Billy Furness
Encyclopedia
William Isaac Furness was an English
professional footballer who played as an inside forward
for Leeds United
and Norwich City
in the 1930s, making one appearance for England
in 1933.
, County Durham
and played his early football for Usworth Colliery from where he was signed by Leeds United
in August 1928 for a fee of £50.
and were getting something of a reputation for being a yo-yo team — after being elected to the Second Division in 1920, they were promoted in 1924, relegated in 1927 and promoted again in 1928. Furness took a while to break into the first team, with Russell Wainscoat
and Eric Longden having established themselves in the inside forward positions. In the 1930–31 season
Furness displaced Longden and from then on he was rarely out of the side. Unfortunately, his eight goals in 1930–31 were unable to stave off relegation and Leeds were to spend the 1931–32 season
in the Second Division
. With Charlie Keetley
scoring 23 goals and 12 from Furness, Leeds returned to the top flight as runners-up in Division Two.
In the first season
back in Division One, Furness was ever-present scoring six goals from 42 league appearances, as Leeds finished in eight place with Arthur Hydes
the new spearhead, scoring 16. Furness's form was to be rewarded with his solitary England cap, when he was selected, along with his Leeds team-mate Wilf Copping
, for the first-ever match against Italy
on 13 May 1933. The match ended 1–1 with England's goal coming from Cliff Bastin
. As well as Furness and Copping, four other players were making their England debut.
Furness only missed one match in 1933–34
as Leeds again finished in the upper half of the table. In a memorable match against Leicester City
on 7 April 1934 Furness, Harry Duggan
, Joe Firth and Johnny Mahon each scored twice in an 8–0 victory - this remains Leeds' best ever League win.
Leeds struggled in 1934–35
and, although Hydes continued to score freely with 22 goals with Furness acting as an excellent foil, hitting 16 goals in 34 appearances, with seven of those coming in the last six matches of the season, the defence was poor conceding 8 at Stoke, 7 at Chelsea, 6 at West Bromwich Albion, and 4 against Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Liverpool and Everton. As a result, Leeds narrowly avoided relegation finishing in 18th place.
Things improved slightly for Leeds in 1935–36
with an eleventh place finish with Furness contributing seven goals (including a penalty against Arsenal
in the final match of the season) with George Brown top scorer on 20. Furness's final season at Elland Road
saw the club struggling again to avoid relegation finishing in nineteenth place.
In June 1937, Furness was transferred to Norwich City
for a fee of £2700 after nine years, 257 matches and 66 goals for the club.
in the Second Division
. At the end of the 1938-39 season
, Norwich were relegated to the Third Division South. Although Furness played in the first three matches of the next season, scoring twice, league football was then suspended following the outbreak of the Second World War.
After the war, Furness returned to the Norwich side, making a dozen appearances in the 1946-47 season
before retiring, having made 99 appearances (excluding wartime matches0 scoring 23 goals.
as assistant trainer and subsequently as head trainer, a position he held until 1955. He subsequently served the club as a physiotherapist until 1963.
In 2003 he was inducted into the Norwich City Hall of Fame.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who played as an inside forward
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
for Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
and Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in the 1930s, making one appearance for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in 1933.
Career
Furness was born in WashingtonWashington, Tyne and Wear
Washington is a town in the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. Historically part of County Durham, it joined a new county in 1974 with the creation of Tyne and Wear...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
and played his early football for Usworth Colliery from where he was signed by Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
in August 1928 for a fee of £50.
Leeds United
At this time Leeds were struggling in the lower reaches of the First DivisionFootball League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
and were getting something of a reputation for being a yo-yo team — after being elected to the Second Division in 1920, they were promoted in 1924, relegated in 1927 and promoted again in 1928. Furness took a while to break into the first team, with Russell Wainscoat
Russell Wainscoat
William Russell Wainscoat was an English footballer who played at inside left for several clubs in the 1920s and 1930s, spending the best part of his career at Leeds United. He also made one appearance for England in 1929....
and Eric Longden having established themselves in the inside forward positions. In the 1930–31 season
1930-31 in English football
The 1930–31 season was the 56th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Of note this season was Manchester United's record of the worst start in a major European league – they lost their first twelve games of the season and went on to be relegated....
