Billy Wedlock

Billy Wedlock

A young man wearing an old-fashioned white football shirt and a dark cap with the date 1907 on it. On his breast pocket is the England football Three Lions logo.

Billy Wedlock, wearing his 1907 England cap.
Personal information
Full name William John Wedlock
Date of birth (1880-10-28)28 October 1880
Place of birth Bristol, England
Date of death 25 January 1965(1965-01-25) (aged 84)
Place of death Bristol, England
Playing position Centre half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1905–1921 Bristol City 403 (17)
National team
1907–1914 England 26 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

William John "Billy" Wedlock (28 October 1880 – 25 January 1965), also known as "Fatty" or the "India Rubber Man", was a footballer who played for Bristol City in 1900–01 and from 1905 until his retirement in 1921. Between 1901 and 1905 he played for Aberdare[1]. He was a centre-half whose his short and stout stature belied his natural talent. He won 26 England caps between 1907 and 1914,[2] his only rival for the centre-half position being Charlie Roberts of Manchester United, his opposite number in the 1909 FA Cup Final. The East End at Ashton Gate Stadium was named the Wedlock Stand in his honour, before being demolished in 2014 as part of the Ashton Gate Stadium redevelopment. Wedlock's pub (now demolished) opposite the ground was where he lived and worked for 43 years.[3][4] Folk singer Fred Wedlock was Billy's grandson.[5]

Honours

with Bristol City

Notes

  1. ↑ Athletic News 24 December 1906
  2. ↑ "Billy Wedlock". englandstats.com - football. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
  3. ↑ "Wedlock’s: Never more vulnerable than when you’ve just scored". Bristol City Supporter's Trust. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
  4. ↑ "Football fans fight to save pub". BBC. 2007-04-30. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
  5. ↑ "Famous Bristol Musicians - Fred Wedlock". Kathryn Courtney-O'Neill. Bristol Rocks. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
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