William Voisey

William Voisey DCM, MM (19 November 1891 – 19 October 1964) was an English professional football wing half who played Millwall in the Football League and later managed the club during the Second World War. He managed the Great Britain team at the 1936 Summer Olympics. He was nicknamed 'Banger'.[3]

William Voisey
Personal information
Full name William Voisey[1]
Date of birth (1891-11-19)19 November 1891
Place of birth Isle of Dogs, England
Date of death 19 October 1964(1964-10-19) (aged 72)[2]
Position(s) Wing half, full back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1906–1907 Glengall Rovers
1907–1908 St John's
1908–1923 Millwall
1923–1924 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 26 (2)
Leytonstone
National team
1919 England (wartime) 1 (0)
Teams managed
1936 Great Britain
1940–1944 Millwall
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Voisey began his career with local Isle of Dogs clubs Glengall Rovers and St John's, before joining Southern League First Division club Millwall in 1908.[4] He remained with the club through the First World War and was capped by England in a wartime fixture in 1919.[2][4] He was a non-playing reserve for competitive England matches in October 1919 and May 1921.[5] Voisey played in Millwall's first three seasons of league football after the war, before transferring to newly-elected Third Division South club Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in 1923.[4] He ended his career in non-league football with Leytonstone.[1] In 2015, a housing block at the Frank Whipple Estate in Tower Hamlets was named Bill Voisey Court in his honour.[6]

Managerial and coaching career

After retiring from football, Voisey held the position of trainer at Millwall.[4] He managed the Great Britain team to the quarter-finals of the 1936 Summer Olympics and later managed Millwall during the Second World War.[7] Voisey was forced to relinquish the role in November 1944, after sustaining injuries during an air raid in which The Den received a direct hit.[8]

Personal life

Voisey was married with five children, two of whom died in infancy.[5] He served as a sergeant in the Royal Field Artillery during the First World War and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the Military Medal, the Croix de guerre during the course of his service and was mentioned in dispatches.[5] Voisey's DCM citation reads:

He (Voisey) came to France with the Division, has frequently acted as Battery Sgt. Major and invariably displayed marked resource, particularly during the retirement after 21 March 1918 when the Battery sustained many casualties from hostile fire. His fine example and disregard of danger contributed largely to the withdrawal of men and guns. Has always set a fine example of courage and cheerfulness to all ranks.

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Millwall 1920–21[9] Third Division 30 1 1 0 31 1
1921–22[10] Third Division South 42 2 5 0 47 2
1922–23[11] 7 0 0 0 7 0
Career total 78 3 6 0 84 3

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 (Third edition, with revisions ed.). Toton, Nottingham. p. 296. ISBN 9781905891610. OCLC 841581272.
  2. "England Uncapped Players – Bill Voisey". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  3. "Remembering The Fallen". www.millwallfc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  4. "Voisey Bill Image 3 Millwall 1919". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  5. Lemmerman, Mick (19 September 2019). "Bill Voisey, the Millwall Footballer from Cubitt Town". Isle of Dogs – Past Life, Past Lives. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  6. "Neil Harris 'so proud' to open Frank Whipple Estate". www.millwallfc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  7. "Great Britain squad – Berlin 1936". FIFA. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  8. Barney Ronan (12 August 2009). "Football managers: camel coat optional". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  9. "Millwall Season 20/21 Stats". www.millwall-history.org.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  10. "Millwall Season 21/22 Stats". www.millwall-history.org.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  11. "Millwall Season 22/23 Stats". www.millwall-history.org.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
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