Billy Bingham

Lore & Background

Bingham joined Everton for a fee of £15,000 plus John Bramwell and Alex Ashworth in October 1960, signed by manager Johnny Carey. He formed a good understanding with Bobby Collins. He helped Everton win the league title in 1962–63 under manager Harry Catterick, but was displaced after the signing of Alex Scott in February 1963.

In Their Own Story

The floodlights at Goodison hummed against the November dark. Rain had stopped, but the pitch still glistled, and the crowd of twenty thousand pressed close to the touchline, their breath a thin mist in the cold. Bingham, armband white against the blue of the shirt, collected the ball at the edge of the box. Two defenders closed. He didn't look. A short touch, a half-turn, and the ball was already on the wing, finding St John in a pocket of space that hadn't existed a second before. The crowd roared. Bingham simply nodded, wiped his hands on his thigh, and turned to direct the next phase. Around him, the noise was a living thing. But in that small circle of grass, there was only the quiet certainty of a man who had already seen the next three passes.

Reader's Guide

Bingham played as an outside-right (winger). He was known for his speed and ball-control. At Everton, he initially played on the right wing but also played out of position on the left following injury to Mickey Lill.

Did You Know?

• Bingham scored 26 goals in 98 appearances for Everton.
• He was signed to replace injured outside-left Tommy Ring.
• He left Everton in August 1963 to join Port Vale for a then joint-club record fee of £15,000.
• Bingham later returned to manage Everton in 1973.