Billy Fairhurst
{{short description|English footballer (1902–1979)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Billy Fairhurst
| image = Billy Fairhurst with Middlesbrough FC.jpg
| caption = Billy in Middlesbrough kit c.1926-28
| fullname = William Shaw Fairhurst
| birth_date = {{birth date|1902|10|1|df=y}}
| birth_place = Blyth, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|1979|2|27|1902|10|1|df=y}}
| death_place = Middlesbrough, England
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=8+1/2}}
| position = Left back
| years1 = 1924–1925 | clubs1 = Blyth Spartans | caps1 = ? | goals1 = ?
| years2 = 1925–1928 | clubs2 = Middlesbrough | caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1928–1929 | clubs3 = Southport | caps3 = 18 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1929–1932 | clubs4 = Nelson | caps4 = 76 | goals4 = 0
| years5 = 1932–1933 | clubs5 = Northampton Town | caps5 = 13 | goals5 = 0
| years6 = 1933–1935 | clubs6 = Hartlepools United | caps6 = 58 | goals6 = 0
| years7 = 1935–1936 | clubs7 = Tranmere Rovers | caps7 = 0 | goals7 = 0
| totalcaps = 165 | totalgoals = 0
}}
William Shaw Fairhurst (1 October 1902 – 27 February 1979) was an English professional footballer who played as a left back. He played over 150 matches in the Football League. His brother, David, played for England and Newcastle United.
Playing career
One of ten children of a former Blyth Spartans footballer (also William Shaw Fairhurst), William Shaw "Billy" Fairhurst was a sturdy left-back. He played in the North Eastern League during his three seasons with Middlesbrough, before moving to Southport, making his full league debut in 1928.
In 1929, he moved from Southport to play for Nelson. When Nelson dropped out of the League, he stayed on for a season in the Lancashire Combination whilst working as a local dairyman. Nelson's manager, English, who signed him for Nelson, also signed him for Northampton Town. His football career ended after a spell with Hartlepools United owing to an ulcerated leg.
Life after football
Billy served in the Durham Light Infantry during the war and was one of the first (liberators) into Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp.
After the war he settled with his wife, Mary (née Windross), in Middlesbrough. They had two children; Dorothy Mary and Eric William. Billy worked for many years at ICI (Billingham). He died of a heart attack, aged 76.
References
- {{cite book|first=Garth|last=Dykes|title=Nelson FC in the Football League|year=2009|page=34|publisher=SoccerData|location=Nottingham|isbn=978-1-905891-29-0}}
- {{cite book|first=Michael|last=Joyce|title=Football League Players' Records 1888–1939|year=2004|page=86|publisher=SoccerData|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-899468-67-6}}
- {{cite book | last=Wilde | first=Geoff | last2=Braham | first2=Michael | title=Sandgrounders : the complete league history of Southport Football Club. | publisher=Carnegie | date=1995 | isbn=1-874181-14-4 | oclc=650188009}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fairhurst, Bill}}
Category:Footballers from Blyth, Northumberland
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Blyth Spartans A.F.C. players
Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players
Category:Southport F.C. players
Category:Northampton Town F.C. players
Category:Hartlepool United F.C. players
Category:Tranmere Rovers F.C. players
Category:English Football League players
Category:20th-century English sportsmen
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