Billy Blyth

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William Naismith "Billy" Blyth (June 17, 1895 — July 1968) was a Scottish footballer.

Born in Dalkeith, Midlothian, Blyth played as a schoolboy for local junior side Wemyss Athletic. He was briefly on the books of Manchester City before signing for Arsenal in May 1914. Hequickly made his debut for the Gunners, in a Second Division against Huddersfield Town on November 21, 1914, a game that Arsenal lost 3-0. Blyth made twelve appearances in 1914-15 but by then World War I had broken out, and Blyth duly joined the Royal Army Service Corps, serving in France.

Upon the end of hostilities and the resumption of football in 1919, Blyth returned to Arsenal and immediately became a regular in the newly-promoted side. An energetic "midfield dynamo", Blyth usually figured on the left of midfield, as a left half or inside left. He became a mainstay in the side, with over 300 league games in ten seasons, and became club captain in 1925. He also played in the 1927 FA Cup Final, Arsenal's first cup final, which they lost 1-0 to Cardiff City). In total, he played 343 matches for Arsenal, scoring 51 goals.

He moved to Birmingham City in May 1929, where he spent a single season before retiring. Blyth also starred in one of the first football-related films, the 1930 production The Great Game. After retiring, Blyth moved back to Scotland, and ran a pub in Port Seton. He died in 1968, at the age of 73.