Billy Silto
Encyclopedia
Billy Silto was a former footballer who played at centre half
for Barnsley
and Swindon Town
.
After injury caused a £1000 transfer to Aston Villa to fall through, Silto joined Swindon during the summer of 1909, after being released by Barnsley, who suspected he was injury-prone. These fears proved unfounded, however, as he went on to make well over 200 appearances for Swindon over the following eleven years - and without the interruption of the First World War, it would have been far more.
Such were Silto's performances in the Swindon team, that he was recognised as the understudy to the England
half-back Fatty Wedlock for many seasons, and though he joined up with the England squad on many occasions, the only appearances he made were on an unofficial tour of South Africa in 1910.
After retirement, Silto settled in the Swindon area where the sporting heritage would continue with his son Joseph Silto playing and later captaining England at Table Tennis
.
Like former Swindon Town
team-mate Harold Fleming, a street was named 'Silto Court' in the town in recognition of the International sporting achievements by both generations of the family.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
and Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
.
After injury caused a £1000 transfer to Aston Villa to fall through, Silto joined Swindon during the summer of 1909, after being released by Barnsley, who suspected he was injury-prone. These fears proved unfounded, however, as he went on to make well over 200 appearances for Swindon over the following eleven years - and without the interruption of the First World War, it would have been far more.
Such were Silto's performances in the Swindon team, that he was recognised as the understudy to the England
England 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...
half-back Fatty Wedlock for many seasons, and though he joined up with the England squad on many occasions, the only appearances he made were on an unofficial tour of South Africa in 1910.
After retirement, Silto settled in the Swindon area where the sporting heritage would continue with his son Joseph Silto playing and later captaining England at Table Tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
.
Like former Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
team-mate Harold Fleming, a street was named 'Silto Court' in the town in recognition of the International sporting achievements by both generations of the family.