Everyone at Edgeley Park were saddened to hear of the death of our former left back Billy Webb, who passed away on Saturday 30th October at the age of 89.
A native of Mexborough, he made very rapid progress in the early stages of his career. Having joined local team Wath as a 19 year old in March 1951, he was almost immediately signed by Rochdale in the May of that year. He was to play only one friendly game at Spotland and incredibly one month later he was signed by 2nd Division Leicester City for £1,250.
During a 6 year period at Filbert Street, he was to make 49 league and cup appearances for The Foxes. Like many young players of the era, he was unlucky to have his career interrupted by National Service, and he was unable to establish himself in a strong Leicester team that were regularly in the top half of the 2nd Division. The team won the 2nd Division title in 1954 and Webb was to play three times in the top division as the team struggled and were relegated. Two seasons later Leicester were to win the 2nd Division title again, with Webb playing three times, before being sold to County in the summer of 1957.
Unsurprisingly for as player of his pedigree, Webb was to immediately impress at Edgeley Park and over the next 6 years he was to become a very consistent player, missing only a handful of games. He made his debut at Bradford City in August 1957 and was an ever present in his first season. A quiet and unassuming character he let his performances do his talking and was again ever present in County’s first season back in the 4th Division in 1959-60. In 1960-61 he again made the left back position his own, playing in County’s first ever League Cup game at home to Carlisle United, as well as playing in all of the FA Cup games that culminated in a visit to Newcastle United, where County played in front of their then largest ever attendance of 48,715.
He was released in May 1963, having made an impressive 262 first team league and cup appearances for County. He moved to Hyde United and returned to Edgeley Park in April 1964, to play in the benefit game that the Club awarded him, alongside his colleague Harold Lea.
After his player career finished, he remained in Stockport. He was a devout Jehovah’s Witness and was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and was a very quiet, humble man who never bragged about his footballing history.
In recent years he was affected by Alzheimer’s and had recently moved to North Wales to be closer to his family.
Billy is fondly remembered as a loyal and dependable player who represented County with great distinction. He played at the highest levels of English football and County were lucky to have a player of his quality.
We send our condolences to his wife, family and friends at this very sad time.
