Billy Bryan (footballer)

William J. Bryan (6 September 1912 – 2 August 1944) was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Walsall, Southend United, Swindon Town, and Wrexham.^[2]

Billy Bryan

Personal information
Full name	William J. Bryan[1]
Date of birth	(1912-09-06)6 September 1912[2]
Place of birth	Bentley, England[2]
Date of death	2 August 1944(1944-08-02) (aged 31)[3]
Place of death	Normandy, German-occupied France
Height	5 ft 8+3⁄4 in (1.75 m)[4]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1932	Owston Park Rangers
1933–1934	Sunderland	0	(0)
1935–1936	Walsall	9	(0)
1936–1937	Southend United	7	(0)
1937–1939	Swindon Town	29	(0)
1939–1940	Wrexham	3	(0)
Total		48	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Personal life

Bryan served as a private in the Dorsetshire Regiment during the Second World War and was killed while serving with the 5th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, part of the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division, during the Battle of Normandy on 2 August 1944.^[3] He is buried at Tilly-sur-Seulles War Cemetery.^[3]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Walsall	1935–36[2]	Third Division North	9	0	0	0	9	0
Southend United	1936–37[2]	Third Division South	7	0	0	0	7	0
Swindon Town	1937–38[1]	Third Division South	12	0	5	0	17	0
	1938–39[1]	Third Division South	12	0	0	0	12	0
Swindon Town career total			24	0	5	0	29	0
Wrexham	1939–40[2]	Third Division North	3	0	0	0	3	0
Career total			43	0	5	0	48	0