Billy Kingdon
Encyclopedia
William "Billy" Issacher Garfield Kingdon (25 June 1907 – 18 March 1977) was an English footballer who played, as a wing-half, over 240 games for Aston Villa
.
and after playing for Kidderminster Harriers
, joined Aston Villa in 1925. In his time at Villa Park, Villa were moderately successful, reaching the Football League runners-up position twice, in 1930–31 and 1932–33, and the FA Cup
semi-final in 1933–34. After this there came a period of decline, culminating in relegation in 1935–36
, thereby becoming the last of the founder members of the football league to lose top flight status for the first time. Kingdon left Villa 1936 to join Southampton
he displayed "a nice line in distribution and looked to be an asset". In 1936–37 he formed a useful partnership with fellow half-backs Bill Kennedy
and Cyril King
and only missed one game, although Southampton struggled near the bottom of the Second Division. He briefly became team captain until, in September 1937, new manager Tom Parker
acquired the services of Scottish international Frank Hill
, who had won the Football League title three times with Arsenal
(in 1932–33
, 1933–34
and 1934–35
). Hill immediately took over both the captaincy and Bill's No. 6 shirt, and after Hill's arrival, Kingdon only made one further appearance, and in January 1938 joined Yeovil & Petters United
as player-manager.
, but in 1946 he returned to his trade as a carpenter
. In 1947 he accepted the position as manager at Weymouth
, combining this with running the Fountain Hotel in Weymouth.
He died in Weymouth in March 1977, aged 71.
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
.
Aston Villa
Kingdon was born in WorcesterWorcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
and after playing for Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
, joined Aston Villa in 1925. In his time at Villa Park, Villa were moderately successful, reaching the Football League runners-up position twice, in 1930–31 and 1932–33, and the 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...
semi-final in 1933–34. After this there came a period of decline, culminating in relegation in 1935–36
1935-36 in English football
The 1935–36 season was the 61st season of competitive football in England.-Events:Sunderland AFC won the league, and in doing so they remain the last team to win the English League while wearing striped jerseys...
, thereby becoming the last of the founder members of the football league to lose top flight status for the first time. Kingdon left Villa 1936 to join Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
Southampton
At SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
he displayed "a nice line in distribution and looked to be an asset". In 1936–37 he formed a useful partnership with fellow half-backs Bill Kennedy
Bill Kennedy (footballer)
William Kennedy was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half back with various clubs in the 1930s.-Playing career:...
and Cyril King
Cyril King (footballer)
Cyril William King, is a former English professional footballer who played his entire career, as a half back, with Southampton in the 1930s.-Playing career:...
and only missed one game, although Southampton struggled near the bottom of the Second Division. He briefly became team captain until, in September 1937, new manager Tom Parker
Tom Parker (footballer)
Thomas Robert "Tom" Parker was an English football player and manager.-Southampton:Born in Woolston, Southampton, Parker began playing with local sides, such as Sholing Rangers and Sholing Athletic, before joining Southern League side Southampton as an amateur in 1918, just before the end of the...
acquired the services of Scottish international Frank Hill
Frank Hill
Frank Robert Hill was a Scottish football player and manager.-Forfar and Aberdeen:Hill was born in Forfar and started his career at Forfar Athletic, joining the club in 1924. He moved to Aberdeen in 1928 and played over 100 Scottish First Division matches...
, who had won the Football League title three times with Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
(in 1932–33
1932-33 in English football
The 1932–33 season was the 58th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
, 1933–34
1933-34 in English football
The 1933–34 season was the 59th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
and 1934–35
1934-35 in English football
The 1934–35 season was the 60th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Arsenal become only the second team to win the League three consecutive times.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
). Hill immediately took over both the captaincy and Bill's No. 6 shirt, and after Hill's arrival, Kingdon only made one further appearance, and in January 1938 joined Yeovil & Petters United
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
as player-manager.
Yeovil Town
He remained with Yeovil for the duration of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but in 1946 he returned to his trade as a carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
. In 1947 he accepted the position as manager at Weymouth
Weymouth F.C.
Weymouth F.C. are an English football club based in the town of Weymouth, who currently play in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:Weymouth Football Club were founded in 1890 and played their first game on 24 September of that year...
, combining this with running the Fountain Hotel in Weymouth.
He died in Weymouth in March 1977, aged 71.