Billy Bassett
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | William Isiah Bassett | ||
Date of birth | 27 January 1869 | ||
Place of birth | West Bromwich, England | ||
Date of death | 9 April 1937 | (aged 68)||
Place of death | West Bromwich, England | ||
Position(s) |
Outside right | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1884–1885 | West Bromwich Strollers | ||
1885–1886 | Old Church F.C. | ||
1886–1899 | West Bromwich Albion | 261 | (61[1][2]) |
International career | |||
1888–1896 | England | 16 | (8) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
William Isiah Bassett (27 January 1869 – 8 April 1937) was an English association footballer, director, and club chairman who served West Bromwich Albion for over half a century.
Biography
Playing career
Born in
Director and chairman
Bassett became an Albion director in 1905, following the resignation of the previous board in its entirety. The club was in deep financial trouble and had had a writ served upon them by their bank, but Bassett and returning chairman Harry Keys rescued the club, aided by local fund-raising activities.[9] Bassett became chairman in 1908, and helped the club to avoid bankruptcy once more in 1910 by paying the players' summer wages from his own pocket.[10] He remained Albion's chair until his death.
His activities in the wider footballing world let him to take an active role in the development of both
Death and legacy
Billy Bassett died in West Bromwich on 8 April 1937 at the age of 68. Two days after his death, a minute silence was held prior to Albion's 4–1 defeat to Preston North End in the FA Cup semi-final at Highbury. The Albion players were clearly affected, with Teddy Sandford saying:[12]
We were all too full up to play. Mr Bassett's death stunned the whole team – even the supporters. He was such a well-respected person. He taught me a lot and I must admit that I was tearful for most of the first half following the minute's silence before the kickoff.
More than 100,000 people lined the streets of West Bromwich for Bassett's funeral procession.
In 1998, he was listed among the Football League 100 Legends,[13] while in 2004 he was named as one of West Bromwich Albion's 16 greatest players, in a poll organised as part of the club's 125th anniversary celebrations.[14]
Honours
West Bromwich Albion
Notes
- ^ "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 25 March 2018. (registration & fee required)
- ISBN 978-1-78091-154-0.
- ^ "England Players – Billy Bassett".
- ^ "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 25 March 2018. (registration & fee required)
- ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
- ISBN 978-1-78091-154-0.
- ISBN 0-907969-23-2.
- ISBN 978-1-85983-565-4.
- ^ McOwan pp. 33–34.
- ^ McOwan pp. 34–35.
- ^ Adrian Chiles (presenter) (2005). Full Throstle: The Official History of West Bromwich Albion (DVD). Manchester, England: Paul Doherty International. Event occurs at 18:20. Cat No. WBADVD05. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
- ^ McOwan p. 55.
- ^ "Football Legends list in full". BBC News. 5 August 1998. Retrieved 11 November 2007.
- ^ "The wraps come off 125th anniversary mural". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 17 November 2004. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2007.
References
- Billy Bassett at Englandstats.com
- McOwan, Gavin (2002). The Essential History of West Bromwich Albion. Headline. ISBN 0-7553-1146-9.