Player #277 for Aston Villa, William Henry Walker, known as Billy Walker played as a forward for the club.

Billy played for Villa between 1919-20 and 1933-34.

Billy was born in Wednesbury, just 8 miles from Villa Park, on 29 October 1897 and he made his debut appearance for Villa in the FA Cup 1st Round tie against Queens Park Rangers on 10 January 1920 aged 22.

Villa had signed Billy from Wednesbury Old Athletic in in March 1915 following a trial and signed professional forms in June 1920.

Billy went on to be an ever-present in that season’s 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. Billy’s first season brought his first and sadly only trophy for the club during a long and distinguished career.

Unsurprisingly Billy was the subject of fulsome eulogies, including from AVFC.co.uk:

“Harry Hampton scored more league goals, but Billy Walker is the man who holds Villa’s all-time scoring record.

While Hampton hit the target 215 times in league action, his combined league and cup total was 242. Walker managed 214 League goals but add a further 30 in FA Cup-ties for a total of 244.

He started as he meant to go on, too.

Born in Wednesbury in October 1897, Walker hit both goals on his Villa debut, a first round FA cup-tie against QPR in January 1920.

By the end of April he was the proud possessor of a Cup-winner’s medal after Villa beat Huddersfield Town in the final.

Walker had joined the club in 1915 and remained at Villa Park until his retirement in 1933, making 531 appearances – a record which stood until Charlie Aitken passed it 40 years later.

He also scored on his England debut in October 1920 and was eventually capped 18 times, being appointed captain of both his club and his country.

His scoring feats included reaching double figures in 12 consecutive seasons as well as a dozen hat-tricks, including four against Arsenal in 1920 and Sheffield United nine years later.”

“The playing years with Aston Villa were the happiest of my whole life. About Villa Park itself hung an aura that seems almost to be visible. Most certainly it is there to be felt and I know of no other ground that has the same effect on one. Almost it seems to be peopled by ghosts - amiable ghosts whose job it is to breathe the great Villa spirit into generation after generation of ambitious youngsters who pass through the great gates to achieve a life’s ambition; to wear the famous claret and blue of the great club.”

Life was never dull with Billy in the side yet even so his scoring of three penalty kicks against Bradford City on 12 November 1921 was pretty remarkable.

Billy played under both the George Ramsay and the Billy Smith led Management Committees.

Billy passed away in Sheffield on 28th November 1964 aged 67.