Furness displaced Longden and from then on he was rarely out of the side. Unfortunately, his eight goals in 1930–31 were unable to stave off relegation and Leeds were to spend the 1931–32 season
1931-32 in English football
The 1931–32 season was the 57th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. With Charlie Keetley
Charlie Keetley
Charles Keetley was an English football player born in Derby. He played for Leeds United, Bradford City and Reading.Keetley was one of twelve children....
scoring 23 goals and 12 from Furness, Leeds returned to the top flight as runners-up in Division Two.
In the first season
1932-33 in English football
The 1932–33 season was the 58th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
back in Division One, Furness was ever-present scoring six goals from 42 league appearances, as Leeds finished in eight place with Arthur Hydes
Arthur Hydes
Arthur Hydes was a retired English football player born in Barnsley. He played for Leeds United and Newport County. He scored almost 100 goals in his career with over 80 of them at Leeds. This included three consecutive years as Leeds' leading scorer.-References:...
the new spearhead, scoring 16. Furness's form was to be rewarded with his solitary England cap, when he was selected, along with his Leeds team-mate Wilf Copping
Wilf Copping
Wilfred "Wilf" Copping was an English footballer who played for Leeds United, Arsenal and the England national team.-Leeds United:...
, for the first-ever match against Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
on 13 May 1933. The match ended 1–1 with England's goal coming from Cliff Bastin
Cliff Bastin
Clifford Sydney Bastin was an English football player.Born in Heavitree near Exeter, Bastin started his career at Exeter City, making his debut for the club in 1928, at the age of 16...
. As well as Furness and Copping, four other players were making their England debut.
Furness only missed one match in 1933–34
1933-34 in English football
The 1933–34 season was the 59th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
as Leeds again finished in the upper half of the table. In a memorable match against Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
on 7 April 1934 Furness, Harry Duggan
Harry Duggan
Henry Anthony Duggan , commonly referred to as Harry Duggan, is a former Irish footballer. Described as a talented and speedy right winger, he played for both Leeds United and Newport County...
, Joe Firth and Johnny Mahon each scored twice in an 8–0 victory - this remains Leeds' best ever League win.
Leeds struggled in 1934–35
1934-35 in English football
The 1934–35 season was the 60th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Arsenal become only the second team to win the League three consecutive times.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
and, although Hydes continued to score freely with 22 goals with Furness acting as an excellent foil, hitting 16 goals in 34 appearances, with seven of those coming in the last six matches of the season, the defence was poor conceding 8 at Stoke, 7 at Chelsea, 6 at West Bromwich Albion, and 4 against Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Liverpool and Everton. As a result, Leeds narrowly avoided relegation finishing in 18th place.
Things improved slightly for Leeds in 1935–36
1935-36 in English football
The 1935–36 season was the 61st season of competitive football in England.-Events:Sunderland AFC won the league, and in doing so they remain the last team to win the English League while wearing striped jerseys...
with an eleventh place finish with Furness contributing seven goals (including a penalty against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in the final match of the season) with George Brown top scorer on 20. Furness's final season at Elland Road
Elland Road
Elland Road is an all-seater football stadium in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It has been the permanent residence of Leeds United A.F.C...
saw the club struggling again to avoid relegation finishing in nineteenth place.
In June 1937, Furness was transferred to Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
for a fee of £2700 after nine years, 257 matches and 66 goals for the club.
Norwich City
Furness played the next two seasons for Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. At the end of the 1938-39 season
1938-39 in English football
The 1938–39 season was the 64th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
, Norwich were relegated to the Third Division South. Although Furness played in the first three matches of the next season, scoring twice, league football was then suspended following the outbreak of the Second World War.
After the war, Furness returned to the Norwich side, making a dozen appearances in the 1946-47 season
1946-47 in English football
The 1946–47 season was the 67th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The 1946–47 season was the first to feature a full football programme since the 1938–39 campaign. Eighty-eight teams competed over four divisions. Liverpool went top of the First Division with a 2–1 away win over...
before retiring, having made 99 appearances (excluding wartime matches0 scoring 23 goals.
Later career
After retiring as a player, Furness remained at Carrow RoadCarrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
as assistant trainer and subsequently as head trainer, a position he held until 1955. He subsequently served the club as a physiotherapist until 1963.
In 2003 he was inducted into the Norwich City Hall of Fame.