Fame.[10]