George Willis (footballer)

George Willis (9 November 1926 – 25 May 2011) was an English footballer who played as an inside forward for Brighton & Hove Albion, Plymouth Argyle, Exeter City, and Taunton Town. He won the Third Division South title with Plymouth in 1951–52.

George Willis
Personal information
Full name George Willis[1]
Date of birth (1926-11-09)9 November 1926[1]
Place of birth Stanley, County Durham, England[1]
Date of death 25 May 2011(2011-05-25) (aged 84)
Place of death Exeter, England
Playing position(s) Inside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1947–1949 Brighton & Hove Albion 28 (13)
1949–1956 Plymouth Argyle 56 (14)
1956–1957 Exeter City 26 (3)
Taunton Town
Falmouth Town
Total 110+ (30+)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Willis guested for Port Vale and Crewe Alexandra in 1946.[1] In 1947 he moved on to Brighton & Hove Albion, who struggled at the foot of the Third Division South table in the 1947–48 campaign, before rising to sixth place in 1948–49. He scored 13 goals in 28 league games for Don Welsh's "Seagulls", before leaving the Goldstone Ground for Plymouth Argyle in 1949. Jimmy Rae's "Pilgrims" suffered relegation out of the Second Division in 1949–50. Argyle finished fourth in the Third Division South in 1950–51, before winning promotion as the division's champions in 1951–52. The Home Park club then came to within two places of promotion to the First Division in 1952–53, before dropping down to within two places of relegation in 1953–54. Plymouth finished just one place and three points above the drop zone in 1954–55, before suffering relegation in 1955–56 under the stewardship of Jack Rowley. Willis scored 14 goals in 59 league appearances for the club.[2] He joined Norman Dodgin's Exeter City in 1956, and spent the 1956–57 season at St James Park, before a spell in the Western League with Taunton Town. He also had a spell with Falmouth Town in the South Western League in the 1958–59 season, and was a South Western League Cup winner in his only season with the club.

Personal life

Willis had two children with June, his wife, called Roy and Lynda,[3] and two children from a previous marriage called Patricia and Tony. He was a grandfather to Kate and Emily.[3] Willis died on 25 May 2011, aged 84.[3]

Statistics

Source:[4]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brighton & Hove Albion 1947–48 Third Division South 15800158
1948–49 Third Division South 13500135
Total 2813002813
Plymouth Argyle 1949–50 Third Division South 100010
1950–51 Third Division South 821092
1951–52 Third Division South 200020
1952–53 Second Division 10210112
1953–54 Second Division 720072
1954–55 Second Division 14410154
1955–56 Second Division 14400144
Total 5614305914
Exeter City 1955–56 Third Division South 13200132
1956–57 Third Division South 13100131
Total 26300263
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References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 312. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0. ASIN 0952915200.
  2. "George Willis". GoS-DB. Greens on Screen. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  3. Curno, Mike (25 May 2011). "George Willis 1926 - 2011". Plymouth Argyle. Retrieved 25 May 2011.
  4. George Willis at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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