Billy Fleming

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Billy Fleming
Personal information
Date of birth(1871-12-11)11 December 1871
Place of birth Renton, Scotland
Date of death 17 September 1934(1934-09-17) (aged 62)
Place of death Glasgow, Scotland
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) [1]
Position(s) Inside forward
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
18??–1892 Partick Thistle 5 (2)
1892–1893 Darlington
1893–189? Sheffield United 21 (7)
1894–1895 Dundee 14 (3)
1895–1896 Abercorn
1896 Bury 2 (1)
1896 Tottenham Hotspur 2 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

William Thomas Fleming (11 December 1871 – 17 September 1934) was a Scottish footballer who played as an inside forward in the English Football League for Sheffield United and Bury and in the Scottish League for Dundee and Abercorn. He also played for Scottish Alliance club Partick Thistle [2] and in England for Darlington of the Northern League and Tottenham Hotspur of the Southern League.

Contents

Life and career

William Thomas Fleming was born on 11 December 1871 in Renton, West Dunbartonshire. [3] By January 1891, he was playing football for Partick Thistle, [4] and in the 1891–92 season he scored twice from five appearances in Thistle's first season in the Scottish Alliance. [5]

Fleming and team-mate Watty Keay moved to English football when they signed for Darlington of the Northern League in the 1892 close season. [6] [7] Both attracted interest from a higher level, and "a promising forward from Darlington named W. Fleming" became Sheffield United's first signing after their promotion to the Football League First Division. [8] He promised enough to go straight into the team for the club's first match of the season, and six matches into the campaign he had four goals and the team sat top of the league. [9] [10] He finished the season with seven goals from 21 league matches –only Bob Hill, with eleven, scored more –and his team dropped into the bottom half of the table. [9] [11]

He returned to Scotland and signed for Division One club Dundee, for which he scored three goals from 14 appearances as his team finished eighth out of ten in the league. [12] At the end of the season, he moved on to Division Two club Abercorn, for whom he played on the right wing. [13] According to the Courier , he played well in a Qualifying Cup match in mid-November, "and it was generally remarked round the ropes that Dundee made a great mistake in dispensing with his services." [14]

In January 1896, well known football agents Messrs Lucas and McGregor expedited Fleming's return to England. Having reportedly rejected several prior offers, he signed for Bury; [15] a fee of £30 went to Abercorn and a further fee to Sheffield United, who had retained his Football League registration. [1] He played twice in the First Division for Bury, scoring once, on his debut away to Sheffield Wednesday, [9] and remained with them into the new season. [16]

In October 1896, Fleming was reported to be back in Scotland and seeking work, [17] but he joined Tottenham Hotspur in November 1896. Ahead of his first appearance, the Daily Telegraph highlighted the high level at which he had previously played. [18] He scored twice against Gravesend United in the Wellingborough Charity Cup, [19] scored again on his Southern League debut in a 3–1 defeat at home to Millwall Athletic, [3] but was suspended by the club in December, reportedly for insubordination, [20] and did not play again. [3]

Fleming's older brother James, known as Jock Fleming, played League football for Aston Villa and Lincoln City. [21] [22]

Fleming died on 17 September 1934 in Glasgow at the age of 62. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anglo-Scottish Cup</span> Football tournament

The Anglo-Scottish Cup was a tournament arranged for teams in the English and Scottish football leagues during the summer for several years during the 1970s. It was created in 1975 as a new incarnation of the Texaco Cup, with a similar format to its predecessor, but involving clubs from England and Scotland only.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Jackson (footballer, born 1875)</span> Footballer (1875–?)

James Jackson was a footballer who played as a full back or at wing half.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Donnelly</span> Scottish footballer (born 1974)

Simon Thomas Donnelly is a Scottish professional football coach and former player. Donnelly played as a forward or wide midfielder for Queen's Park, Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday, St Johnstone, Dunfermline Athletic, Partick Thistle and Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watty Keay</span> Scottish footballer

Walter Keay was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs, including Partick Thistle in Scotland and Derby County and Southampton in England. His main claim to fame was scoring the first goal at The Dell stadium on its opening on 3 September 1898.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Paterson</span> Scottish footballer and coach (born 1972)

Scott Thomas Paterson is a Scottish professional football coach and former player who played as a defender. He was most recently assistant manager of Partick Thistle. He played for numerous clubs in Scotland and England, including Liverpool, Carlisle United, Bristol City, Partick Thistle and Dundee United.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Graham (footballer)</span> Scottish footballer

Brian Graham is a Scottish football striker and coach, who plays for Scottish Championship club Partick Thistle, and is also the manager of Partick Thistle W.F.C. in the Scottish Women's Premier League.

John Kay McTavish was a Scottish footballer who played for several clubs, including Falkirk, Oldham Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Partick Thistle, Dumbarton and East Stirlingshire, and for Scotland at international level.

Chris Erskine is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for West of Scotland League club St Cadoc's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Callum Booth</span> Scottish footballer

Callum Booth is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Scottish League Two side The Spartans.

