Peter Arnold Billingham (1938-2019) was a greyhound trainer and an English professional footballer.

Peter Billingham
Personal information
Date of birth 8 October 1938
Place of birth Pensnett, West Midlands, England
Date of death August 2019 (aged 80)
Position(s) Wing-half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1955-1959 Walsall 99 (9)
1960-1960 West Bromwich Albion 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Football career

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Billingham was associated with Worcester City F.C., Brierley Hill Alliance F.C. and Hednesford Town F.C.[1] before making his professional debut for Walsall during October 1955 and played 99 times for the club. He was transferred to West Bromwich Albion for £7,000 in May 1960.[2]

Greyhound racing career

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After retiring from football Billingham pursued a career in greyhound racing. He became a trainer and had a career that lasted over forty years until he retired in 2008 and handed the kennels to his daughter Kim. He trained out of the Swindon near Dudley kennels[3] and was contracted at Kings Heath, Cradley, Norton Canes and a long association with Monmore Green Stadium.[4]

Some of his highlights included reaching the 2007 Oaks final and training Honeygar Bell, who broke the Oxford Stadium track record[5] and receiving a lifetime achievement award in 2008, at the Midland Greyhound Ball at the NEC Hilton Metropole, Birmingham.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "No.74 Peter Arnold Billingham" (PDF). Hednesford Town F.C.
  2. ^ Hugman, Barry (1998). The PFA Premier and Football League Players' records 1946-1998. Queen Anne Press. p. 56. ISBN 1-85291-585-4.
  3. ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  4. ^ "Peter Billingham". Greyhound Star.
  5. ^ "14 November race". Greyhound Data.
  6. ^ "Dog Racing: Billingham brings house down; MIDLAND AWARDS". The Racing Post.