Billy Halligan
Encyclopedia
William "Billy" Halligan (18 February 1886–1950) was an Irish
professional association football player, who played as a centre forward. Born in Athlone, he started his career in his homeland before moving to England
and playing for seven different Football League
clubs. At the end of his career, he also played for two non-league
teams. While playing for Nelson
, he scored the club's first ever goal in the Football League, in a 1–2 loss to Wigan Borough
on 27 August 1921.
Halligan won two caps
for the Ireland national team and scored one goal for his country, in a 1–2 defeat to Wales
on 28 January 1911. His second appearance for Ireland came on 10 February 1912, in the 1–6 loss to England
.
, with Cliftonville
, and he later moved on to Belfast Celtic. In 1908, he joined Distillery, where he played for one season. While playing for Distillery, he was selected to play in an Irish League XI against a Scottish League XI. It was in this match that he was watched by Leeds City, and his performance convinced the club to sign him at the beginning of the 1909–10 season. Halligan scored two goals on his debut for Leeds City in a 5–0 victory against Lincoln City
on 1 September 1909. He went on to score a total of 12 goals in the season, helping the side avoid relegation from the Football League Second Division
.
His goals for Leeds City saw him signed for a fee of £400 by Derby County
in February 1910. He played 22 games for the Rams, scoring eight goals for the club, before moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers
in June 1911 for a fee of £450. In his first season with the club, he played 35 matches and scored 19 goals as the side finished fifth in the Second Division. The following campaign, Halligan achieved a tally of 15 league goals in 32 appearances. Prior to the start of the 1913–14 season, Wolverhampton accepted a bid of £600 from fellow Second Division outfit Hull City
and he joined them in May 1913. In the following two seasons, Halligan scored 28 league goals in 65 games. He also played seven FA Cup
matches for the side, but failed to score in any of them.
As a result of the First World War, competitive football was suspended in England after the 1914–15 season. Halligan played for a number of teams as a guest during the war, including Manchester United
, Chesterfield
and Stockport County
, and by the end of the war, he was playing for Lancashire side Rochdale
. When league play restarted at the start of the 1919–20 season, Halligan joined Preston North End
. He scored two goals in 16 matches for the side before signing for Oldham Athletic
on a free transfer in January 1920. In the remainder of the season, he managed six goals in 18 league games. The following campaign, he only made ten league appearances, scoring three goals as the side finished 19th in the Football League First Division
.
In August 1922, Halligan was signed for a fee of £75 by Nelson
for the club's first season in the Football League Third Division North
. On his debut for Nelson, he scored the club's first ever Football League goal, in the 1–2 defeat to Wigan Borough
on 27 August 1921. His spell with the Blues ended in June 1922, after a total of six goals in 17 appearances for the side. Upon leaving Nelson, he joined Midland League outfit Boston Town
. He left to join Wisbech Town
in 1924, and played there for one season before retiring at the end of the 1924–25 season, aged 39.
for the Ireland national football team. His first cap for his country came on 28 January 1911. He scored on his international debut, in the 1–2 loss to Wales
. His second game for Ireland came over a year later, when he was selected to play in the 1–6 defeat to England
on 10 February 1912. Following the First World War, Halligan was chosen by his country to play in two unofficial Victory international matches. The first match ended in a 1–2 defeat away to Scotland
on 22 March 1919. Just under one month later, on 19 April 1919, he played in the return game at home to Scotland, which finished as a 0–0 draw.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
professional association football player, who played as a centre forward. Born in Athlone, he started his career in his homeland before moving to England
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...
and playing for seven different Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
clubs. At the end of his career, he also played for two non-league
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
teams. While playing for Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
, he scored the club's first ever goal in the Football League, in a 1–2 loss to Wigan Borough
Wigan Borough F.C.
Wigan Borough Football Club was an English football club from the town of Wigan, Lancashire. It was a fourth attempt at establishing football in Wigan, their forerunners Wigan County, Wigan United and Wigan Town all having fallen into liquidation previously....
on 27 August 1921.
Halligan won two caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the Ireland national team and scored one goal for his country, in a 1–2 defeat to 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...
on 28 January 1911. His second appearance for Ireland came on 10 February 1912, in the 1–6 loss to 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...
.
Club career
Halligan's senior career started in his native IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, with Cliftonville
Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...
, and he later moved on to Belfast Celtic. In 1908, he joined Distillery, where he played for one season. While playing for Distillery, he was selected to play in an Irish League XI against a Scottish League XI. It was in this match that he was watched by Leeds City, and his performance convinced the club to sign him at the beginning of the 1909–10 season. Halligan scored two goals on his debut for Leeds City in a 5–0 victory against Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
on 1 September 1909. He went on to score a total of 12 goals in the season, helping the side avoid relegation from the Football League 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...
.
His goals for Leeds City saw him signed for a fee of £400 by Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
in February 1910. He played 22 games for the Rams, scoring eight goals for the club, before moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in June 1911 for a fee of £450. In his first season with the club, he played 35 matches and scored 19 goals as the side finished fifth in the Second Division. The following campaign, Halligan achieved a tally of 15 league goals in 32 appearances. Prior to the start of the 1913–14 season, Wolverhampton accepted a bid of £600 from fellow Second Division outfit 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...
and he joined them in May 1913. In the following two seasons, Halligan scored 28 league goals in 65 games. He also played seven FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
matches for the side, but failed to score in any of them.
As a result of the First World War, competitive football was suspended in England after the 1914–15 season. Halligan played for a number of teams as a guest during the war, including 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...
, Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
and Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, and by the end of the war, he was playing for Lancashire side Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
. When league play restarted at the start of the 1919–20 season, Halligan joined Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
. He scored two goals in 16 matches for the side before signing for Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
on a free transfer in January 1920. In the remainder of the season, he managed six goals in 18 league games. The following campaign, he only made ten league appearances, scoring three goals as the side finished 19th in the Football League First Division
Football 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....
.
In August 1922, Halligan was signed for a fee of £75 by Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
for the club's first season in the Football League Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
. On his debut for Nelson, he scored the club's first ever Football League goal, in the 1–2 defeat to Wigan Borough
Wigan Borough F.C.
Wigan Borough Football Club was an English football club from the town of Wigan, Lancashire. It was a fourth attempt at establishing football in Wigan, their forerunners Wigan County, Wigan United and Wigan Town all having fallen into liquidation previously....
on 27 August 1921. His spell with the Blues ended in June 1922, after a total of six goals in 17 appearances for the side. Upon leaving Nelson, he joined Midland League outfit Boston Town
Boston Town F.C.
Boston Town F.C. is an English football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the United Counties League Premier Division and play at Tattershall Road.-History:...
. He left to join Wisbech Town
Wisbech Town F.C.
Wisbech Town F.C. is an English football club currently based in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at the Fenland Stadium.-History:...
in 1924, and played there for one season before retiring at the end of the 1924–25 season, aged 39.
International career
Halligan won two capsCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the Ireland national football team. His first cap for his country came on 28 January 1911. He scored on his international debut, in the 1–2 loss to 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...
. His second game for Ireland came over a year later, when he was selected to play in the 1–6 defeat to 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...
on 10 February 1912. Following the First World War, Halligan was chosen by his country to play in two unofficial Victory international matches. The first match ended in a 1–2 defeat away to Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
on 22 March 1919. Just under one month later, on 19 April 1919, he played in the return game at home to Scotland, which finished as a 0–0 draw.
External links
- Billy Halligan biography at the NIFG