William Levi Draycott (15 February 1869 – May 1943) was an English footballer who played as a right half for Burslem Port Vale, Stoke, Burton Wanderers, Newton Heath, Bedminster, Bristol Rovers, Wellingborough and Luton Town in the 1890s and early 1900s.

Billy Draycott
Personal information
Full name William Levi Draycott[1]
Date of birth (1869-02-15)15 February 1869[1]
Place of birth Newhall, England[1]
Date of death May 1943 (aged 74)[2]
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2]
Position(s) Right half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1890–1891 Burslem Port Vale 2 (1)
1892–1894 Stoke 2 (0)
1894–1896 Burton Wanderers 47 (3)
1896–1899 Newton Heath 81 (6)
1889–1900 Bedminster 28 (0)
1900–1901 Bristol Rovers 14 (0)
1901–? Wellingborough ? (?)
000 Luton Town ? (?)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career edit

Draycott probably joined Burslem Port Vale in summer 1890. He made his debut at the Athletic Ground in a 2–1 friendly defeat to West Bromwich Albion on 29 September 1890. He made nine appearances for the club, scoring two goals, and was a member of the side that shared the North Staffordshire Charity Challenge Cup in 1891.[1]

He transferred to local rivals Stoke in June 1891, where he played in just two the Football League matches in three seasons at the Victoria Ground.[3] He then spent the 1894–95 and 1895–96 seasons with Football League newcomers Burton Wanderers, scoring three goals in 50 league games.

He joined Newton Heath in May 1896.[2] He scored five goals in 1896–97 to help the club secure second place in the Second Division; however, they lost to Sunderland in the promotion/relegation Test Match. Newton Heath then finished fourth in 1897–98 and 1898–99, with Draycott scoring on only one further occasion. Over three years he made 91 appearances for the Manchester club before transferring to Bedminster in 1899.[2] Bedminster finished sixth in the Southern League in 1899–1900. He then spent the 1900–01 campaign with rivals Bristol Rovers, before moving on to Wellingborough and Luton Town.

Career statistics edit

Source:[4]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Test Matches Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Burslem Port Vale 1890–91 Midland League 2 1 1 0 0 0 3 1
Stoke 1891–92 Football League 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1892–93 First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1893–94 First Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Burton Wanderers 1894–95 Second Division 26 3 5 0 0 0 31 3
1895–96 Second Division 21 0 2 0 0 0 23 0
Total 47 3 7 0 0 0 54 3
Newton Heath 1896–97 Second Division 29 5 3 0 4 0 36 5
1897–98 Second Division 21 0 3 0 0 0 24 0
1898–99 Second Division 31 1 2 0 0 0 33 1
Total 81 6 8 0 4 0 93 6
Career total 132 10 16 0 4 0 152 10

Honours edit

Burslem Port Vale

  • North Staffordshire Charity Challenge Cup: 1891[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 88. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ a b c d "Levi William "Bill" Draycott". MUFC Info. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  3. ^ Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  4. ^ Billy Draycott at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)