Billy Spencer
Introduction '''William Spencer''' (15 May 1902 – 1969) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Crewe Alexandra and Stoke City.
Career Spencer was born in Nelson and played amateur for West Riding League side Hebden Bridge whilst working in a mill. He joined Stoke City in December 1924, turning professional in April 1925.Spencer replaced the long-serving Alec Milne midway through the 1925–26 season slotting into a leaky defence and relegation to the Third Division was unavoidable. Stoke won the Third Division North title in 1926–27 with Spencer forming a formidable partnership with Bob McGrory. Spencer's positional play complemented McGrory's tough-tackling, however despite their on-field empathy it was rumoured that the pair did not get along off it with Spencer easily riled by McGrory's stubbornness. Despite any-off the pitch frictions the partnership lasted for ten seasons although they both missed most of the 1931–32 season due to injury, Spencer suffering a broken leg on the opening day of the season against Chesterfield.After recovering from his injury he helped Stoke to gain promotion to the First Division in 1932–33.When McGrory became manager in 1935–36 he moved Spencer out to right-back to accommodate the emerging Charlie Scrimshaw and Spencer's form suffered as a result. After losing his place midway through the 1935–36 season to Bill Winstanley, Spencer became a player-coach with the reserves where he spent the next two seasons. He then moved to Crewe Alexandra for £750 in June 1938 when he played just three matches before deciding to retire. In total he played 354 games for Stoke City, without managing to score goal.Outside of football Spencer was a keen bowls player and was a star player in the North Staffordshire Bowls League. During World War II he was stationed in Carlisle and played in the same army team as Stoke teammate Harry Davies. After the war he ran the Compasses public house in Stoke-on-Trent before returning home to coach Nelson before quitting due to the onset of deafness.
Career statistics Source:+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsStoke City1925–26Second Division160001601926–27Third Division North360203801927–28Second Division420404601928–29Second Division400104101929–30Second Division400104101930–31Second Division390304201931–32Second Division1000101932–33Second Division370203901933–34First Division310203301934–35First Division410104201935–36First Division15000150Total33801603540Crewe Alexandra1938–39Third Division North300030Career total34101603570
Honours ;with Stoke City*'''Football League Third Division North''' Champions: 1926–27*'''Football League Second Division''' Champions: 1932–33
References