Billy Beer (footballer)

William John Beer (4 January 1879 – March 1941) was an English professional footballer who played as a wing half for Sheffield United and Small Heath (renamed Birmingham in 1905).

Billy Beer
Sheffield United's 1901 Cup Final team: Beer is seated third from the left.
Personal information
Full name William John Beer
Date of birth (1879-01-04)4 January 1879
Place of birth Poolsbrook, Derbyshire, England
Date of death March 1941 (1941-04) (aged 62)
Position(s) Wing half
Youth career
Staveley Town
Sheffield United
– Chesterfield Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1898–1902 Sheffield United 73 (18)
1902–1910 Small Heath / Birmingham[lower-alpha 1] 236 (34)
Teams managed
1923–1927 Birmingham
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

He made over 100 appearances for Sheffield United and scored the third goal in their 4–1 defeat of Derby County in the 1899 FA Cup Final. Beer moved to Small Heath in January 1902 and the following season helped them to promotion back to the First Division. Later in his Birmingham career he played some games at centre-forward, which combined with his prowess at penalty-taking made him the club's joint leading scorer in the 1908–09 season.

Later career

He retired from football at the end of the next season, and emigrated to Australia where he became a sheep-farmer.

Returning to England in 1920, he became Birmingham's manager in 1923, taking charge of the team for four years in the First Division.

He was also a talented musician.

Honours

Sheffield United

Small Heath

Notes
  1. Small Heath was renamed Birmingham ahead of the 1905–06 season.[1]

References

General

  • Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  • Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-010-2.

Specific

  1. "Small Heath". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
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