Peter Billing

Peter Graham Billing (born 24 October 1964) is an English former footballer who played in central defence. He made 281 league and cup appearances in an eleven-year career in the Football League.

A former South Liverpool player, he turned professional with Everton in January 1986. He featured in the Super Cup final, but he was sold to Crewe Alexandra for £12,000 in December 1986. He helped the "Railwaymen" to win promotion out of the Fourth Division in 1988–89, before he was sold to Coventry City for £120,000 in June 1989. He made 58 top-flight appearances for the "Sky Blues" before joining Port Vale for a £35,000 fee in May 1993, following a successful three-month loan spell in which he featured in the club's Football League Trophy success. He helped the "Valiants" to win promotion out of the Second Division in 1993–94. He was allowed to leave on a free transfer in May 1995. He then spent a season each with Hartlepool United and former club Crewe Alexandra before he went into non-League football with Northwich Victoria, Bamber Bridge and Witton Albion.

Career Born in Liverpool, Billing started his career with local non-League side South Liverpool before being signed up by Howard Kendall at Everton in January 1986. He only played one First Division game for the "Toffees". Also, he featured in both legs of the 1986 Super Cup final defeat to rivals Liverpool. He left Goodison Park after being sold to Crewe Alexandra for £12,000 in December 1986. The "Railwaymen" finished 17th in the Fourth Division in 1986–87 and 1987–88. Manager Dario Gradi took the Gresty Road club to promotion in 1988–89 with a third-place finish. Billing made 88 league appearances for the club in his two and a half seasons in Cheshire.

He was sold to Coventry City for £120,000 in June 1989 as manager John Sillett needed defensive cover. The "Sky Blues" finished 12th in the top-flight in the 1989–90 season, though Billing had to wait until October before making his club debut in the League Cup. He impressed manager John Rudge and was signed permanently for a £35,000 fee in May 1993. He later played for Bamber Bridge, but left Bamber Bridge in March 1998. He signed with Witton Albion, but retired in September 1999 to concentrate on becoming a PE instructor. He came out of retirement to rejoin Witton Albion two months later. He started 35 games in the 1999–2000 campaign as Nigel Gleghorn's Albion finished third in the Northern Premier League Division One, missing out on both promotion and the league title on goal difference.

Style of play Billing was a "fearsome combative" defender.

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals Everton 1985–86 First Division

1986–87 Fourth Division

1987–88 Fourth Division

1988–89 Fourth Division

88!!1!!5!!0!!11!!0!!104!!1

1989–90 First Division

1990–91 First Division

1991–92 First Division

1992–93 Premier League

58!!1!!7!!0!!12!!0!!77!!1

1992–93 Second Division

1993–94 Second Division

1994–95 First Division

26!!0!!0!!0!!6!!0!!32!!0 Hartlepool United 1995–96 Third Division

Crewe Alexandra 1996–97 Second Division

224!!2!!15!!0!!42!!0!!281!!2

Honours Everton Super Cup runner-up: 1986

Crewe Alexandra Football League Fourth Division third-place promotion: 1988–89

Port Vale Football League Trophy: 1993 Football League Second Division second-place promotion: 1993–94