Wing Half
Born: Methil, Fife (Scotland), 21 September 1924; Died: East Wemyss, Fifeshire (Scotland), 9 November 2002.
Career: WOLVES juniors Aug 39, professional Mar 45, Aston Villa Nov 53, Leicester City (guest), Mansfield Town (guest), Notts County (guest), East Fife manager, Raith Rovers manager.
Family Connections: Stuart Baxter (son).
Billy Baxter was educated at Vale of Leven School and joined Wolves juniors in 1939 but due to the out brake of World War Two he joined the RAF and had to wait until May 1945 to turn professional and a further 39 months to make his Football league debut. He ultimately only made 47 senior appearances for the club as back up Wing-half to the likes of Billy Crook, Bill Shorthouse and Billy Wright. He did make 224 appearances for the Reserves (a club record) and helped the club to win the Central League title for three consecutive seasons 1950-53. Bill also picked up a Staffordshire Cup winners medal in 1950.
Baxter then went on to make 108 appearance for Aston Villa as well as netting six goals before joining there coaching staff. He also Baxter guested for Mansfield Town and Notts County. during the hostilities.
Football League
Appearances: 141, Goals: 7.
First Team
Debut: Everton (h) 4/12/48.
FL | FAC | LC | Oth | Tot | |||||||||||
A | S | G | A | S | G | A | S | G | A | S | G | A | S | G | |
1948/49 | 5 | – | – | – | 5 | ||||||||||
1949/50 | 3 | – | – | – | 3 | ||||||||||
1950/51 | 2 | – | – | – | 2 | ||||||||||
1951/52 | 20 | 1 | 3 | – | – | 23 | 1 | ||||||||
1952/53 | 8 | 1 | – | – | 9 | ||||||||||
1953/54 | 5 | – | – | – | 5 | ||||||||||
Total | 43 | 1 | 4 | – | – | 47 | 1 |
Reserves
Debut: Bury ‘R’ (H) 25/8/45.
CL | SC | BC | Oth | Tot | |||||||||||
A | S | G | A | S | G | A | S | G | A | S | G | A | S | G | |
1945/46 | 2 | – | – | – | 2 | ||||||||||
1946/47 | 11 | – | – | – | 11 | ||||||||||
1947/48 | 38 | 2 | – | – | – | 38 | 2 | ||||||||
1948/49 | 34 | 4 | 1 | – | – | 35 | 4 | ||||||||
1949/50 | 36 | 4 | 3 | – | – | 39 | 4 | ||||||||
1950/51 | 36 | 1 | 3 | – | – | 39 | 1 | ||||||||
1951/52 | 18 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 20 | 1 | ||||||||
1952/53 | 29 | 3 | 1 | – | – | 30 | 3 | ||||||||
1953/54 | 9 | – | – | 1 | 10 | ||||||||||
Total | 213 | 15 | 9 | – | 2 | 224 | 15 |