Bill Whatley (footballer) explained

Bill Whatley
Fullname:William Whatley
Birth Date:1912 10, df=y
Birth Place:Ebbw Vale, Wales
Death Place:Shooter's Hill, England
Position:Left back
Height:5 ft 7+1/2 in[1]
Years1:1930–1931
Years2:1931–1932
Years3:1932–1939
Clubs1:Ebbw Vale
Clubs2:Northfleet United
Clubs3:Tottenham Hotspur
Caps3:226
Goals3:2
Nationalyears1:1938
Nationalteam1:Wales
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Managerclubs1:Gravesend and Northfleet

William Whatley (12 October 1912 – 1 December 1974[2]) was a professional footballer who played for Tottenham Hotspur and was also a Welsh international footballer during the latter part of the 1930s.

Career

Bill Whatley joined Tottenham Hotspur from Ebbw Vale as an amateur on 31 December 1931.[3] During his early days at Spurs he played for Barnet F.C. on occasion alongside other young Welsh Tottenham players, Taffy O'Callaghan and Ron Burgess, before making his debut for the first team in 1932. Playing as full-back he made 254 appearances scoring two goals during his career, which was interrupted by the start of the Second World War in 1939. During the latter part of his playing career in 1938 he was in competition for his first team place with Bill Nicholson.

He played for Wales against England in the 1938 British Home Championship when the Welsh won 4–2 at Ninian Park.[4] Later the same year he played alongside fellow Spurs player Ron Burgess and after war broke out in a 'Wartime International' match, again against England in a match which was drawn 1–1. He also won representative honours whilst with the Forces.[5]

After retiring as a player he continued as a coach and scout for Tottenham. After leaving Spurs he went on to manage Gravesend and Northfleet.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: 'Spurs. The Hall-mark of soccer . Sunday Dispatch Football Guide . London . 23 August 1936 . vi . Newspapers.com.
  2. Web site: England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007. Ancestry.com. 15 August 2013.
  3. News: Bill Whatley THFC site.
  4. News: Bill Whatley on England FC site. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20061207050245/http://www.englandfc.com/MatchData/yearbyyear.php?start=1935&end=1940&gender=M&level=FULL. 2006-12-07.
  5. News: Bill Whatley on the Welsh Football Development site. 2008-02-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20070704125136/http://www.wfda.co.uk/international_details_wartime.php?id=1. 2007-07-04. dead.
  6. News: Bill Whately on the MEHSTG site. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080310024753/http://archive.mehstg.com/whatley_fact.htm. 2008-03-10.