Billy Beer (footballer)

William John Beer (4 January 1879, Skinningrove, Yorkshire – 21 June 1958, Nottingham) was an English professional footballer who played as a wing half for Sheffield United and Small Heath (renamed Birmingham in 1905).

Billy Beer

Sheffield United's 1901 Cup Final team: Beer is seated third from the left.
Personal information
Full name	William John Beer
Date of birth	(1879-01-04)4 January 1879
Place of birth	Skinningrove, Yorkshire, England
Date of death	21 June 1958 (1958-06-22) (aged 79)
Position(s)	Wing half
Youth career
	Staveley Town
	Sheffield United
–	Chesterfield Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1898–1902	Sheffield United	73	(18)
1902–1910	Small Heath / Birmingham	236	(34)
Managerial career
1923–1927	Birmingham
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

He made over 100 appearances for Sheffield United and scored the third goal in their 4–1 defeat of Derby County in the 1899 FA Cup Final. Beer moved to Small Heath in January 1902 and the following season helped them to promotion back to the First Division. Later in his Birmingham career, he played some games at centre-forward, which combined with his prowess at penalty-taking made him the club's joint leading scorer in the 1908–09 season.

Later career

He retired from football at the end of the next season, and emigrated to Australia where he became a sheep-farmer.

Returning to England in 1920, he became Birmingham's manager in 1923, taking charge of the team for four years in the First Division.

He was also a talented musician.

Honours

Sheffield United

• FA Cup winners 1899.
• First Division runners up 1900

Small Heath

• Second Division promotion 1903

References

General

• Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
• Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-010-2.

Specific