William John Hayes, also referred to as Willie Hayes or Billy Hayes, (born 30 March 1928 in Limerick

Limerick

Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...

) is a former Irish footballer

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 as a goalkeeper for Limerick

Limerick F.C.

Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick...

, Torquay United

Torquay United F.C.

Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...

 and Wrexham.

As an international, Hayes also played for Ireland. Hayes was 21 when he made his one and only appearance for Ireland on April 24, 1949 in a 2-0 defeat to Belgium at Dalymount Park

Dalymount Park

Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...

. His team mates on the day included Johnny Carey

Johnny Carey

John Joseph "Johnny" Carey , also known as Jackie Carey, was an Irish footballer and manager. As a player Carey spent most of his career at Manchester United, where he was team captain from 1946 until he retired as a player in 1953...

, Con Martin

Con Martin

Cornelius Joseph Martin , commonly referred to as Con Martin, is a former Irish footballer. Martin initially played Gaelic football with Dublin before switching codes and embarking on a successful soccer career, playing for, among others, Drumcondra, Glentoran, Leeds United and Aston Villa...

, Billy Walsh, Jackie O'Driscoll

Jackie O'Driscoll

John Francis O'Driscoll , commonly referred to as Jackie O'Driscoll, is a former Irish footballer who played as a winger for several teams in the League of Ireland. He also played for Swansea Town...

 and Paddy Coad

Paddy Coad

Paddy Coad is a former Irish football player and manager. He played as a forward for Waterford United, Glenavon, Shamrock Rovers and Ireland. Although known, primarily, as a maker of goals, Coad scored 126 goals in the League of Ireland and a further 41 in the FAI Cup. In 1946-47 he was top...

. Although a goalkeeper he was only 5 ft 9 inches tall. Another William Hayes

Bill Hayes (footballer)

William Edward "Bill" Hayes , commonly referred to as Bill Hayes or Billy Hayes, is a former Irish footballer who played for Huddersfield Town, Cork United and Burnley. As an international, Hayes played for both Ireland teams - the FAI XI and the IFA XI...

also played for Ireland during the 1940s.