Billy Kirton

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Seasons

Age*

Division

Appearances

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Substitute

Unused

Goals

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Played Under

George Ramsay led Management Committee |
Billy Smith led Management Committee |

First Squad Appearance

Debut Appearance

First Goal

Saturday, 15 November 1919

Final Appearance

Saturday, 2 April 1927

West Ham United (h), Division One

Final Squad Appearance

Saturday, 2 April 1927

Billy Kirton

Player #274 for Aston Villa, William John Kirton, known as Billy Kirton played as an forward for the club.

Billy played for Villa between 1919-20 and 1926-27 making 261 appearances.

Billy was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 2nd December 1896 and he made his debut appearance for Villa on the 25th October 1919 aged 22.

Villa had signed Billy from Leeds City earlier in the month of October 1919 for a fee of £500.

Billy had an immediate impact on the first team, making 32 League appearances and scoring at a rate of nearly a goal every other game in his first season.

Billy was also an ever present in the successful FA Cup campaign including playing in the FA Cup Final victory over Huddersfield Town in front of a crowd of 50,018 at Stamford Bridge in which Billy hit the 100’ winner.

Although 1919-20 proved to be Billy’s most prolific season however in each of his first 6 seasons he contributed over 30 appearances.

In a contemporary eulogy Billy was described thus:

“Newcastle-born, he came to Villa via [the defunct] Leeds City as a second-string acquisition who quickly turned out to be an important player. He would finish with 16 goals in his first season, having come from nowhere and selected only from November onwards. He was an ever-present from then to the end of the season. A believer in saying little and doing much, and could take knocks as well as score goals without making much fuss about it. A skilful player, he was capped for England in 1921 and was a Villa regular until 1926.

“He has been one of the most consistent of the Villa forwards, being a man of discrete method, with a keen eye for goal.”

Billy’s final appearance came on 2nd April 1927 aged 30 ahead of his move to Coventry City for a fee of £1,700.

Billy played under the George Ramsay led Management Committee.

Billy was a member of the Temperance Society and turned out for Pandon Temperance before graduating to professional footballer.

As a tee-total non smoker there was some irony in Kirton’s chosen post retirement profession - running a newsagent in Great Barr.

Billy passed away in Sutton Coldfield on 27th September 1970 aged 73.