Billy Grassam
Encyclopedia
William "Billy" Grassam (20 November 1878 – unknown) was a Scottish
footballer. His regular position was as a forward.
before joining English
side Burslem Port Vale
in July 1899. He regular in the 1899–1900 season
, he scored ten goals in 41 games over all competitions. In the summer
of 1900 he moved on to West Ham United
. On 1 September 1900, he became the first West Ham player to score a hat-trick
, when he scored four goals on his debut against Gravesend United
. He stayed with the London
-based club for three years and scored a tally greater than one goal every two games before moving back to Scotland with Celtic
. In 1903 he went back to England to join Manchester United
and scored eleven goals in his first season with the club, becoming joint-top scorer. However the next season he fell out of favour and contributed just two and moved on to Leyton
in July 1905. He rejoined West Ham later that year, where he built up a solid partnership with Harry Stapley. He then had a spell with Brentford
.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
footballer. His regular position was as a forward.
Playing career
Grassam played for Redcliffe Thistle and MaryhillMaryhill F.C.
Maryhill Football Club are a football team based in the Maryhill area of Glasgow, Scotland. Members of the Scottish Junior Football Association, they currently play in the West Region, Central Division Two....
before joining English
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...
side Burslem Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in July 1899. He regular in the 1899–1900 season
1899–1900 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season
The 1899–1900 season was Burslem Port Vale's second consecutive season of football in the Football League. Another season of charging to the summit of the Second Division table, only to fall into mid-table obscurity, this time the club suffered from low support and subsequently poor finances...
, he scored ten goals in 41 games over all competitions. In the summer
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
of 1900 he moved on to West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
. On 1 September 1900, he became the first West Ham player to score a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
, when he scored four goals on his debut against Gravesend United
Gravesend United F.C.
Gravesend United Football Club was a football club based in Gravesend, Kent.They were founder members of the Kent League in 1894-95 before moving to join the Southern League in 1896-97...
. He stayed with the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based club for three years and scored a tally greater than one goal every two games before moving back to Scotland with Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. In 1903 he went back to England to join Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and scored eleven goals in his first season with the club, becoming joint-top scorer. However the next season he fell out of favour and contributed just two and moved on to Leyton
Leyton F.C.
Leyton Football Club are an English association football club based in Leyton, in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. As of January 2011, they are not in a senior league, after withdrawing from the Isthmian League Division One North...
in July 1905. He rejoined West Ham later that year, where he built up a solid partnership with Harry Stapley. He then had a spell with Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
.