|
William Edwin "Billy" Beats
Born 13th November, 1871.
Billy Beats was part of the first professional team to play against Reading when he appeared for Burslem Port Vale in the friendly match played at Caversham Cricket Ground in 1892. Beats was a centre-forward and scored his side's only goal in their 2-1 defeat to Reading in 1892.
He later moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers, for whom he played in the 1896 FA Cup Final. They lost 2-1 to Sheffield Wednesday in a game played at the old Crystal Palace ground. Whilst with Wolves, he won two caps for England, playing in the 6-0 win over Wales at Newcsatle in 1901 and in the 1902 game against Scotland. The first attempt to play the latter game saw the first Ibrox disaster, when the collapse of a stand cost the lives of 26 supporters and injured over 500. Although the match was played to a finish and ended 1-1, it was later declared void (although in 2000 its status was changed again to count as an international match). Billy also took part in the rearranged game a month later, a 2-2 draw played at Birmingham.
Billy moved to Bristol Rovers in 1903, where he won a Southern League Championship medal in 1905, before joining Reading in 1907. By 1911 he was Reading's trainer and after retiring from football during World War I, he became licensee of the Truro pub in Castle Street, Reading. In 1924 he was back as trainer, before returning to the Truro full-time. Alf Messer took over as licensee of the pub in 1936, before Billy died in April 1939.
His three sons Eddie, Billy and Jack all played for Reading schoolboys, and Eddie won two England schoolboy caps in 1920, playing against Wales at Pontypandy and Scotland at Grimsby.
Trivia - Billy worked as a labourer and legend has it that he signed for Wolves after working on a chapel roof. The Wolves club secretary removed Billy's ladder and refused to give it back until he agreed to sign for them.
Career history (not complete)
Port Vale:
1892?-1895?
Wolverhampton Wanderers:
1895?-1903
Bristol Rovers:
1903-1907?
Reading:
1907-
Later had two spells as trainer (including 1911 and 1924)
Other players - surnames beginning with
A . B . C . D . E . F . G . H . I . J . K . L . M . N . O . P . Q . R . S . T . U . V . W . X . Y . Z
Home . Where Are They Now? Index
News . First Team . Opposition . Reserves . Academy . Columns . Kingsley . MadStad . Interactive . Links . Site Map