Billy Kingdon

Background

Kingdon was born in Worcester and after playing for Kidderminster Harriers, joined Aston Villa in 1925.

Career

Towards the end of his career, he joined Southampton, before becoming a manager in lower-league football. Aston Villa

Kingdon left Villa 1936 to join Southampton

Southampton

At Southampton he displayed "a nice line in distribution and looked to be an asset". Hill immediately took over both the captaincy and Bill"s Number.

6 shirt, and after Hill"s arrival, Kingdon only made one further appearance, and in January 1938 joined Yeovil & Petters United as player-manager.

Yeovil Town

He remained with Yeovil for the duration of World World War II, but in 1946 he returned to his trade as a carpenter. In 1947 he accepted the position as manager at Weymouth, combining this with running the Fountain Hotel in Weymouth.

He died in Weymouth in March 1977, aged 71.

Achievements

• In his time at Villa Park, Villa were moderately successful, reaching the Football League runners-up position twice, in 1930-1931 and 1932-1933, and the FA Cup semi-final in 1933-1934. After this there came a period of decline, culminating in relegation in 1935-1936, thereby becoming the last of the founder members of the football league to lose top flight status for the first time. He briefly became team captain until, in September 1937, new manager Tom Parker acquired the services of Scottish international Frank Hill, who had won the Football League title three times with Arsenal (in 1932-1933, 1933-1934 and 1934-1935).

Connections

Partner:

Bill Kennedy