Bill Paddock
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Bill Paddock
| image =
| fullname = William Paddock
| birth_date = 6 February 1862
| birth_place = West Bromwich, England
| death_date = April 1938
| death_place = West Bromwich, England
| height =
| position = Winger
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
|years1 = –1886
|clubs1 = West Bromwich Unity
| years2 = 1886–88
| clubs2 = West Bromwich Albion
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 =
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| club-update =
| ntupdate =
}}
Bill Paddock (6 February 1862 – April 1938){{cite book |last1=Matthews |first1=Tony |title=The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion |date=2005 |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby |isbn=1-85983-474-4 |page=170}} was an English footballer who played as a winger and inside-left for West Bromwich Albion in the 1880s.
Career
Paddock was born in West Bromwich and played for Christ Church School and West Bromwich Unity before joining West Bromwich Albion in 1886. His first competitive game for the club was in the first round of the 1886–87 FA Cup, a 6–0 win over Burton Wanderers in which he scored one of the goals.{{cite book |last1=Matthews |first1=Tony |title=Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879–1987 |date=1987 |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby}} He was quickly reckoned to be a "valuable man in the left wing of the Albion ; he quick and sure, and he is splendid shot for goal."{{cite journal |title=Football notes |journal=Birmingham Mail |date=13 October 1886 |page=4}}
He was a regular in the side up to and including the 1887 FA Cup Final, in which he picked up a runners-up medal.{{cite journal |title=Aston Villa v West Bromwich Albion |journal=Birmingham Post |date=4 April 1887 |page=7}} It was one of three finals in which he appeared in the 1886–87 season; he scored in Albion's 4–0 win over Walsall Swifts in the final of the Staffordshire Senior Cup (the week after the FA Cup final),{{cite book |last1=Matthews |first1=Tony |title=Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879–1987 |date=1987 |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby|page=206}} but was on the losing side against Long Eaton Rangers in the Birmingham Senior Cup.{{cite journal |title=Birmingham & District Cup - Final Tie |journal=Birmingham Daily Post |date=9 May 1887 |page=7}}
Paddock was forced to retire from the game because of a knee injury after the 1887–88 season;{{cite book |last1=Matthews |first1=Tony |title=The Who's Who of West Bromwich Albion |date=2005 |publisher=Breedon Books |location=Derby |isbn=1-85983-474-4 |page=170}} although named as one of the club's registered professionals at the start of the season,{{cite journal |title=The Football Association |journal=Morning Post |date=21 September 1887 |page=3}} he did not featured in any of the club's competitive matches.
Family
Bill's brother Jack was a player and trainer for West Bromwich Albion, and Jack's son John later played for the club.{{cite book |last1=Kent |first1=Jeff |title=Port Vale Personalities |date=1996 |publisher=Witan Books |isbn=0-9529152-0-0 |page=224}}