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Players Index Page Last Updated
9 July 2023
 
 

Billy Bassett

West Bromwich Albion FC

 16 appearances, 5 or 6 goals

P 16 W 12 D 2 L 2 F 64: A 17
81% successful
1888-97

captain: none
minutes played: 1440

Timeline
  William Isaiah Bassett JP
Birth Wednesday, 27 January 1869 in West Bromwich, Staffordshire
  registered in West Bromwich January-March 1869
 

According to the 1871 census, William Isaiah is the third child of four to Charles and Rebecca (née Waites). They live in Phoenix Street in West Bromwich. His father is a coal merchant.
 

According to the 1881 census, and William I. now has two more younger brothers, they live at 48 Overend Street in West Bromwich. Father is now a colliery agent.
Another brother, Arthur, is born and died in 1875.
 

According to the 1891 census, now a writing clerk, William I. is one of five children remaining with their parents, now at 28 Nichols Street, West Bromwich.
(His father died on 5 September 1897)
Marriage to Beatrice Birch, Wednesday, 27 June 1900, in West Bromwich.
  registered in West Bromwich April-June 1900
Children Billy and Beatrice Bassett had four children together. Norman William (b.16 May 1901), Beatrice Marriott (b.1905), Mary Doreen (b.25 March 1906) and Joan Gwendoline (b.1911).
 

According to the 1901 census, William I. is now a licensed victualler, and married to Beatrice. He runs the public house, the Anchor Inn at 303 High Street in West Bromwich.
Bassett was a Freemason, a member of Noah's Ark Lodge, initiated on 15 April 1904. A licensed victualler living at 303 High Street.
 

According to the 1911 census, William Isaiah, still a victualler, is now running Dartmouth Hotel, 2 Paradise Street in West Bromwich, with his wife and three children. Norman, Beatrice and Mary.
 

According to the 1921 census, William Isaiah, now a retired hotel proprietor, is now living at 132 Beeches Road in West Bromwich, with Beatrice and his four children (which now includes Joan) and one servant.
(His mother died 25 December 1923)
1936 Kelly's Directory of Staffordshire Bassett William Isaiah J.P. 81 Beeches Road.
Bassett was made a Justice of the Peace the previous year.
Death Thursday, 8 April 1937 at his home at Kelvedon, 81 Beeches Road in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, of a heart-attack.
aged 68 years 71 days  registered in West Bromwich April-June 1937

Obituary
"Death of Billy Bassett.
"Mr W. I. Bassett, Chairman of West Bromwich Albion F.C., died at his home to-day following a heart attack. He was 68. Mr Bassett had been associated with the club for 51 years, first as a player, then as a director, and finally chairman. Popularly known as Billy, he was an outstanding player of his day. Between 1889 and 1896 he played eight times for England against Scotland, and during that period also appeared four times against both Wales and Ireland. Altogether he played for England 16 times. In those days England did not always put her full strength in the field against the countries regarded as easy prey, otherwise this great outside right would have had many more appearances. Very fast, and a clever dribbler, Bassett placed the ball accurately with his passes, centres or shots, and in every way was a brilliant wing forward. He helped West Bromwich Albion to win the F.A. Cup in 1888 and 1892. The final ties in which Bassett was on the victorious side both took place at Kennington Oval. On the first occasion Preston North End, Albion's opponents on Saturday, were strong favourites and they fell unexpectedly, and on the second Aston Villa were beaten in a great Birmingham battle. In his early days Bassett's weekly wage was 7s 6d. He played his last league match for the Albion on April 24, 1899. He had been chairman since 1929."
" - Birmingham Daily Gazette, Friday, 9 April 1937.
Funeral
 
Monday, 12 April 1937
All Saints, West Bromwich
"The funeral will take place on Monday, the internment will be at All Saints' Parish Church, West Bromwich, after a service at St. Philip's Church, Beeches-road, at noon. The service will be conducted by the Rev. W. G. Jordan, Vicar of Darlington, Albion amateur International centre-forward of pre-war days. He will be assisted by the Rev. Martin, of Smethwick, a personal friend of the late Mr. Bassett." - Birmingham Daily Gazette, Friday, 9 April 1937.
Probate "BASSETT William Isaiah of Beeches-road West Bromwich Staffordshire died 8 April 1937 Probate London 16 June to Beatrice Bassett widow William Ellery Jephcott journalist and Fred Everiss company secretary.
Effects £51162 13s. 4d."
  Beatrice Bassett died on 17 September 1946 and is buried with her late husband.

