Billy Dinsdale

William Arthur Dinsdale (12 July 1903 – 21 February 1984)[2] was a professional footballer who scored 94 goals in 157 Football League appearances playing as a centre forward for Darlington, Aston Villa, Lincoln City and Bradford Park Avenue.[3] He was Lincoln City's leading scorer for each of the four seasons he spent with the club.[2]

Billy Dinsdale
Personal information
Full name William Arthur Dinsdale
Date of birth (1903-07-12)12 July 1903
Place of birth Darlington, England
Date of death 21 February 1984(1984-02-21) (aged 80)
Place of death Darlington, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Position(s) Centre forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
– Rise Carr
1921–1922 Darlington 2 (0)
– Darlington RA
1923 York City (trial) 1 (0)
– Crook Town
1924–1926 Aston Villa 8 (0)
1926–1929 Lincoln City 92 (69)
1929–1930 Bradford Park Avenue 17 (4)
1930–1931 Lincoln City 34 (20)
1931–1932 Darlington 4 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Football career

Dinsdale was born in Darlington, County Durham,[2] and played local football before joining his home-town club, Darlington F.C., for whom he played twice in their first season in the newly formed Football League Third Division North. He then played for Darlington Railway Athletic and had a trial with York City, for whom he played one Midland League game in February 1923,[4] before a return of 42 goals from 35 games for Northern League club Crook Town in the 1924–25 season earned him a transfer to First Division club Aston Villa.[2] He played five games for Villa in what remained of that season,[5] but the following year appeared only rarely for the first team, as cover for injuries or international absences, despite a good scoring record in the reserves.[2]

He moved on to Lincoln City of the Third Division North. Although he scored in his first game for the club, against Southport on the opening day of the 1926–27 season, he was relegated to the reserves. His regular scoring earned him a first-team place a few months later, whereupon he scored 25 goals in just 27 League and FA Cup games to become the club's leading scorer for the season. He top-scored again the following season,[2] and was described on a 1928 cigarette card as having "established himself as one of the most dangerous marksmen" in the division.[1] After his third consecutive season as Lincoln's leading scorer,[6] a bid of £1,500 came in from Second Division club Bradford Park Avenue which Lincoln's directors accepted.[2]

Dinsdale scored only four goals over the 1929–30 season for Bradford, and returned to Lincoln for a £250 fee.[2] For the fourth time in the four seasons he spent with the club, he top-scored with more than 20 goals.[6] Described in his club profile as a "big bustling centre forward who relied on his strength and enthusiasm rather than his football skills" who was popular with the supporters, Dinsdale scored 103 goals from only 136 appearances in all competitions for Lincoln City.[2] He left the club to return to Darlington, where he played four more games before retiring from football.[3]

Dinsdale worked as a fitter for locomotive manufacturer Stephenson's in his native Darlington. In later life he was severely affected by arthritis.[2] Dinsdale died in Darlington in 1984 at the age of 80.[5]

References
  1. John Player & Sons. "W. Dinsdale (Lincoln City)". New York Public Library. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  2. "#38 – Billy Dinsdale". League Legends. Lincoln City F.C. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  3. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData (Tony Brown). p. 74. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  4. Jarred, Martin; Windross, Dave (1997). Citizens and Minstermen, A Who's Who of York City FC 1922–1997. Citizen Publications. p. 139. ISBN 0-9531005-0-2.
  5. "Dinsdale, William Arthur (Walter)". Aston Villa Player Database. Jörn Mårtensson. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  6. "Billy Dinsdale". The Lincoln City FC Archive. Lincoln City F.C. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2010. Access individual season statistics via Season Stats dropdown menu.
  • Cigarette card depicting Dinsdale, at the New York Public Library digital gallery
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