Billy Houliston
Encyclopedia
William "Billy" Houliston (4 April 1921 – 10 February 1999) was a Scottish footballer
who played for Crichton
, Queen of the South
, Berwick Rangers
, Third Lanark
and the Scotland national team
.
, at Westpark Cottages, where he lived for a short while before his family moved to a house at the Crichton in Dumfries
. Houliston played for Brownhall Primary School in the Dumfries and District Primary School League at centre half. Houliston played for the League in cup matches against other areas. Houliton's secondary school was Dumfries High School where he played only occasionally. On leaving school Houliston stopped playing completely.
Aged 17 working as a nurse at the Crichton Royal Hospital Houliston started playing again. It was playing for the Crichton
team that Houliston moved from defence to attack playing at either inside or centre forward.
In 1941 Billy Houliston was called up for national service. Houliston joined RAF Coastal Command as a wireless operator. In his 4 years service Houliston was attached to 16 different stations where he represented each at football. Playing in the Arbroath
area the local side offered to sign him. On leave back in Dumfries Houliston declined the offer when taking the offer of a trial game for Queen of the South reserves.
A month later Houliston made his first team debut a month later, 13 October 1945 away to Morton.
Nicknamed "Basher" from his 'afraid of no one' style, Houliston was the idol of Palmerston Park
in the late 1940s. His all action style made him a handful for defences everywhere.
Manager Jimmy McKinnell Junior
joined in 1946 as did goalkeeper Roy Henderson
and full back Dougie Sharpe
.
On 14 January 1948 Houliston gained his first international recognition playing for the Scottish League v the Irish League at Celtic Park
. Playing beside George Young
, Sammy Cox
, Torry Gillick
, Willie Ormond
and Gordon Smith, Houliston scored twice in the 3-0 victory. Houliston's first was a header from a corner kick, the second a brilliant shot from just inside the box. On 24 March Houliston represented the Scottish League this time against their English counter parts. Celtic then offered a big fee to take him to Parkhead but Houliston was happy to stay with Queens.
In 1949 the goals king of Queens and Scotland cap Jim Patterson
signed.
On 17 November 1948 Billy Houliston made his full international debut. The Irish were 2-0 up inside five minutes. 22 minutes later Houliston met the ball on the turn 10 yards from the Irish goal and rifled the ball into the Irish net. A through pass to Mason brought the equaliser. For the next goal Houliston passed the ball wide to Waddell and then kept moving goalwards. Houliston met the winger's cross with a bullet header for the comeback to be complete.
Five months later Houliston played against England at Wembley
. Houliston's robust style of play discomforted the English defenders attracting boos from the home fans and post-match criticism from the English press. Houliston and Scotland returned North with a 3-1 win in the bag. Houliston's last full cap was again in April at Hampden in the 2-0 win over France. In all Houliston collected 9 caps at different levels and never played in a losing Scotland side.
In March 1950 Houliston played in a titanic Scottish Cup quarter final tustle against Aberdeen. Playing at Palmerston Park and with ex Queens George Hamilton
impressing the Dons were three goals up after 15 minutes playing some fine football. A Doug McAvoy goal reduced the deficit back to two goals at half time. Queens unleashed a second half onslaught. Amid some frantic play Queens pulled a goal back with nine minutes remaining from Doug McBain. Houliston playing out of position on the right wing then crossed for McAvoy's second goal to level the scores at 3-3. Frank Watson in the Aberdeen goal pulled off an outstanding last minute save to force a replay back in Aberdeen. In the 28th at Pittodrie minute Aberdeen again went a goal up before Houliston (playing at his preferred centre forward after a tactical reshuffle during the game) lashed home the equaliser from a McAvoy pass. A minute later Queens were ahead for the first time in the tie - McAvoy again the provider for Charlie Johnston this time to trouble the score keeper. With no more goals Queens went through to the semi final for the first time in their history.
