Billy Ingham
Encyclopedia
William Charles "Billy" Ingham (22 October 1952 – 7 November 2009) was an English
professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Born in Stakeford
, Ingham began his career with Football League Second Division
side Burnley
, making his senior debut in 1972. After eight years in the Burnley first team, he transferred to Bradford City
in 1980 for a fee of £30,000 and went on to play almost 80 league games before being forced to retire in 1982. He later played non-league football for Accrington Stanley
while working as a bus driver.
in Northumberland
but moved to Burnley
at the age of 15 when he was signed by Burnley F.C.
as an apprentice. Following his retirement from football, he continued to live in Burnley, and worked as a bus driver
for Burnley & Pendle
. In 2008, Ingham was taken ill and was given last rites in hospital. He returned home but failed to fully recover and on 7 November 2009, he died following the illness.
where he was affectionately known as "the Ginger Pele". After joining the club as an apprentice at the age of fifteen, he was promoted from the youth team in 1969 and made his first-team debut on 12 February 1972, coming on as a substitute for Alan West
in the 0–2 defeat to Hull City
in the Football League Second Division
. His first start for the club came on 3 April 1972 as the side lost 3–4 to Sunderland
. He went on to play 265 games for the Clarets in all competitions, scoring 31 goals between 1972 and 1980.
He was signed by Bradford City
manager George Mulhall
in 1980 for a fee of £30,000 and played 78 league games for the club in the following two seasons. He was part of the team which won promotion to the Football League Third Division
in 1982, although he missed the last two months of the season through an injury which eventually ended his playing career at the age of 29. After retirement from the professional game, Ingham played part-time non-league football
for Accrington Stanley
. Prior to the 1986–87 season, he was given the chance to return to Turf Moor
by then manager Brian Miller
, but he turned down the offer.
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...
professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Born in Stakeford
Stakeford
Stakeford is a village in south east Northumberland, England, about north of Newcastle upon Tyne. It lies across the River Wansbeck from Ashington, the nearest town. The village takes its name from the former river crossing to the north of the village, this was a crossing through the mudflats...
, Ingham began his career with Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
side Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, making his senior debut in 1972. After eight years in the Burnley first team, he transferred to Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
in 1980 for a fee of £30,000 and went on to play almost 80 league games before being forced to retire in 1982. He later played non-league football for Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
while working as a bus driver.
Personal life
Ingham was born in the village of StakefordStakeford
Stakeford is a village in south east Northumberland, England, about north of Newcastle upon Tyne. It lies across the River Wansbeck from Ashington, the nearest town. The village takes its name from the former river crossing to the north of the village, this was a crossing through the mudflats...
in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
but moved to Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
at the age of 15 when he was signed by Burnley F.C.
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
as an apprentice. Following his retirement from football, he continued to live in Burnley, and worked as a bus driver
Bus driver
A bus driver, bus operator or omnibus driver is a person who drives buses professionally. Bus drivers typically drive their vehicles between bus stations or stops. They often drop off and pick up passengers on a predetermined route schedule. In British English a different term, coach drivers, is...
for Burnley & Pendle
Burnley & Pendle
Transdev Burnley & Pendle is a bus operator running within the boroughs of Burnley and Pendle, and into the surrounding areas including Accrington, Keighley and the high profile express service to Manchester...
. In 2008, Ingham was taken ill and was given last rites in hospital. He returned home but failed to fully recover and on 7 November 2009, he died following the illness.
Football career
Ingham began his career with BurnleyBurnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
where he was affectionately known as "the Ginger Pele". After joining the club as an apprentice at the age of fifteen, he was promoted from the youth team in 1969 and made his first-team debut on 12 February 1972, coming on as a substitute for Alan West
Alan West (footballer)
Alan West is a retired English football central midfielder. He attended Greenfield Street boys secondary modern in Hyde, Cheshire.West began his career at Burnley, a product of the club's prolific youth system...
in the 0–2 defeat to Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
in the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. His first start for the club came on 3 April 1972 as the side lost 3–4 to Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
. He went on to play 265 games for the Clarets in all competitions, scoring 31 goals between 1972 and 1980.
He was signed by Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
manager George Mulhall
George Mulhall
George Mulhall is a Scottish former footballer and manager.Born in Falkirk, Scotland, Mulhall played as outside left who played at Aberdeen and Sunderland and was capped three times for Scotland before he became a manager for Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers and Halifax Town.-Playing career:Two of...
in 1980 for a fee of £30,000 and played 78 league games for the club in the following two seasons. He was part of the team which won promotion to the Football League Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
in 1982, although he missed the last two months of the season through an injury which eventually ended his playing career at the age of 29. After retirement from the professional game, Ingham played part-time non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
for Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C.
Accrington Stanley is an English association football club from Accrington in Lancashire, in the North West of England, who play in Football League Two, the fourth-highest division in the English football league system....
. Prior to the 1986–87 season, he was given the chance to return to Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
by then manager Brian Miller
Brian Miller (footballer)
Brian George Miller was a former professional footballer and England international who played as a wing back....
, but he turned down the offer.