Billy Gillespie
Encyclopedia
Billy Gillespie was a football
player for Sheffield United
over a twenty year period from 1913 to 1932, scoring over 137 League and Cup goals in 492 games for the South Yorkshire
side.
Gillespie was born in Kerrykeel
, Donegal
, Ireland
. He is United's
most capped
player with 25 for Ireland
.
He held the IFA's
record for most international goals scored for 78 years with 13 goals. Gillespie's record was eventually equalled by Colin Clarke in 1992 and broken by David Healy
in 2004.
. In 1910, he was about to sign for Linfield
when Leeds City manager Frank Scott-Walford
persuaded him to turn professional and join the West Yorkshire
club.
Sheffield United signed Gillespie from Leeds City in December 1912 for £
500 for the maximum wage, then £4 per week.
He was held in such high regard in his home country that when he left United in 1932 to become player-manager of Derry City
they changed their strip to red and white stripes in reverence to him and the Blades.
He remained at Derry until 1940, taking on the role of full team manager during that time. A fierce looking inside forward
, Billy was team captain of Sheffield United between 1923 and 1930, leading United's FA Cup
triumph in 1925.
He had been denied another FA Cup Winner's medal in 1915 when he missed United's victory with a broken leg, received in the first game of the season against Sunderland on 2 September 1914.
.
In 1914, he was a part of the Ireland side that won the British Home Championship
outright after gaining wins over England and Wales
and a draw against Scotland
at Windsor Park
.
Gillespie is one of three players to have scored 7 goals against England.http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/matchstats.html?m=151
pointed out:
Never has Gillespie's generalship been more marked. No player on view trapped the ball so surely, retained it with such good judgement, and exhibited such power and precision in sending it either to the left or right wing or more delicately down the middle. Sheffield United played wonderfully well but special praise is due to Gillespie, the Man who waves a wand and whose influence has played such a vital part in United's capture of the Cup.
Billy died in his sleep in Bexley
, Kent
on 2 July 1981, aged 89.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player for Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
over a twenty year period from 1913 to 1932, scoring over 137 League and Cup goals in 492 games for the South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
side.
Gillespie was born in Kerrykeel
Kerrykeel
Kerrykeel is a small village in County Donegal, Ireland. It lies between Knockalla Mountain, Ranny hill and the scenic Mulroy Bay.It consists of supermarkets and small pubs, and Kerrykeel Motors and Donegal Creameries PLC...
, Donegal
Donegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. He is United's
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
most capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
player with 25 for Ireland
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
.
He held the IFA's
Irish Football Association
The Irish Football Association is the organising body for association football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for Ireland...
record for most international goals scored for 78 years with 13 goals. Gillespie's record was eventually equalled by Colin Clarke in 1992 and broken by David Healy
David Healy (footballer)
David Jonathan Healy, MBE is a Northern Ireland international footballer who plays as a striker for Scottish Premier League champions Rangers...
in 2004.
Club career
Gillespie started his footballing career with Institute F.C.Institute F.C.
Institute F.C. is a Northern Irish intermediate football club who play in IFA Championship 1.The club, founded in 1905, are based in the Drumahoe area of Derry and play their home matches at the Riverside Stadium in the YMCA Grounds...
. In 1910, he was about to sign for Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
when Leeds City manager Frank Scott-Walford
Frank Scott-Walford
Frank Scott-Walford was an English football manager.In his playing days, he had kept goal as an amateur with Tottenham Hotspur and played subsequently for Lincoln City, Small Heath and Aston Villa...
persuaded him to turn professional and join the West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
club.
Sheffield United signed Gillespie from Leeds City in December 1912 for £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
500 for the maximum wage, then £4 per week.
He was held in such high regard in his home country that when he left United in 1932 to become player-manager of Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
they changed their strip to red and white stripes in reverence to him and the Blades.
He remained at Derry until 1940, taking on the role of full team manager during that time. A fierce looking inside forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, Billy was team captain of Sheffield United between 1923 and 1930, leading United's FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
triumph in 1925.
He had been denied another FA Cup Winner's medal in 1915 when he missed United's victory with a broken leg, received in the first game of the season against Sunderland on 2 September 1914.
International career
His first cap came in 1913, his two goals giving Ireland their very first victory over EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
In 1914, he was a part of the Ireland side that won the British Home Championship
1914 British Home Championship
The 1914 British Home Championship was the last British Home Championship played before the First World War. The competition was played between January and April 1914 and won by Ireland with a team that included Patrick O’Connell, Billy Gillespie, Val Harris, Louis Bookman, Samuel Young and Bill...
outright after gaining wins over England and Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
and a draw against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
at Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
.