The semi final tie at Hampden on April’s fools day against Rangers would go down as a Scottish Cup classic. Disaster struck for Queens in the first minute. In the era before substitutions Doug McBain’s injury reduced to Queens to playing the rest of the game a man short. Regardless, 10 man Queens knuckled down and got on with it. In the 43rd minute Houliston spraying the ball wide from midfield saw Rangers Willie Woodburn unable to block out the pass. The ball fell to Jim Patterson who fed Jackie Brown. Brown’s sugar finish from 15 yards done the business – half time score, Queen of the South 1, Rangers 0. Rangers equalised with a bundled goal in the 59th minute. Houliston had a last minute chance to put Queens through but the game ended 1-1. The replay again at Hampden seen Queens go in 0-0 at half time. Queens were still in with a shout even after Rangers went a goal up in the second half. However after a highly questionable 76th minute Rangers penalty it was game over. Rangers added a third before full time.
The Summer after seen Houliston and his Scottish team mates tour the USA. Houliston netted twice in St Louis in the 6-0 win against the All Stars XI. Another goal followed against the American Soccer League in New York. However a serious ankle injury brought Houlston's involvement in the tour to a premature end. He journeyed home on the Queen Mary without his team mates to have an operation.
Jimmy Binning
joined Queens in 1951. During Houliston's time as a Queen of the South player they spent only one season out of the top division of Scottish football. That season was 1950-51 when they were promoted straight back to the top flight as Scottish B Division champions. The success of that season was enhanced by a run to the semi final of the Scottish League Cup
.
Houliston left Queens with a tally of 60 goals in 120 league games.
he was pursued by dignitaries of Berwick Rangers. A contract was offered and Houliston signed while still on holiday. Houliston spent only one season at Berwick where fate meant the club were drawn to play against Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup. A last minute goal gave Queens a 3-2 victory.
Houliston then had a brief spell with Third Lanark before hanging up his boots in 1953.
.
Houliston became a director at Queen of the South in 1957 and was later chairman for several years winning promotion to the first division in with the early 1960s Queens team of player manager George Farm
, Neil Martin
, Ernie Hannigan
and the now veteran Jim Patterson.
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 Crichton
Crichton F.C.
Crichton Football Club are a football club based in Dumfries in Scotland. The current incarnation of the club formed in 1972 as Auldgirth Football Club they originally played in local amateur leagues, before adopting the new title of Blackwood Dynamos Football Club...
, Queen of the South
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
, Berwick Rangers
Berwick Rangers F.C.
Berwick Rangers Football Club are a football team based in the English Border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, although they play in the Scottish Football League Third Division...
, Third Lanark
Third Lanark A.C.
Third Lanark Athletic Club was a football club that originally existed between 1872 and 1967, 95 years in existence, based in Glasgow, Scotland. Third Lanark were known as Thirds, the Warriors, the Redcoats and the Hi Hi's...
and the Scotland national team
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...
.
Early years
He was born in MaxwelltownMaxwelltown
Maxwelltown was formerly a burgh of barony and police burgh in the county of Kirkcudbrightshire in south west Scotland. In 1929 Maxwelltown was merged with Dumfries....
, at Westpark Cottages, where he lived for a short while before his family moved to a house at the Crichton in Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
. Houliston played for Brownhall Primary School in the Dumfries and District Primary School League at centre half. Houliston played for the League in cup matches against other areas. Houliton's secondary school was Dumfries High School where he played only occasionally. On leaving school Houliston stopped playing completely.
Aged 17 working as a nurse at the Crichton Royal Hospital Houliston started playing again. It was playing for the Crichton
Crichton F.C.
Crichton Football Club are a football club based in Dumfries in Scotland. The current incarnation of the club formed in 1972 as Auldgirth Football Club they originally played in local amateur leagues, before adopting the new title of Blackwood Dynamos Football Club...
team that Houliston moved from defence to attack playing at either inside or centre forward.
In 1941 Billy Houliston was called up for national service. Houliston joined RAF Coastal Command as a wireless operator. In his 4 years service Houliston was attached to 16 different stations where he represented each at football. Playing in the Arbroath
Arbroath
Arbroath or Aberbrothock is a former royal burgh and the largest town in the council area of Angus in Scotland, and has a population of 22,785...
area the local side offered to sign him. On leave back in Dumfries Houliston declined the offer when taking the offer of a trial game for Queen of the South reserves.
Queen of the South
After an unremarkable debut against Falkirk 'A' Houliston scored in the 4-1 victory over Celtic reserves. Like many that he was to score his goal was eye-catching. Chasing a long ball upfield Houliston beat Kelly in the Celtic defence. Houliston then drew the Celtic keeper out and chipped the ball over the goalie's outstretched leg and ran around him. With the keeper stranded putting the ball into the net was a formality. Houliston was offered a contract.A month later Houliston made his first team debut a month later, 13 October 1945 away to Morton.
