Billy May (footballer)
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Owen May | ||
| Date of birth | 26 September 1865 | ||
| Place of birth | Hull, England | ||
| Date of death | 13 October 1936 (aged 71) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1885–1886 | Long Eaton Rangers | ||
| 1886–1888 | Notts Rangers | ||
| 1888–1889 | Notts County | 4 | (0) |
| 1889–1890 | Notts Jardines F.C. | ||
| 1890–1893 | Burton Swifts | ||
| 1893–1894 | Mansfield Greenhalgh's | ||
| 1894 | Mansfield Town F.C. | ||
| 1894–1895 | Mansfield | ||
| 1895–1896 | Burton Swifts | 1 | (0) |
| 1896 – ???? | Burton Ivanhoe F.C | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Billy May (26 September 1865 – 13 October 1936) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Notts County and Burton Swifts.[1][2]
Billy May was born in Hull, in, what was then the East Riding of Yorkshire but was from a Nottingham family and[3] at the age of 19 he signed for a Derbyshire football club, Long Eaton Rangers. At the time May was on Long Eaton Rangers books the club were not in a competitive League.
The following year, as May approached his 21st birthday May moved to Nottinghamshire club, Notts Rangers. This was another club who, at that time, were not playing any kind of League football. He then signed for Notts County but there is a dispute as to when. One source quotes 1 July 1887 whereas another states November 1888.[4][5]
League & Notts County debut
Billy May made his Club & League debut in November 1888. The venue was Trent Bridge, Nottingham. The date was 10 November 1888 and the opposition was Accrington. For a November's day the weather was pleasant and the 8,000 crowd saw some fine attacking football. Accrington forward Billy Barbour put his side ahead but not long after Harry Daft leveled the scores and Mordecai Sherwin entertained the crowd with one of his cartwheels. Accrington then got the better of the play and their forward, Joe Lofthouse, restored Accrington' lead. 2–1 at half-time.
The second-half saw Notts County get the better of the play, Charles Shelton equalizing for County and then Bob Jardine putting County ahead for the first time in the match. As the match wore on County had two defenders injured so it was no surprise when Billy Barbour got his brace and the match finished a draw, 3-3, a point each. Note: This was the only time Billy May played for Notts County in a League match and was not on the losing side.[6]
1888-1889 Season
Billy May made his debut on 10 November 1888 at centre-forward for Notts County. He played twice in that position between, and including 10 November 1888 to 24 November 1888.
He returned to the first team on 15 December 1888 but had moved to inside-right. The match was played at Leamington Road, Blackburn. The opposition was high-flying Blackburn Rovers and County were well beaten 5–2. The following week he played his second match at inside-right, and his last game for Notts County. The match was at County Ground, Derby and Notts County lost 3–2.
May played four league matches for Notts County and when he played his team scored seven goals (out of 40) and conceded 14 out of 73 goals. The 40 goals was the joint third lowest tally by any League club that season. The 73 goals conceded was the worst by any League club in 1888–1889. Notts County finished 11th and had to seek re-election.[7]