Billy Gerrish
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 | |||
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]
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]
