Billy Lucas
Encyclopedia
William Henry "Billy" Lucas (15 January 1918–1998) was a Welsh
international football player in the late 1940s and 1950s. During his career, Lucas made over 400 appearances in The Football League
during spells with Swindon Town
, Swansea Town
and Newport County
and attained seven caps for Wales
as well as eight wartime caps. After his retirement from playing, he went on to manage two of his former clubs, Newport County and Swansea Town.
but left the club without making an appearance. Lucas instead joined Swindon Town
where he established himself in the first team. His spell with the club was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II
and, after just over one season with club following the return of The Football League
in 1946, Swansea Town
manager Billy McCandless
paid a then club record fee of £11,000 to bring him to Vetch Field
. In his first season he captained the side to the Division Three South
title and in following years also won two Welsh Cup
's. In December 1953 he joined Newport County
as player-manager and made 93 appearances for Newport scoring 6 goals.
at Ninian Park
on 9 May 1942, scoring the only goal of the game in a 1–0 victory. He went on to play in a further seven wartime matches for Wales before winning his first full cap on 23 October 1948 in a 3–1 defeat to Scotland
in the 1949 British Home Championship
. He gained a total of seven caps for Wales, his final appearance coming on 15 November 1950 in a 4–2 defeat to England
.
until 1961 when he resigned due to a lack of support and what he perceived as a general apathy surrounding the club. He returned to the club a year later following the sacking of Bobby Evans
after they finished bottom of the Third Division and spent another five years in charge before taking over at Swansea Town
. Lucas later took charge of Newport for a third and final spell in 1970, working without wages for the first six months due to financial problems at the club, which lasted until 1974.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
international football player in the late 1940s and 1950s. During his career, Lucas made over 400 appearances in The 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...
during spells with Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, Swansea Town
Swansea 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...
and Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
and attained seven caps 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...
as well as eight wartime caps. After his retirement from playing, he went on to manage two of his former clubs, Newport County and Swansea Town.
Club
A wing half, he began his career with Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton 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...
but left the club without making an appearance. Lucas instead joined Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
where he established himself in the first team. His spell with the club was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and, after just over one season with club following the return of The 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...
in 1946, Swansea Town
Swansea 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...
manager Billy McCandless
Billy McCandless
William "Billy" McCandless was an Irish international football player and manager. As a player McCandless normally played at left-back, most notably at Rangers where he won 8 league titles with the side...
paid a then club record fee of £11,000 to bring him to Vetch Field
Vetch Field
The Vetch Field was a multi-purpose stadium in Swansea, Wales. It was used mostly for football matches and was the home ground of Swansea City until the Liberty Stadium opened in 2005. Opened in 1912, the ground held around 12,000 at the time of its closure, but upwards of 30,000 at its peak...
. In his first season he captained the side to the Division Three South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
title and in following years also won two Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
's. In December 1953 he joined Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
as player-manager and made 93 appearances for Newport scoring 6 goals.
International
Lucas' first participation for Wales came in a wartime international match against EnglandEngland 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...
at Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
on 9 May 1942, scoring the only goal of the game in a 1–0 victory. He went on to play in a further seven wartime matches for Wales before winning his first full cap on 23 October 1948 in a 3–1 defeat 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...
in the 1949 British Home Championship
1949 British Home Championship
The 1949 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations. The tournament was notable for it being the final competition the Home Nations competed in before they joined the FIFA World Cup and thus the last time it was the most important international...
. He gained a total of seven caps for Wales, his final appearance coming on 15 November 1950 in a 4–2 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...
.
Managerial career
Following his retirement from playing, Lucas became full-time manager of Newport CountyNewport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
until 1961 when he resigned due to a lack of support and what he perceived as a general apathy surrounding the club. He returned to the club a year later following the sacking of Bobby Evans
Bobby Evans
Robert "Bobby" Evans was a Scottish football player and manager, most notable for his time with Celtic....
after they finished bottom of the Third Division and spent another five years in charge before taking over at Swansea Town
Swansea 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...
. Lucas later took charge of Newport for a third and final spell in 1970, working without wages for the first six months due to financial problems at the club, which lasted until 1974.
Managerial statistics
| Team | Country | From | To | Record | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||||
| Swansea Town Swansea 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... |
 |
February 1967 | March 1969 | 96 | 33 | 24 | 39 | ||
| Total | 96 | 33 | 24 | 39 | |||||
Outside football
In 1951, following his move back to South Wales to join Swansea Town, Lucas took over the Black Horse Inn with his wife Edith.Honours
Swansea City- Football League Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
Winner: 1
-
- 1948–49
- Welsh CupWelsh CupThe Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
Winner: 1
- Welsh Cup
- 1950
- 1948–49