Billy Taylor (sportsman)

Billy Taylor

Billy Taylor in Sheffield Wednesday strip
Personal information
Full name	William Taylor
Date of birth	1896 (1896)
Place of birth	Crook, England
Date of death	1986 (aged 89–90)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Durham City
	Crook Town
	Norwich City
1919-1922	Sheffield Wednesday
1922-1923	Doncaster Rovers	37	(11)
1923-1925	Mansfield Town
1925-1926	Doncaster Rovers	19	(5)
1926-?	Denaby United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

William Taylor (1896–1986) was a football and cricket player. He played as Billy Taylor for Durham City, Crook Town and Norwich City before playing First Division football for Sheffield Wednesday from 1919-1922. He spent the subsequent years playing for Doncaster Rovers, and Mansfield Town, rejoining Doncaster in 1925 to play in the Third Division North, scoring 5 goals in only 19 appearances. During this time he also joined the staff of the LNER (later British Rail) at the Doncaster Railway Engineering Works where he spent most of his working career.

He also played cricket for teams in the North of England. He was a good all-rounder and an excellent batsman. He played latterly for some 15 years in the Doncaster Works Athletic Club first team.

During the First World War he served with the Durham Light Infantry and became a commissioned officer. He was decorated for bravery in carrying out a successful daylight patrol into the German trenches at the Battle of Arras on the Somme and for digging out men in his section under heavy shellfire. During the Second World War Major Taylor commanded the 1000 strong Doncaster Works Home Guard.

In 1920 he married Jean, the daughter of Dr. Robert Steel of Crook, Co.Durham, and they had two sons.

He is remembered as an outstanding all-round sportsman and gentleman.