Billy Minter
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 16 April 1888 | ||
| Place of birth | Woolwich, London, England | ||
| Date of death | 21 May 1940 (aged 52) | ||
| Place of death | Bruce Grove, Tottenham, London | ||
| Position(s) | Inside forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Norwich City | |||
| 1905 | Woolwich Arsenal | ||
| 1906–1908 | Reading | ||
| 1908–1920 | Tottenham Hotspur | 243 | (95) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1927–1934 | Tottenham Hotspur | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Born William James Minter (16 April 1888 in Woolwich – 21 May 1940),[1] "Billy" Minter was a player, trainer, manager and assistant secretary at Tottenham Hotspur.
Personal life
Minter was born in Woolwich in 1888. In 1908, he married Elizabeth Eliza Whybrow at St. Thomas Church.[2]
Playing career
Minter started his playing career as an amateur at Norwich City, and then at Woolwich Arsenal in 1905 for three months playing largely in the reserve team. He then joined Reading before moving to Spurs in March 1908.[3] His first goal for the club came on his debut against Millwall which became the first of many that led to him becoming top-scorer for the next three seasons which helped the club retain top flight status. He remained as a player for Spurs for 18 years until 1926, making 334 appearances and scoring 101 goals the club in all competitions.[4] He was the top scorer for the club until the record was broken by Jimmy Dimmock in 1930.[5]
Spurs was elected to the Football League Second Division in 1908. In Spurs' first year in the Football League, Minter scored 14 goals for the club, which finished runner-up in the Second Division that season and was promoted to the First Division.[6] Spurs however struggled in their first year in the top flight, but narrowly avoided relegation when they beat Chelsea in the last game of the season with goals from Minter and a former Chelsea player Percy Humphreys, sending Chelsea down instead.[7]
Minter joined the military service at the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. He served as a sergeant and was awarded Meritorious Service Medal, but was wounded in 1917.[5] Not long after his return from the war he was made club captain only to announce his retirement at the end of the 1919-20 season after being replaced in the starting line-up by Jimmy Banks.[8]
After retiring as player, he was appointed trainer at Tottenham in June 1920, serving under Peter McWilliam. He was also a trainer for the England team in 1926. Although long retired, he played a further game for Spurs filling in for Frank Osborne who was taken ill before an away game to Hull.[5]
Managerial career
Peter McWilliam's left in 1927 to manage Midddlesbrough, and Minter took over the position on 28 February 1927. However, in his first year as manager, Spurs was relegated to the second division. He remained as manager for three years before resigning due to failing health, brought on by the stress of an unsuccessful reign, failing to lift the club out of Second Division. He was succeeded by Percy Smith. Despite this he still remained dedicated to the club and took up a position in the club's administrate offices — a post he held until his death on 21 May 1940.[9]
References
- ^ Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records. soccerdata. p. 186. ISBN 1-899468-63-3.
- ^ 1911 England Census
- ^ Goodwin, Bob (29 August 1988). Spurs: A Complete Record 1882-1988. Breedon Books. p. 61. ISBN 978-0907969426.
- ^ "Billy Minter Stats on THFC site". Archived from the original on 3 June 2009.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Harrison, Keith (29 September 2016). "Hotspurs Tower - Billy Minter". India Spurs.
- ^ Harrison, Keith (8 September 2016). "Tottenham Mysteries-The Lost Goal Mine". India Spurs.
- ^ Holme, Logan (30 April 1910). "Tottenham Survive But Chelsea Are Relegated". Hotspur HQ.
- ^ "Spurs Legends: Billy Minter". Tottenham Hotspur. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007.
- ^ "Billy Minter post retirement on THFC site".