Bill Townsend

William Townsend (27 December 1922 – 21 December 1988) was an English football player and manager. A goalkeeper he played for Nuneaton Borough, before moving to Derby County as a wartime guest, then becoming a professional player, he would then end his career at Burton Albion and Banbury Spencer. He would later return to Burton Albion as a player and later manager.

Career Early career Townsend started his footballing career as a teenager at home town Nuneaton Borough before joining Derby County in 1939 as a wartime guest player.

Derby County After World War II ended, Townsend made his Derby senior debut on 2 March 1946, in a FA Cup quarter final tie against Aston Villa in front of 74,588 fans at Villa Park. However Vic Woodley was not eligible to play in the games against Villa would play in the semi-final and the 1946 FA Cup final, so Townsend missed out on a winners medal. In 1947–48, Woodley and Grant would both leave Derby and Townsend had three seasons where he came first choice goalkeeper. Terry Webster and Harry Brown took over goalkeeping duties and when Ray Middleton joined in 1951, Townsend went two years and nine months without making a first team appearance. Townsend left Derby in July 1953, In June 1957, Townsend would join Banbury Spencer.

Managerial career Townsend would return to Burton Albion in September 1959, as player-manager, Townsend would retire as a player in 1960 and he made 204 appearances in his two spells as a player.

Death Townsend died 21 December 1988, six days short of his 66th birthday in Thornton-Cleveleys.

Honours In 2021, Townsend was posthumously inducted into the Burton Albion Hall of Fame.