William Biggers (16 October 1874 – 11 July 1935), known during his playing career as Billy Biggar, was an English professional footballer who made over 210 appearances as a goalkeeper in the Southern League for Watford.[1] In all competitions for the Hornets, he made 283 appearances and scored two penalties.[1] Earlier in his career, Biggar appeared in the Football League for Sheffield United.[2][3][4] He latterly made over 200 appearances in all competitions for non-League club Rochdale.[5] Biggar also acted as trainer at Rochdale and coached at Earlestown.[6]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Biggers[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 16 October 1874 | ||
| Place of birth | Mexborough, England | ||
| Date of death | 11 July 1935 (aged 60)[1] | ||
| Place of death | Surrey, England[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Mexborough | |||
| –1900 | Thurnscoe Victoria | ||
| 1900 | Birtley | ||
| 1900–1901 | Sheffield United | 14 | (0) |
| 1902–1903 | West Ham United | 6 | (0) |
| 1903–1904 | Fulham | 6 | (0) |
| 1904–1910 | Watford | 217 | (1) |
| 1910–1913 | Rochdale | 100 | (0) |
| 1913 | Brentford | 0 | (0) |
| 1913–1917 | Rochdale | 63 | (0) |
| 1919–1920 | Leyland Motors | ||
| 1931 | Earlestown | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career statistics edit
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| West Ham United | 1902–03[7] | Southern League First Division | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |
| Fulham | 1903–04[8] | Southern League First Division | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | |
| Watford | 1904–05[9] | Southern League First Division | 34 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 39 | 0 | |
| 1905–06[10] | Southern League First Division | 33 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 36 | 0 | ||
| 1906–07[11] | Southern League First Division | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 40 | 0 | ||
| 1907–08[12] | Southern League First Division | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 39 | 0 | ||
| 1908–09[13] | Southern League First Division | 38 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 41 | 1 | ||
| 1909–10[14] | Southern League First Division | 36 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 43 | 0 | |
| Total | 217 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 238 | 1 | ||
| Rochdale | 1910–11[5] | Lancashire Combination First Division | 36 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 47 | 0 |
| 1911–12[5] | Lancashire Combination First Division | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8[c] | 0 | 41 | 0 | |
| 1912–13[5] | Central League | 32 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 5[d] | 0 | 44 | 0 | |
| Total | 100 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 132 | 0 | ||
| Rochdale | 1913–14[5] | Central League | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[e] | 0 | 41 | 0 |
| 1914–15[5] | Central League | 27 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8[f] | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
| Total | 163 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 213 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 394 | 1 | 43 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 468 | 1 | ||
- ^ Appearances in Southern Professional Charity Cup
- ^ Appearances in Lancashire Senior Cup
- ^ 6 appearances in Manchester Senior Cup, 1 appearance in Lancashire Combination play-offs, 1 appearance in Lancashire Senior Cup
- ^ 4 appearances in Manchester Senior Cup, 1 appearance in Lancashire Senior Cup
- ^ Appearances in Manchester Senior Cup
- ^ 5 appearances in Lancashire Senior Cup, 3 appearances in Manchester Senior Cup
Honours edit
Rochdale
- Lancashire Combination First Division: 1910–11, 1911–12[5][15]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e "Player: William Biggar". Watford Football Club Archive. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 27. ISBN 978-1905891610.
- ^ "The Football Association – Season 1913–14 – Summary Of Professional Registrations". Sky is Blue – The Chesterfield FC history resource. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- ^ "The Football Association – Season 1914–15 – Summary Of Professional Registrations". Sky is Blue – The Chesterfield FC history resource. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Phillips, Steven (17 November 2001). Rochdale AFC: The Official History 1907–2001 (1st ed.). Yore Publications. ISBN 978-1-874427-09-4.
- ^ "Rochdale Football Club". "Play Up, Liverpool". 30 August 1916. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "William Biggar". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- ^ "Frederick Biggar". Fulhamweb. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Season: 1904/1905". Watford Football Club Archive. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Season: 1905/1906". Watford Football Club Archive. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Season: 1906/1907". Watford Football Club Archive. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Season: 1907/1908". Watford Football Club Archive. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Season: 1908/1909". Watford Football Club Archive. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Season: 1909/1910". Watford Football Club Archive. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Rochdale A.F.C. at the Football Club History Database
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