Nicknamed "Basher" from his 'afraid of no one' style, Houliston was the idol of Palmerston Park
Palmerston Park
Palmerston Park is a multi-purpose stadium on Terregles Street in Dumfries, south west Scotland. The site of the ground was formerly a farm called Palmers Toun. This is on the Maxwelltown side of the River Nith in Dumfries. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of...
in the late 1940s. His all action style made him a handful for defences everywhere.
Manager Jimmy McKinnell Junior
Jimmy McKinnell Junior
James "Jimmy" McKinnell, Jr. was long time secretary and manager with Scottish Football League team Queen of the South of Dumfries....
joined in 1946 as did goalkeeper Roy Henderson
Roy Henderson (footballer)
Roy Henderson was a former Scottish professional football goalkeeper best known for his time with Dumfries club Queen of the South.-Early years:...
and full back Dougie Sharpe
Dougie Sharpe
Dougie Sharpe was a former Scottish footballer who played for Queen of the South from the town of Dumfries.-Early years:...
.
On 14 January 1948 Houliston gained his first international recognition playing for the Scottish League v the Irish League at Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
. Playing beside George Young
George Young (footballer)
George Lewis Young was a Scottish footballer, best remembered for his association with Rangers and for being the first player to receive over 50 caps for the Scotland national team.-Club:...
, Sammy Cox
Sammy Cox
Samuel "Sammy" Richmond Cox is a former Scottish international footballer.Cox initially played amateur football with Queen's Park, Third Lanark and Dundee during World War II, before turning professional in 1946 when he joined Rangers.Cox, a versatile defender, made his league debut for Rangers in...
, Torry Gillick
Torrance Gillick
Torrance 'Torry' Gillick was a Scottish footballer who played on the wing for Rangers, Everton and Partick Thistle....
, Willie Ormond
Willie Ormond
William 'Willie' Esplin Ormond OBE was a Scottish football player and manager. As a player, Ormond was well known as one of Hibernian's Famous Five forward line, winning three league championships in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He then returned to prominence as a manager, first with a...
and Gordon Smith, Houliston scored twice in the 3-0 victory. Houliston's first was a header from a corner kick, the second a brilliant shot from just inside the box. On 24 March Houliston represented the Scottish League this time against their English counter parts. Celtic then offered a big fee to take him to Parkhead but Houliston was happy to stay with Queens.
In 1949 the goals king of Queens and Scotland cap Jim Patterson
Jim Patterson (footballer)
James "Jim" Patterson is a former professional footballer and all-time record goalscorer for Scottish League club Queen of the South.-Early years:...
signed.
On 17 November 1948 Billy Houliston made his full international debut. The Irish were 2-0 up inside five minutes. 22 minutes later Houliston met the ball on the turn 10 yards from the Irish goal and rifled the ball into the Irish net. A through pass to Mason brought the equaliser. For the next goal Houliston passed the ball wide to Waddell and then kept moving goalwards. Houliston met the winger's cross with a bullet header for the comeback to be complete.
Five months later Houliston played against England at Wembley
Wembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
. Houliston's robust style of play discomforted the English defenders attracting boos from the home fans and post-match criticism from the English press. Houliston and Scotland returned North with a 3-1 win in the bag. Houliston's last full cap was again in April at Hampden in the 2-0 win over France. In all Houliston collected 9 caps at different levels and never played in a losing Scotland side.
In March 1950 Houliston played in a titanic Scottish Cup quarter final tustle against Aberdeen. Playing at Palmerston Park and with ex Queens George Hamilton
George Hamilton (footballer)
-External links:* *...
impressing the Dons were three goals up after 15 minutes playing some fine football. A Doug McAvoy goal reduced the deficit back to two goals at half time. Queens unleashed a second half onslaught. Amid some frantic play Queens pulled a goal back with nine minutes remaining from Doug McBain. Houliston playing out of position on the right wing then crossed for McAvoy's second goal to level the scores at 3-3. Frank Watson in the Aberdeen goal pulled off an outstanding last minute save to force a replay back in Aberdeen. In the 28th at Pittodrie minute Aberdeen again went a goal up before Houliston (playing at his preferred centre forward after a tactical reshuffle during the game) lashed home the equaliser from a McAvoy pass. A minute later Queens were ahead for the first time in the tie - McAvoy again the provider for Charlie Johnston this time to trouble the score keeper. With no more goals Queens went through to the semi final for the first time in their history.