Gillespie is one of three players to have scored 7 goals against England.http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/matchstats.html?m=151
International goals
Scores and results list Ireland/Northern Ireland's goal tally first.| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 February 1913 | Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... , Ireland Ireland Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth... |
2-1 | 1913 British Home Championship 1913 British Home Championship The 1913 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations. An evenly matched tournament, all four sides won at least one game and the competition could have gone any way, as Ireland showed the following year when they won their first undisputed... |
|
| 2 | 15 February 1913 | Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... , Ireland Ireland Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth... |
2-1 | 1913 British Home Championship 1913 British Home Championship The 1913 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations. An evenly matched tournament, all four sides won at least one game and the competition could have gone any way, as Ireland showed the following year when they won their first undisputed... |
|
| 3 | 19 January 1914 | Wrexham Wrexham Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England... , Wales Wales Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²... |
2-1 | 1914 British Home Championship 1914 British Home Championship The 1914 British Home Championship was the last British Home Championship played before the First World War. The competition was played between January and April 1914 and won by Ireland with a team that included Patrick O’Connell, Billy Gillespie, Val Harris, Louis Bookman, Samuel Young and Bill... |
|
| 4 | 19 January 1914 | Wrexham Wrexham Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England... , Wales Wales Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²... |
2-1 | 1914 British Home Championship 1914 British Home Championship The 1914 British Home Championship was the last British Home Championship played before the First World War. The competition was played between January and April 1914 and won by Ireland with a team that included Patrick O’Connell, Billy Gillespie, Val Harris, Louis Bookman, Samuel Young and Bill... |
|
| 5 | 14 February 1914 | Middlesbrough Middlesbrough Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire... , England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... |
3-0 | 1914 British Home Championship 1914 British Home Championship The 1914 British Home Championship was the last British Home Championship played before the First World War. The competition was played between January and April 1914 and won by Ireland with a team that included Patrick O’Connell, Billy Gillespie, Val Harris, Louis Bookman, Samuel Young and Bill... |
|
| 6 | 22 October 1921 | Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... , Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west... |
1-1 | 1922 British Home Championship 1922 British Home Championship The 1922 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played during the 1921–22 season between the British Home Nations. Scotland were victorious as part of a string of seven victories during the 1920s... |
|
| 7 | 4 March 1922 | Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... , Scotland Scotland Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the... |
1-2 | 1922 British Home Championship 1922 British Home Championship The 1922 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played during the 1921–22 season between the British Home Nations. Scotland were victorious as part of a string of seven victories during the 1920s... |
|
| 8 | 1 April 1922 | Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... , Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west... |
1-1 | 1922 British Home Championship 1922 British Home Championship The 1922 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played during the 1921–22 season between the British Home Nations. Scotland were victorious as part of a string of seven victories during the 1920s... |
|
| 9 | 14 April 1923 | Wrexham Wrexham Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England... , Wales Wales Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²... |
3-0 | 1923 British Home Championship 1923 British Home Championship The 1923 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1922–23 season. It was won by the strongest of the Home Nations during the decade, Scotland who almost whitewashed the other three nations but ultimately were held to a 2–2... |
|
| 10 | 20 October 1923 | Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... , Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west... |
2-1 | 1924 British Home Championship 1924 British Home Championship The 1924 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played during the 1923–24 season between the British Home Nations... |
|
| 11 | 22 October 1924 | Liverpool Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880... , England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... |
1-3 | 1925 British Home Championship 1925 British Home Championship The 1925 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1924/25 season. It was one of six tournaments in seven years won by the strong Scottish team of the early 1920s, and was achieved with a whitewash of all three rivals, including England... |
|
| 12 | 13 February 1926 | Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... , Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west... |
3-0 | 1926 British Home Championship 1926 British Home Championship The 1926 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played during the 1925–26 season between the British Home Nations... |
|
| 13 | 20 October 1926 | Liverpool Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880... , England England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... |
3-3 | 1927 British Home Championship 1927 British Home Championship The 1927 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1926–27 season. It was shared by England and Scotland after a series of high scoring draws in the opening matches left England, Wales and Ireland well behind with Scotland ahead,... |
Other information
Ivan Sharpe, a leading columnist of the day, who wrote in the Athletic News about the 1925 FA Cup Final1925 FA Cup Final
The 1925 FA Cup Final was contested by Sheffield United and Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium. Sheffield United won by a single goal, scored by Fred Tunstall....
pointed out:
Never has Gillespie's generalship been more marked. No player on view trapped the ball so surely, retained it with such good judgement, and exhibited such power and precision in sending it either to the left or right wing or more delicately down the middle. Sheffield United played wonderfully well but special praise is due to Gillespie, the Man who waves a wand and whose influence has played such a vital part in United's capture of the Cup.
Billy died in his sleep in Bexley
Bexley
Bexley is an South East London]] in the London Borough of Bexley, London, England. It is located on the banks of the River Cray south of the Roman Road, Watling Street...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
on 2 July 1981, aged 89.
Sheffield United career
| Season | Division | League Apps | League Goals | FA Cup Apps | FA Cup Goals | Other Apps | Other Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1911–12 | One | 17 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 11 |
| 1912–13 | One | 25 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 9 |
| 1913–14 | One | 30 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 14 |
| 1914–15 | One | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1915–16 | Midland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 10 | 30 | 10 |
| 1916–17 | Midland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 6 | 24 | 6 |
| 1917–18 | Midland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| 1918–19 | Midland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1919–20 | One | 29 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 4 |
| 1920–21 | One | 33 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 4 |
| 1921–22 | One | 31 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 14 |
| 1922–23 | One | 34 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 45 | 13 |
| 1923–24 | One | 38 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 41 | 16 |
| 1924–25 | One | 38 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 9 |
| 1925–26 | One | 39 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 13 |
| 1926–27 | One | 38 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 11 |
| 1927–28 | One | 34 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 6 |
| 1928–29 | One | 30 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 7 |
| 1929–30 | One | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 5 |
| 1930–31 | One | 16 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 5 |
| 1931–32 | One | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 448 | 127 | 44 | 9 | 71 | 25 | 563 | 161 |