Billy Goffin

Billy Goffin
Personal information
Full name William Charles Goffin
Date of birth (1920-12-12)12 December 1920
Place of birth Amington, England
Date of death 15 September 1987(1987-09-15) (aged 66)
Place of death Tamworth, England
Position Striker
Youth career
Amington Village
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1936–1937 Tamworth
1937–1954 Aston Villa 156 (36)
1954–1955 Walsall 8 (1)
1955–1961 Tamworth
Total 164 (37)
Managerial career
1955–1958 Tamworth
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

William Charles Goffin (12 December 1920 – 15 September 1987) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Aston Villa and Walsall. He was often referred to by his nickname "Cowboy".

Having previously played locally for Amington Village, Goffin played briefly for Tamworth before moving to Aston Villa as an amateur in August 1937. He signed professional forms with the club in December 1937.

His career was interrupted by World War II. In September 1939, he played in the Villa Reserves last pre-war game at home to Derby County. On 4th September the Government announced a ban on Sport to prevent crowds gathering. Villa's League match away to Wolves was one of over thirty mid-week League fixtures called-off. Villa Park found itself in an evacuation district designated under the British Government's civilian evacuation scheme. The Police Chief Constable of Birmingham, C.C.H Moriarty, intimated that he would not sanction football matches within the city of Birmingham. The Football League's Scheme for War-time football proposed to limit gates to 8,000 in evacuation areas. With their large overheads, the directors of Aston Villa and Sunderland announced their intention to close down. The manager and players were paid off whilst Villa Park was commandeered by the War Office.

During World War II, Goffin made 82 appearances for Villa, scoring 47 goals, and also guested for Tamworth, Birmingham, Leicester City, Nottingham Forest and Swansea Town. In 1952, he scored four goals in a 19–2 win against RAF Lichfield in the Birmingham & District League. He remained at Villa until his transfer to Walsall in August 1954. In all, he made 255 first team appearances for Villa, scoring 89 goals. Of these, 156 appearances and 39 goals came in the Football League. He played for Walsall for one season, making eight League appearances.

In 1955, Goffin became the first manager of Tamworth – the club had previously been run by committee – when he rejoined the club as player-manager. While at the club, he combined his role with a job as a collector for the East Midlands Electricity Board. In February 1958, Goffin resigned as manager and was replaced by Vernon Chapman. The 40-year-old continued playing until the end of the 1960–61 season. He was awarded a testimonial in May 1961.

Managerial statistics

Team Nat From To Record
PWDLGFGAGDW%
Tamworth England 1955 3 February 1958 109611632273165+108056.0
Total 109611632273165+108056.0

References

  1. 1 2 "Goffin, William Charles (Billy) "Cowboy"". Aston Villa Player Database. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  2. ↑ Ban on Sport, Birmingham Evening Mail, 4 September 1939, p3
  3. ↑ No Competitive Football, Chronicle, 16 September 1939, p5
  4. ↑ No Football at Villa Park or St Andrews Yet, Evening Despatch, 25 September 1939, p6
  5. ↑ Swindon Advertiser, 10 November 1939, p8
  6. ↑ Big Names in Football that will not be seen in War-Time Liverpool Echo, 30 September 1939, p2
  7. ↑ "'He'd get you doing stepovers' The intriguing story of an unappreciated Aston Villa legend". 26 November 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  8. ↑ "Remembrance Day: Tales of Villans and Heroes". Aston Villa F.C. 11 November 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  9. ↑ "Billy Goffin". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Archived from the original on 8 June 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  10. ↑ Gilchrist, Kelly (18 August 2016). "Tamworth: 10 Things". FC Halifax Town. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  11. ↑ Clayton 2011, p. 12.
  12. ↑ Clayton 2011, p. 13.
  13. ↑ Clayton 2011, p. 16.

Bibliography