Billy Rogers (footballer)

Billy Rogers (1905–1936) was a Welsh international footballer. He was part of the Wales national football team, playing 2 matches. He played his first match on 25 October 1930 against Scotland and his last match on 22 November 1930 against England.^[1][2]

Billy Rogers

Billy Rogers, Welsh international footballer, before Scotland v Wales in 1930
Personal information
Full name	William Rogers
Date of birth	1905
Place of birth	Summerhill, Wrexham, Wales
Date of death	January 1936
Place of death	Penyffordd, Wrexham, Wales
Position(s)	Right half
Youth career
1925–26	Flint Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1926–1932	Wrexham	171	(28)
1932–1933	Newport County	21	(3)
1933	Bristol Rovers	0	(0)
1933–1934	Leyton Orient	3	(0)
Total		195	(31)
International career
1930	Wales	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

He played 2 matches for the Wales national football team in the British Home Championship. He played his first match on 25 October 1930 against Scotland at Ibrox Stadium, drawing 1-1,^[1] and his second on 22 November 1930 against England at Wrexham's Racecourse Stadium, losing 0-4.^[2]

He had been previously picked for the FAW's uncapped tour of Canada in 1929.^[3]

He started his career as an amateur at Flint Town FC. He signed professional terms with Wrexham in 1926, and played for them from 1926 until 1931. He was a member of the FAW Welsh Cup winning side of 1931.^{[citation needed]}

He subsequently played for Newport County, Bristol Rovers, and Leyton Orient (then known as Clapton Orient). He left Clapton Orient for Bangor City, a non-league team, at the end of the 1933-34 season.^[4]

Later life and death

He was unknowningly diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease in 1931, a terminal cancer, which contributed to his death in January 1936^{[citation needed]} from tuberculosis, aged 30.^[5]

During the period from 1931 to 1934 he continued to play professionally unaware of his condition, with only his wife being informed.^{[citation needed]} He left behind his wife, Gwennith, and a two month old son Billy.^{[citation needed]}

Honours

Wrexham

Welsh Cup winner

1930–31^{[citation needed]}

See also

• List of Wales international footballers (alphabetical)

References

1. "Scotland vs Wales, 25 October 1930". eu-football.info. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
2. "Wales vs England, 22 November 1930". eu-football.info. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
3. Morrison, Neil (4 January 2018). "The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
4. Kaufman, Neil (2002). The Men Who Made Leyton Orient Football Club. The History Press. ISBN 0752424122.
5. Stead, Phil (15 August 2013). "5". Red Dragons - The Story of Welsh Football. Y Lolfa. ISBN 9781847716187. Wrexham's half-back Billy Rogers would die five years later of tuberculosis, aged thirty.