The semi final tie at Hampden on April’s fools day against Rangers would go down as a Scottish Cup classic. Disaster struck for Queens in the first minute. In the era before substitutions Doug McBain’s injury reduced to Queens to playing the rest of the game a man short. Regardless, 10 man Queens knuckled down and got on with it. In the 43rd minute Houliston spraying the ball wide from midfield saw Rangers Willie Woodburn unable to block out the pass. The ball fell to Jim Patterson who fed Jackie Brown. Brown’s sugar finish from 15 yards done the business – half time score, Queen of the South 1, Rangers 0. Rangers equalised with a bundled goal in the 59th minute. Houliston had a last minute chance to put Queens through but the game ended 1-1. The replay again at Hampden seen Queens go in 0-0 at half time. Queens were still in with a shout even after Rangers went a goal up in the second half. However after a highly questionable 76th minute Rangers penalty it was game over. Rangers added a third before full time.
The Summer after seen Houliston and his Scottish team mates tour the USA. Houliston netted twice in St Louis in the 6-0 win against the All Stars XI. Another goal followed against the American Soccer League in New York. However a serious ankle injury brought Houlston's involvement in the tour to a premature end. He journeyed home on the Queen Mary without his team mates to have an operation.
Jimmy Binning
Jimmy Binning
Ian "Jimmy" Binning was a Scottish footballer who played for Arbroath and Dumfries side Queen of the South.-Arbroath:From season 1948-49 until his departure Jimmy Binning scored six goals in his 84 league games for Arbroath....
joined Queens in 1951. During Houliston's time as a Queen of the South player they spent only one season out of the top division of Scottish football. That season was 1950-51 when they were promoted straight back to the top flight as Scottish B Division champions. The success of that season was enhanced by a run to the semi final of the Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
.
Houliston left Queens with a tally of 60 goals in 120 league games.
Full international caps
| # | Date | Opponent | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 November 1948 | SCOTLAND 3 - 2 NORTHERN IRELAND | UK international championships | |
| 2 | 9 April 1949 | ENGLAND 1 - 3 SCOTLAND | UK international championships | |
| 3 | 27 April 1949 | SCOTLAND 2 - 0 FRANCE | Challenge match |
Berwick Rangers and Third Lanark
After the ankle injury Houliston was never the same player again. He was released by Queen of the South in July 1952. While holidaying in BlackpoolBlackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
he was pursued by dignitaries of Berwick Rangers. A contract was offered and Houliston signed while still on holiday. Houliston spent only one season at Berwick where fate meant the club were drawn to play against Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup. A last minute goal gave Queens a 3-2 victory.
Houliston then had a brief spell with Third Lanark before hanging up his boots in 1953.
After playing
Billy Houliston first went into the licensing trade in 1949 when opening Billy's Bar on Dumfries High Street. Houliston continued in this business until the 1980s with the Nith Hotel at GlencapleGlencaple
Glencaple is a small settlement in the Dumfries and Galloway area of Scotland. Situated on the banks of the River Nith, it once served as a port for nearby Dumfries. Dumfries F.C. play their home matches at Norfolk Park in Glencaple....
.
Houliston became a director at Queen of the South in 1957 and was later chairman for several years winning promotion to the first division in with the early 1960s Queens team of player manager George Farm
George Farm
George Neil Farm was a Scottish professional football goalkeeper and manager.Born in Slateford, a suburb of Edinburgh, Farm represented his country on ten occasions, the last three of which occurred after a gap of five years....
, Neil Martin
Neil Martin
Neil Martin is a Scottish former football player, who scored 100 league goals in both Scotland and England and won three full international caps for Scotland in the 1960s and 1970s. Known for his strength, power, bravery and commitment, Martin scored consistently in a journeyman career...
, Ernie Hannigan
Ernie Hannigan
Ernest 'Ernie' Hannigan is a Scottish former footballer. Hannigan was a fast, tricky, right winger. He is perhaps best known for his games at 3 clubs and the partnership he forged with Scotland international centre forward Neil Martin at 2 of them; 147 games at Queen of the South and 47 at...
and the now veteran Jim Patterson.