Billy Rodaway

William Vincent Rodaway (born 26 September 1954) is an English former football player and manager. A central defender, he made more than 400 appearances in the Football League, playing for Burnley, Peterborough United, Blackpool and Tranmere Rovers. He later played non-league football for Runcorn, Altrincham and Colne Dynamoes, and also had non-playing roles at Halifax Town, Runcorn, Morecambe, Altrincham and Colne Dynamoes before a spell as Accrington Stanley manager in 1998.

Playing career Born in Liverpool, Rodaway played for England at schoolboy level. He started his career at Burnley, making his debut towards the end of the 1971–72 season, though it took until Colin Waldron's departure in 1976 for Rodaway to receive regular game time as a central defender. He later played for Blackpool and Tranmere Rovers. He was released at the end of the season, In January 1988, Runcorn agreed a swap deal with Altrincham where Rodaway would join Altrincham in exchange for Eddie Bishop, though to allow the transfer to go through more quickly, Rodaway and Bishop were made free agents by their clubs. Rodaway never completed his move to Altrincham however, and signed for Colne Dynamoes instead. He won the 1987–88 FA Vase with Colne.

Managerial career Rodaway was appointed as assistant manager of Morecambe in August 1990, He was assistant to John Carroll at Runcorn and moved to become his assistant at Halifax Town in April 1996, but left the club in February 1997. He later worked as a coach at Altrincham prior to being appointed manager of Accrington Stanley in April 1998. He was sacked in December following a 5–0 defeat to Bamber Bridge.