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s)		 After playing for several amateur sides including Christ Church School FC, Oak Villa FC, West Bromwich Strollers FC and Old Church FC, Bassett joined West Bromwich Albion FC in August 1886, and was awarded the club captaincy, and despite a rumour to join Everton FC for the 1896-97 season, Bassett remained with Albion until he retired in April 1899.
League History
261 appearances, 61 goals		 West Bromwich Albion FC 1888-99, 261 appearances, 61 goals.
debut: 8 September 1888 Stoke FC 0 West Bromwich Albion FC 2.
last: 24 April 1899 Aston Villa FC 7 West Bromwich Albion FC 1. 
Club honours FA Cup winners 1887-88, 1891-92 (7ᵃ 2ᵍ), runners-up 1894-95 (6ᵃ 1ᵍ);
Football League best finish:- fifth in 1889-90 (19ᵃ 3ᵍ)
Individual honours 'Finest footballer in Britain' 1895

Distinctions		 On 28 April 1894, Bassett became the first ever West Bromwich Albion FC player to be sent off, he was dismissed for using "unparliamentarily language" in a friendly match away at Millwall FC.
He also had a regular column in the Birmingham Mail in 1905, reporting every week on the Black Country's football news, and continued to supply articles for many newspapers afterwards.
Height/Weight 5' 5½", 10st. 4lbs [1892], 5' 5½", 10st. 6lbs [1895].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & ENFA.

England Career
Player number One of five who became the 147th player (150) to appear for England.
Position(s) Outside-right
First match No. 34, 7 April 1888, Ireland 1 England 5, a British Championship match at Ulster Cricket Ground, Ballynafeigh Park, Belfast, aged 19 years 71 days;
Last match No. 58, 4 April 1896, Scotland 2 England 1, a British Championship match at Celtic Park, Kerrydale Street, Parkhead, Glasgow, aged 27 years 68 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1887-88, 1888-89, 1889-90, 1890-91, 1891-92, 1892-93, 1893-94, 1894-95, 1895-96;
Team honours British Championship winners 1887-88, 1890-91, 1891-92, 1892-93, 1894-95; shared 1889-90
Individual honours The North (one appearance 1ᵍ, January 1890);
The Whites (two appearances, 1890-94);
The Stripes (one appearance, March 1891)
The Professionals (three appearances 2ᵍ, January 1893-96)
FA Tour of Germany 1899
Distinctions None

Beyond England

Bassett became an Albion director in 1905, following the resignation of the previous board in its entirety. The club was in deep financial trouble and had had a writ served upon them by their bank, but Bassett and returning chairman Harry Keys rescued the club, aided by local fund-raising activities. Bassett became chairman in 1908, and helped the club to avoid bankruptcy once more in 1910 by paying the players' summer wages from his own pocket.  He remained Albion's chair until his death. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.135-6.
 "In 1922 he was given a seat on the Board of Management of the Central League and in [April] 1930 he was appointed a member of the Management Committee of the Football League, by virtue of which he also became a member of the Council of the Football Association. Last season [1936] he was elected a member of the International Selection Committee." - Birmingham Daily Gazette, Friday, 9 April 1937.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain
17 16 16 1440 5 or 6 288 min or 240 min 5 or 6 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
16 12 2 2 64 17 +47 0 4 4 1.063 81.3 +10
All of his matches were played in the British Championship competition

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 8 7 0 1 37 8 +29 0 3 4.625 1.00 87.5 +6
Away 8 5 2 1 27 9 +7 0 1 3.375 1.125 75.0 +4

