Billy Meredith

Welsh football pioneer and early superstar for Manchester City and Manchester United.

William Henry Meredith (30 July 1874 – 19 April 1958) was a Welsh professional footballer. He was considered one of the early superstars of football due to his performances, notably for Manchester City and Manchester United. He won the FA Cup and the First Division title, gained 48 caps for Wales, for whom he scored eleven goals, and won two British Home Championship titles. His favoured position was outside right, and his key skills were dribbling, passing, crossing and shooting. A dedicated and extremely fit professional, his habit of chewing on a toothpick during games made him instantly recognisable.

Quick Facts

Full name: William Henry Meredith
Born: 30 July 1874
Birthplace: Chirk, Wales
Died: 19 April 1958
Place of death: Withington, England
Position: Outside forward
Total caps: 680
Total goals: 188

Lore & Background

Meredith was born in 1874 in Chirk, a small mining town in Denbighshire, Wales. He started work at Black Park Colliery as a pit pony driver at age 12. His family were Primitive Methodists, and he remained a lifelong teetotaller. He spent eight years working in the mines and endured a 25% pay cut which led to strike action in 1893. An interest in football was kindled by his elder brothers. He made his debut for Chirk in September 1892. He played for Chirk, Northwich Victoria, and Wrexham in 1894 before signing with Manchester City. He was banned for the 1905–06 season for bribing Aston Villa half-back Alex Leake £10 to lose a match. He helped set up the Players' Union, a forerunner of the Professional Footballers' Association. After retiring, he ran the Stretford Road Hotel and helped coach the short-lived Manchester Central.

Reader's Guide

Meredith played 27 seasons in the Football League from 1892 to 1924 (not including the four seasons lost to the First World War and the 1905–06 season in which he was banned). He scored 194 goals in 740 league and cup appearances. He captained Manchester City to a 1–0 victory over Bolton Wanderers in the 1904 FA Cup final. At Manchester United, he won the league title in 1907–08 and 1910–11, the FA Cup in 1909, and two FA Charity Shields. He returned to Manchester City in 1921 at age 47 and played 32 games before retiring in 1924, making him the oldest-ever player for City, United and Wales.