Billy Gerrish

William Webber Walter Gerrish (28 December 1884 – 8 August 1916), sometimes known as Willie Gerrish, was an English professional football inside forward who played in the Football League for Aston Villa and Preston North End.[1][4]

Billy Gerrish
Personal information
Full name William Webber Walter Gerrish[1]
Date of birth 28 December 1884[2]
Place of birth Bristol, England
Date of death 8 August 1916(1916-08-08) (aged 31)[3]
Place of death Somme, France[3]
Playing position(s) Inside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Freemantle
1905–1909 Bristol Rovers 49 (11)
1909–1912 Aston Villa 55 (17)
1912 Preston North End 3 (0)
1912–1913 Chesterfield Town 8 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Personal life

In February 1915, six months into the First World War, Gerrish enlisted in the 17th (Service) Battalion of the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment).[5] He was severely wounded in both legs by a shell blast at Delville Wood on 8 August 1916 and died later that day.[5] Gerrish has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.[3]

Honours

Aston Villa

Career statistics
Club Season League FA Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aston Villa 1909–10[7] First Division 36 14 3 1 — 39 15
1910–11[7] 14 3 0 0 — 14 3
1911–12[7] 5 0 0 0 — 5 0
Total 55 17 3 1 — 58 18
Chesterfield Town 1912–13[8] Midland League 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Career total 63 17 3 1 0 0 66 18

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 109. ISBN 190589161X.
  2. "Bristol Rovers Memorabilia – Southern League Players Index 1899–1920". Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  3. "Casualty Details". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  4. "Aston Villa Player Database". www.astonvillaplayerdatabase.com. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  5. "Club Remembers its Somme Casualties". Retrieved 10 September 2017.
  6. Riddoch, Andrew; Kemp, David (2010). When the Whistle Blows: The Story of the Footballers' Battalion in the Great War. Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset: Haynes Publishing. p. 138. ISBN 978-0857330772.
  7. "William Webber Walter Gerrish". 11v11.com. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  8. "Sky is Blue – Chesterfield FC history & statistics – Line-ups – 1912–13". Retrieved 4 November 2017.


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