Billy Nesbitt

Billy Nesbitt

Personal information
Full name	William Nesbitt
Date of birth	22 November 1891
Place of birth	Todmorden, England
Date of death	11 January 1972 (age 80)
Place of death	Halifax, England
Height	5 ft 7+1⁄2 in (1.71 m)[1]
Position(s)	Winger
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1911–1923	Burnley	172	(19)
1923–1924	Bristol City	26	(0)
1924	Clapton Orient	0	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

William Nesbitt (22 November 1891 – 11 January 1972) was an English professional footballer who played as a winger. Nesbitt started his football career, aged 16, with his local side, Cornholme, before later joining Portsmouth Rovers.^[2] In 1911, he was signed by Burnley manager John Haworth, where he would make almost 200 first-team appearances. Nesbitt was first signed as an amateur, but Haworth gained permission for him to be released from his apprenticeship as a wood turner.^[2] With Burnley, Nesbitt won both the FA Cup (1914) and Football League First Division (1920–21).^[2] He moved to Bristol City in 1923 and had a short spell with Clapton Orient, but in 1924, he was forced to retire from the professional game through injury.

Nesbitt was acutely deaf his whole life. At Burnley, his teammates communicated with him using a variety of methods, including shirt-pulling, hand signalling and lip-reading.^[2] When his football career ended, he opened a tobacconist and sweet shop in Paddington, Central London. He returned to Todmorden, and in 1972, he died in hospital in Halifax.^[2]

References

Specific

1. Centaurus (22 August 1921). "First Division prospects. Burnley". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
2. Smith, Mike (2014). The Road to Glory: Burnley's FA Cup Triumph in 1914. Grosvenor House Publishing Limited. p. 319. ISBN 978-1781486900.

General

• Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888-1939.