Bill Townsend (footballer)

William "Bill" Townsend (27 December 1922 – 21 December 1988)^[1] was an English football player and manager. A goalkeeper he played for Nuneaton Borough, before moving to Derby County as a wartime guest, then becoming a professional player, he would then end his career at Burton Albion and Banbury Spencer. He would later return to Burton Albion as a player and later manager.

Townsend started his footballing career as a teenager at home town Nuneaton Borough before joining Derby County in 1939 as a wartime guest player.^[1] He signed a professional deal in 1942^[1] and became a regular member of the Derby side during the war.^[2]

After World War II ended, Townsend made his Derby senior debut on 2 March 1946, in a FA Cup quarter final tie against Aston Villa in front of 74,588 fans at Villa Park.^[3][2] Towsend would play in the 2nd leg a week later which ended in a 1–1 draw at the Baseball Ground.^[4] However Vic Woodley was not eligible to play in the games against Villa would play in the semi-final and the 1946 FA Cup final, so Townsend missed out on a winners medal.^[2]

As league football returned the following season, Townsend would start as third choice keeper behind Woodley and Alick Grant.^[5] In 1947–48, Woodley and Grant would both leave Derby and Townsend had three seasons where he came first choice goalkeeper.^[5] Injuries however hit Townsend's time at Derby County and he missed Derby's 1947–48 FA Cup semi final loss against Manchester United.^[6] Terry Webster and Harry Brown took over goalkeeping duties and when Ray Middleton joined in 1951, Townsend went two years and nine months without making a first team appearance.^[5] Townsend would play four games in 1953, with his last game for Derby being in a 1–1 draw against Charlton Athletic on 7 February 1953.^[7] Townsend left Derby in July 1953,^[7] he played 93 times for Derby, 79 times in the Football League.^[1]

Townsend would join Staffordshire club Burton Albion in July 1953,^[1] he played in Burton's 0–0 FA Cup third draw against Halifax Town where he made a string of impressive saves despite injuring a shoulder in the game.^[8] In June 1957, Townsend would join Banbury Spencer.^[1] He played for Banbury for two seasons.^[9]

Townsend would return to Burton Albion in September 1959, as player-manager, Townsend would retire as a player in 1960 and he made 204 appearances in his two spells as a player.^[8] Townsend would remain as manager of Burton until October 1962.^[1]

After leaving Derby, Townsend became landlord of the Smiths' Arms in Branston.^[10]

Townsend died 21 December 1988, six days short of his 66th birthday in Thornton-Cleveleys.^[1]

In 2021, Townsend was posthumously inducted into the Burton Albion Hall of Fame.^[10]

Bill Townsend at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database