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1887-88 1 1 0 0 5 1 +4 0 0 5.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC 1888-89 2 1 0 1 6 4 +2 0 0 3.00 2.00 50.0 =0
BC 1889-90 2 1 1 0 4 2 +2 0 0 2.00 1.00 75.0 +1
BC 1890-91 2 2 0 0 8 2 +6 0 0 4.00 1.00 100.0 +2
BC 1891-92 1 1 0 0 4 1 +3 0 0 4.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC 1892-93 2 2 0 0 11 2 +9 0 1 5.50 1.00 100.0 +2
BC 1893-94 1 0 1 0 2 2 =0 0 0 2.00 2.00 50.0 =0
BC 1894-95 2 2 0 0 12 0 +12 0 2 6.00 0.00 100.0 +2
BC 1895-96 3 2 0 1 12 3 +9 0 1 4.00 1.00 66.7 +1
BC 1896-97 0 0 0 0 0 0 =0 0 0 0.00 0.00 00.0 =0
BC All 16 12 2 2 64 17 +47 0 4 4.00 1.063 81.3 +10

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 16 12 2 2 64 17 +47 0 4 4.00 1.063 81.3 +10
16 12 2 2 64 17 +47 0 4 4 1.063 81.3 +10

Match History

 Club: West Bromwich Albion F.C. - sixteen full appearances (1440 min) 5 or 6ᵍ  
  F.A. International Select Committee - sixteen full appearances (1440 min) 5 or 6ᵍx

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 19
1 34 7 April 1888 - Ireland 1 England 5
Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast		 BC AW   or

one of five who became the 147th player (150) to appear for England
one of two who became the third players from West Bromwich Albion FC represent England

Age 20
2 35 23 February 1889 - England 4 Wales 1
Victoria Ground, Stoke-upon-Trent		 BC HW 57 or
  
3 37 13 April 1889 - England 2 Scotland 3
Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington		 BC HL 17? or
unsure who scored the second goal.

trial  
one appearance - The South vs. The North, 13 January 1890;

Age 21
4 39 15 March 1890 - Wales 1 England 3
The Racecourse, Wrexham		 BC AW   or

trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Blues, 24 March 1890;

5 40 5 April 1890 - Scotland 1 England 1
Hampden Park, Glasgow		 BC AD   or

Age 22
6 41 7 March 1891 - England 6 Ireland 1
Molineux Ground, Wolverhampton		 BC HW 63 or

trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 24 March 1891;

7 43 4 April 1891 - England 2 Scotland 1
Ewood Park, Blackburn		 BC HW   or
  

Age 23
8 46 2 April 1892 - Scotland 1 England 4
Ibrox Park, Glasgow		 BC AW   or

Age 24
9 48 13 March 1893 - England 6 Wales 0
Victoria Ground, Stoke-upon-Trent		 BC HW 47 swift shot or

trial  
one appearance - The Professionals vs. The Amateurs, 22 March 1893;

10 49 1 April 1893 - England 5 Scotland 2
Athletic Ground, Richmond		 BC HW   or
  

Age 25 trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 15 March 1894; ~ originally chosen for The Stripes

11 52 7 April 1894 - Scotland 2 England 2
Celtic Park, Glasgow		 BC AD   or

Age 26
12 53 9 March 1895 - England 9 Ireland 0
Derbyshire Cricket Ground, Derby		 BC HW hit crossbar 87 or
  
the goal that is often credited to Bassett is in fact, a Tom Gordon own goal

trial  
one appearance - The Professionals vs. The Amateurs, 28 March 1895;

13 55 6 April 1895 - England 3 Scotland 0
Goodison Park, Liverpool		 BC HW   or

Age 27
14 56 7 March 1896 - Ireland 0 England 2
Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast		 BC AW   or

the third player to make fourteen appearances for England

15 57 16 March 1896 - Wales 1 England 9
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff		 BC AW 33 10yd shot or

the third player to make fifteen appearances for England

trial  
one appearance - The Amateurs vs. The Professionals, 25 March 1896;

16 58 4 April 1896 - Scotland 2 England 1
Celtic Park, Glasgow		 BC AL 81 fine shot or

the third player to make sixteen appearances for England

Age 28
59 20 February 1897 - England 6 Ireland 0, Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham BC HW withdrew
  

Age 30

FA Tour of Germany		 23 November 1899 - Germany 2 England 13, Athletik-Sportsplatz, Berlin
tour		 AW  
or
24 November 1899 - Germany 2 England 10, Athletik-Sportsplatz, Berlin AW  
25 November 1899 - Austria 0 England 8, Stadión Letná, Praha AW  
28 November 1899 - Germany 0 England 7, Military Exercise Ground, Karlsruhe AW  
  


 

 
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