The 1992–93 season was Heart of Midlothian F.C.'s 10th consecutive season of play in the Scottish Premier Division. Hearts also competed in the UEFA Cup, Scottish Cup & the Scottish League Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christie Elliott</span> English footballer

Christie James Elliott is an English former professional footballer. Having previously played for English lower league sides Jarrow and Whitley Bay, Elliott signed a two-year deal with then Scottish First Division side Partick Thistle. He was loaned in 2012 to Scottish Second Division side Albion Rovers before returning to Firhill in January 2013. After a stint with Carlisle United after a lengthy term with Partick, he returned to Scotland with Dundee. Having started his career as a striker, he primarily played as a defender for most of it, playing the majority of games at right-back and providing the occasional cover at left-back. Christie announced his retirement from professional football at age 31 on 16 August 2022 after leaving Dundee in the summer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Declan McDaid</span> Scottish footballer

Declan McDaid is a Scottish footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland First Division club Athlone Town. McDaid started his career as a youth player at Greenock Morton, before being promoted to the club's first team in April 2013. However, McDaid left the club a short time later and signed for then Scottish First Division side Partick Thistle in June 2013. After two successful seasons with Ayr United, he signed for Scottish Championship side Dundee in June 2019 and enjoyed promotion to the Scottish Premiership with them in 2021. He also played for Falkirk on loan before spending two and a half seasons with Irish club Bohemians.

Liam James Lindsay is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a centre back for EFL Championship club Preston North End.

Robert Stormont was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half back or inside forward for a number of clubs in the English, Scottish and Southern leagues.

David James Edgar was a Scottish footballer who played as an outside left. He scored 20 goals from 121 appearances in the Scottish Football League playing for East Fife, Heart of Midlothian and Airdrieonians, and was a member of the East Fife team that reached the 1927 Scottish Cup Final. After moving to England, he scored 20 goals from 92 appearances in the Football League playing for Aldershot and Darlington in the 1930s.

During the 1956–57 season Hearts competed in the Scottish First Division, the Scottish Cup, the Scottish League Cup and the East of Scotland Shield.

Inchview was a football ground in the Whiteinch area of Glasgow, Scotland. It was the home ground of Partick from the 1870s until 1885, and of Partick Thistle from 1885 until 1897.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow Football Association</span> Football governing body in Glasgow, Scotland

Founded in 1883, the Glasgow Football Association, based in the city of Glasgow, Scotland and affiliated to the national Scottish Football Association, is one of the oldest such bodies in football. In the modern game its influence is limited, the remit being "to represent the interests of the senior football clubs in Glasgow". Those senior clubs competing across the divisions in the Scottish Professional Football League include the two largest and most successful in the country by some distance, Celtic and Rangers, as well as Partick Thistle, Queen's Park and Clyde ; the three smaller clubs exist in the shadow of their dominant neighbours. A sixth team, Third Lanark, had a strong record until their sudden collapse in the mid 1960s.

William Stobbs Kirsop was an English footballer who played as an outside forward in the Scottish League for Kilmarnock and in the English Football League for Barnsley. He also played non-league football for clubs including Rosehill Villa, Wallsend Park Villa, New Hartley Rovers, Gateshead Town and Darlington.

Malachi Michael Fagan-Walcott is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or left-back for National League side York City.

References

  1. 1 2 "Football jottings". Sheffield Evening Telegraph. 27 January 1896. p. 4.
  2. ↑ "Billy Fleming". The Thistle Archive. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Goodwin (2017), p. 156.
  4. ↑ "1890–91 A Season of Change: View season statistics". Partick Thistle – The Early Years. Niall Kennedy. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  5. ↑ "1891–92 League football at last: View season statistics". Partick Thistle – The Early Years. Niall Kennedy. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  6. ↑ T.T. Mac (18 July 1892). "Newcastle and Middlesbro' gossip". Scottish Referee. p. 4.
  7. ↑ Tweddle (2000), p. 13.
  8. ↑ "Sheffield United". Athletic News. Manchester. 28 August 1893. p. 5.
  9. 1 2 3 "Player search: Fleming, WT (Billy)". English National Football Archive. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  10. ↑ "Sheffield United: League Division One table after close of play on 02 October 1893". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "Sheffield United: League Division One table at close of 1893–94 season". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  12. ↑ "Willie Fleming Player Profile". The Dee Archive. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  13. ↑ "League lights". Scottish Referee. 23 December 1895. p. 1.
  14. ↑ "Football Notes". The Courier. Dundee. 11 November 1895. p. 5.
  15. ↑ "Football notes and news". Lancashire Daily Post. 25 January 1896. p. 2.
  16. ↑ "Bury Reserve v. Oswaldtwistle Rovers". Lancashire Daily Post. 9 September 1896. p. 4.
  17. ↑ "League lights". Scottish Referee. 23 October 1896. p. 1.
  18. ↑ "Football". Daily Telegraph. London. 16 November 1896. p. 5. The Spurs visit Luton to-day, and will give a trial to some new men, one of them, William Fleming, hailing from the very highest ranks, having played alike for Bury and Sheffield United.
  19. ↑ "Football. Tottenham Hotspur v. Gravesend United (A.)". The Standard. London. 20 November 1896. p. 7.
  20. ↑ "Football gossip". Middlesex Gazette. 12 December 1896. p. 3.
  21. ↑ Joyce (2004), p. 91.
  22. ↑ "Answers to correspondents. Football. Association". Athletic News. Manchester. 30 October 1893. p. 4.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.