Billy Rafferty

Billy Rafferty
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Henry Rafferty
Date of birth30 December 1950
Place of birthGlasgow, Scotland
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing positionForward
Youth career
Port Glasgow
Coventry City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1968–1972Coventry City27(3)
1972–1974Blackpool36(9)
1974–1976Plymouth Argyle90(35)
1976–1978Carlisle United72(27)
1978–1979Wolverhampton Wanderers44(6)
1979–1980Newcastle United39(6)
1980–1984Portsmouth102(40)
1984–1985Bournemouth58(19)
1985–1988?Farense?(?)
Louletano?(?)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

William Henry "Billy" Rafferty (born 30 December 1950) is a retired Scottish footballer who played as a forward. He appeared in the Football League for Coventry City, Blackpool, Plymouth Argyle, Carlisle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Portsmouth and Bournemouth, scoring 145 goals in 468 matches. He finished his career in Portugal with Farense and Louletano.

Rafferty began his league career with Coventry City after joining them from Port Glasgow but found opportunities few and far between.[1] A move to Blackpool in 1972 saw him play and score more regularly before joining Plymouth Argyle a year later.[2] With his striking partner, Paul Mariner, he became an important player in the Argyle side that won promotion to the Football League Second Division in 1975. Their partnership contributed 47 goals to the campaign, with Rafferty scoring 26.

He then joined Carlisle United where he continued to score regularly. He moved on to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United before joining Portsmouth in 1980. At Portsmouth he once again became a key striker, winning the Third Division championship in 1983 before joining Bournemouth, which would be his last league club in England.[3]

References

  1. "How Rafferty's Hat-trick Sealed His Place In Carlisle Utd's Hall Of Fame". News and Star (Carlisle). 4 September 2009. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  2. "Billy Rafferty". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  3. "Billy Rafferty". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database. Retrieved 24 January 2010.