Billy Gerrish
English footballer (1884–1916)
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William Webber Walter Gerrish (28 December 1884 – 8 August 1916), sometimes known as Willie Gerrish, was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward in the Football League for Aston Villa and Preston North End.[1][5]
Full name
William Webber Walter Gerrish[1]
Date of birth
28 December 1884[2]
Place of birth
Bristol, England
Date of death
8 August 1916 (aged 31)[3]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Webber Walter Gerrish[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 28 December 1884[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Bristol, England | ||
| Date of death | 8 August 1916 (aged 31)[3] | ||
| Place of death | Somme, France[3] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[4] | ||
| Position | Inside forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Eastville Board School | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| –1905 | Freemantle | ||
| 1905–1909 | Bristol Rovers | 49 | (11) |
| 1909–1912 | Aston Villa | 55 | (17) |
| 1912 | Preston North End | 3 | (0) |
| 1912–1913 | Chesterfield Town | 8 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Personal life
Gerrish's brother Howard was also a footballer.[4] In February 1915, six months into the First World War, Gerrish enlisted in the Football Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment.[6] He was severely wounded in both legs by a shell blast at Delville Wood on 8 August 1916 and died later that day.[6] Gerrish has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.[3]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bristol Rovers | 1905–06[7] | Southern League First Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 1906–07[7] | Southern League First Division | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 2 | ||
| 1907–08[7] | Southern League First Division | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 1 | ||
| 1908–09[7] | Southern League First Division | 29 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | 29 | 8 | ||
| Total | 49 | 11 | 0 | 0 | — | 49 | 11 | |||
| Aston Villa | 1909–10[8] | First Division | 36 | 14 | 3 | 1 | — | 39 | 15 | |
| 1910–11[8] | First Division | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 3 | ||
| 1911–12[8] | First Division | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| Total | 55 | 17 | 3 | 1 | — | 58 | 18 | |||
| Chesterfield Town | 1912–13[9] | Midland League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Career total | 63 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 18 | ||
Honours
Aston Villa
