Billy Garraty

William "Billy" Garraty (6 October 1878 – 6 May 1931) was a football (soccer) player in the early years of professional football in England, who played for Aston Villa from Aug. 1897 - Sept. 1908. Before playing for Villa he played for Aston Shakespeare.

Garraty made his league debut for Villa during the 1897/98 season but made just one other appearance that year and remained a bit part player as Villa won the title the following year. Garraty became a first team regular in the 1899/1900 season as Villa retained their title while being on the wrong end of a major F A cup upset against Southern League Millwall Athletic. [ [http://www.freewebs.com/captainbeecher/number18.htm Match report Aston Villa vs Millwall Athletic 1900] ]

Garraty went on to make 224 league appearances for the Villians, scoring 96 league goals, as well as helping his side to F A cup success in 1905.

In 1906 Garraty lost his place in the Villa line up and made only a handfull of appearances before signing for leicester Fosse in 1908. Garraty failed to find the net in six appearances and the Foxes suffered relegation at the end of the season.

The remainder of Garraty's league career was spent in the second division with two years at West Bromwich Albion followed by his fina season before retirement in 1910/11 with Lincoln City.

References

* [http://web.telia.com/~u27301997/485.html Billy Garraty's Bio]

Official website at http://www.freewebs.com/billygarraty