Billy Abercromby

{{Short description|Scottish footballer (1958–2024)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2012}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Billy Abercromby

| image =

| full_name = William Abercromby

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1958|9|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Paisley, Scotland

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|6||1958|9|14|df=y}}

| death_place =

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 = 1975–1976

| youthclubs1 = St Mirren

| years1 = 1976–1988

| clubs1 = St Mirren

| caps1 = 288

| goals1 = 15

| years2 = 1988–1989

| clubs2 = Partick Thistle

| caps2 = 10

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 1989–1990

| clubs3 = Dunfermline Athletic

| caps3 = 9

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 1990

| clubs4 = Cowdenbeath

| caps4 = 4

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 1990–1991

| clubs5 = East Stirlingshire

| caps5 = 5

| goals5 = 0

| totalcaps = 316

| totalgoals = 15

}}

William Abercromby (14 September 1958 – June 2024) was a Scottish footballer who played as a midfielder.

Abercromby came through the youth ranks at St Mirren and signed a full professional contract in 1975.{{cite web|author=Andrew Newport|url=http://icrenfrewshire.icnetwork.co.uk/lifestyle/tm_headline=aber-my-day-of-reckoning&method=full&objectid=23448738&siteid=87085-name_page.html |title=Aber: My day of reckoning |publisher=Icrenfrewshire.icnetwork.co.uk |accessdate=9 June 2017 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216070246/http://icrenfrewshire.icnetwork.co.uk/lifestyle/tm_headline%3Daber-my-day-of-reckoning%26method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D23448738%26siteid%3D87085-name_page.html |archivedate=16 February 2012 }} A year later he experienced his first involvement with the first team squad when Sir Alex Ferguson called him into the squad to tour the West Indies.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

On 29 October 1986, Abercromby was sent off for three red card offences, one for foul play and two counts of dissent during a match against Motherwell at Love Street. As a result, he was banned for twelve matches. He won the 1987 Scottish Cup when St Mirren beat Dundee United 1–0 in the final.

During the 1980s, Billy was involved in all four of St Mirren's forays into European competition, playing in nine of the club's 14 matches, more than any other Saints player.

He was transferred to Partick Thistle in 1988.

Abercromby battled with severe alcoholism when his playing days ended with his experiences and subsequent recovery being detailed in his biography Aber's Gonnae Get Ye.

Abercromby was one of the ex-players involved in the after-match parade following St Mirren's last game at the Love Street (stadium) on 3 January 2009.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

Abercromby's death was announced on 18 June 2024. He was 65.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenational.scot/sport/24395555.st-mirren-legend-billy-abercromby-dies-aged-65/|title=St Mirren legend Billy Abercromby dies aged 65|work=The National|first=David|last=Irvine|date=18 June 2024|access-date=18 June 2024}}