About Bill Smalley
Lived 1864 – 1912 (aged 47–48). Bill Smalley was a British association football player.
Career Smalley was born in Darwen and was on the books of Preston North End's reserve team but had not played for the first–team. When Stoke went to Deepdale, the home of Preston North End on 6 October 1888 they were missing two players who failed to board the train the morning so Preston lent them Smalley and fellow reserve team player Alfred Dempsey. The visitors were overwhelmed in a 7–0 defeat and Smalley never played first–team football again. Smalley' brother Robert Smalley played in goal for Everton.
Career statistics
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Important facts
People in Bill Smalley's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Bill Smalley's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bill Smalley?
English footballer (1864-1912)
When was Bill Smalley born?
Bill Smalley was born in 1864 in Lancaster.
When did Bill Smalley die?
Bill Smalley died in 1912.
What was Bill Smalley's occupation?
Bill Smalley was an association football player.
What nationality was Bill Smalley?
Bill Smalley was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bill Smalley. https://biography.guide/bill-smalley-association-football-player/
MLA: "Bill Smalley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bill-smalley-association-football-player/.
Chicago: "Bill Smalley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bill-smalley-association-football-player/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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