Bill Harris (footballer)
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Charles Harris (31 October 1928 – December 1989) was a Welsh
footballer
, who played for his national
side and Middlesbrough
and later became a manager
.
but failed to graduate beyond the third team and so moved to Llanelli
in 1949. After just six months at the club he signed for Hull City
for £2,000. He played 131 games for Hull before a move to Middlesbrough
in March 1954 for £15,000. Harris, a wing half
, played 378 games, scoring 72 goals for Middlesbrough and was capped for Wales
. He won his first Welsh cap against Austria
in May 1955 in Vienna but had to wait three years for his second cap.
In March 1965, he joined Bradford City
as their third player-manager following the departure of Bob Brocklebank
. He took charge at a struggling club, during its darkest days, and in his first season, the club had finished 19th in Division Four
. The following season the club's problems continued and Harris resigned a year after he took over with the club heading towards re-election.
His stay also signalled the end of his playing career, when he was injured during a 7–1 defeat to Crewe Alexandra
and was advised to stop playing.
In November 1967, he returned to Teesside as manager-coach of non-league Stockton, before he retired in May 1969. He later worked for an insurance firm in Middlesbrough. He died in Middlesbrough in 1989 after suffering several strokes.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, who played for his national
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
side and Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
and later became a manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Career
Bill Harris started his footballing career with local club Swansea CitySwansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
but failed to graduate beyond the third team and so moved to Llanelli
Llanelli A.F.C.
Llanelli Association Football Club is a Welsh semi-professional football club that plays in the Welsh Premier League for the 2010–11 season. The team has been based at Stebonheath Park since 1920, and as of 2009 is managed by Andy Legg....
in 1949. After just six months at the club he signed for Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
for £2,000. He played 131 games for Hull before a move to Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in March 1954 for £15,000. Harris, a wing half
Wing half
In association football, the position of wing half or wing half back) was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries...
, played 378 games, scoring 72 goals for Middlesbrough and was capped for Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
. He won his first Welsh cap against Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
in May 1955 in Vienna but had to wait three years for his second cap.
In March 1965, he joined Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
as their third player-manager following the departure of Bob Brocklebank
Bob Brocklebank
Bob Brocklebank was an English footballer and manager.He played for Aston Villa and Burnley, where he was top goalscorer in 1937-38 before becoming a manager, at Chesterfield, Birmingham City, Hull City and Bradford City....
. He took charge at a struggling club, during its darkest days, and in his first season, the club had finished 19th in Division Four
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
. The following season the club's problems continued and Harris resigned a year after he took over with the club heading towards re-election.
His stay also signalled the end of his playing career, when he was injured during a 7–1 defeat to Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
and was advised to stop playing.
In November 1967, he returned to Teesside as manager-coach of non-league Stockton, before he retired in May 1969. He later worked for an insurance firm in Middlesbrough. He died in Middlesbrough in 1989 after suffering several strokes.