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Players Index Page Last Updated
23 February 2022
 
 

Billy Townley

Blackburn Rovers FC

 2 appearances, 0 to 3 goals

P 2 W 2 D 0 L 0 F 13: A 2
100% successful
1888-91

captain: none
minutes played: 180

Timeline
  William Townley
Birth Wednesday, 14 February 1866 at 64 Lark Hill Terrace, Blackburn, Lancashire
  registered in Blackburn January-March 1866
 

According to the 1871 census, William is the second of three children to Daniel and Elizabeth (née Holden). Living at 64 Lark Hill [Terrace] in Blackburn. His father is a mechanic.
 

According to the 1881 census, Wm. now has four more younger siblings and as a consequence, the family still live at Lark Hill Terrace. His father is an iron turner.
 

According to the 1891 census, William is the eldest of the seven children at home, there has been another since the last census. Along with their parents they still live at 64 Lark Hill Terrace. William is a mechanic, whilst his father is a mechanic in the iron trade.
Marriage to Fanny Chadwick, on Thursday, 16 August 1894 at St Peter's Church, in Blackburn
  registered in Blackburn July-September 1894
Children Billy and Fanny Townley had five children together. Mary Elizabeth (b.28 September 1896), Elsie (b.28 August 1897), James Chadwick (b.30 April 1902), Constance (b.31 July 1904) and Ena (b.25 February 1915)
 

According to the 1901 census, William, now a school teacher, is married to Fanny, a dressmaker, they now live at 62 Lark Hill [Terrace]. They have two children, Mary and Elsie. They live next door to his family, who are at number 64.
(His mother died on 24 December 1901. His daughter, Constance Townley born in 1904 died later in the year)
 

Not on the 1911 or the 1921 census' as he should be in Europe.
(His father died early in 1914).
  "William Townley, of Beresford-road, Blackburn, the old Blackburn Rover and International, and who has a wide reputation in football circles both in England, on the Continent and in America, is about to take up his old duties in Germany as football coach and manager to the important club at Munich." - The Globe, 20 September 1919
  According to the 1939 register, William and Fanny are still married and they live at 4 St. George's Road in Blackpool with two daughters, Mary and Ena. William is a retired schoolmaster, steel examiner and German interpretor.
(Fanny Townley died in mid-1943)
Death Tuesday, 30 May 1950, in Blackpool, Lancashire
aged 84 years 105 days registered in Fylde April-June 1950

Source

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

Playing Career

Club(s)		 Played junior football in Blackburn and was soon playing for Blackburn Swifts FC, then Blackburn Olympic FC and then Blackburn Rovers FC. He made one appearance for Colne FC in January 1887. Everton FC made an attempt to sign him for the inaugural Football League season. He was loaned to Stockton FC from July 1892, for the season. Sheffield United FC attempted the same arrangement for the following season. However, he returned to play with Blackburn Rovers FC, then signed Darwen FC on 3 July 1894. Manchester City FC signed him during the summer of 1896 until his retirement a year later.

League History
141 appearances, 52 goals		 Blackburn Rovers FC 1888-94 96 appearances, 37 goals.
debut: 15 September 1888 Blackburn Rovers FC 5 Accrington FC 5.
Darwen FC 1894-96 42 appearances, 15 goals
debut: 1 September 1894 Darwen FC 5 Newcastle United FC 0.
Manchester City FC 1896-97 three appearances
debut (second division): 5 September 1896 Manchester City FC 1 Woolwich Arsenal FC 1.
last (second division): 3 October 1896 Manchester City FC 0 Newton Heath FC 0.
Club honours FA Cup winners 1889-90 (5ᵃ 6ᵍ inc. hat-trick in Final), 1890-91 (6ᵃ 2ᵍ);
Football League third place 1889-90 (20ᵃ 6ᵍ).
Individual honours None
Distinctions His son is Jimmy Townley (Tottenham Hotspur FC, Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Clapton Orient FC, 1927-31).
Height/Weight 5' 10", 10st. 6lbs or 12lbs [1891].

Source

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

England Career
Player number One of five who became the 152nd player (156) to appear for England.
Position(s) Outside-left
First match No. 35, 23 February 1889, England 4 Wales 1, a British Championship match at Victoria Ground, Boothen, Stoke-upon-Trent, aged 23 years 9 days.
Last match
1 year 20 days		 No. 38, 15 March 1890, Ireland 1 England 9, a British Championship match at Ulster Cricket Ground, Ballynafeigh Ground, Belfast, aged 24 years 29 days. maybe
Major tournaments British Championship 1888-89, 1889-90;
Team honours British Championship shared 1889-90;
Individual honours The North (two appearances, 1890-91)
The Whites (withdrew in March 1890)

Beyond England
Worked as a school teacher from 1890 until he began coaching throughout Europe from 1909 to 1934, primarily in Germany, before and after WWI, particularly in Munich, but also in Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland during the twenties. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.249.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain
5 2 2 1840 0 to 3 0 min to 60 min 0 to 3 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
2 2 0 0 13 2 +11 0 0 6.5 1 100 +2
Both of his matches were played in the British Championship competition

Venue & Opposition Record

Venue & Opposition P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home (Wales) 1 1 0 0 4 1 +3 0 0 4.00 1.00 100.0 +1
Away (Ireland) 1 1 0 0 9 1 +8 0 0 9.00 1.00 100.0 +1

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1887-88 0 0 0 0 0 0 =0 0 0 0.00 0.00 00.0 =0
BC 1888-89 1 1 0 0 4 1 +3 0 0 4.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC 1889-90 1 1 0 0 9 1 +8 0 0 9.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC 1890-91 0 0 0 0 0 0 =0 0 0 0.00 0.00 00.0 =0
BC All 2 2 0 0 13 2 +11 0 0 6.50 1.00 100.0 +2

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 2 2 0 0 13 2 +11 0 0 6.50 1.00 100.0 +2
2 2 0 0 13 2 +11 0 0 6.5 1 100 +2

Match History

 Club: Blackburn Rovers F.C. - two full appearances (180 min) 0-3ᵍ F.A. International Select Committee - two full appearances (180 min) 0-3ᵍx

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 21
32 4 February 1888 - Wales 1 England 5, Alexandra Recreation Ground, Crewe BC AW reserve
  

Age 23
1 35 23 February 1889 - England 4 Wales 1
Victoria Ground, Stoke-upon-Trent		 BC HW   ol
  

one of five who became the 152nd player (156) to appear for England
one of two who became the ninth player from Blackburn Rovers FC to represent England

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

Age 24
2 38 15 March 1890 - Ireland 1 England 9
Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast		 BC AW crossbar [0-0]
 ol
It is generally accepted that Townley scored twice.... its possible however, that he did not score any, or one, or two or three.

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

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

trial
one appearance - The North vs. The South, 12 January 1891;

Age 25
43 4 April 1891 - England 2 Scotland 1, Ewood Park, Blackburn (home ground) BC HW reserve
  


     

 
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