| Fullname | William Webber Walter Gerrish[1] |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 28 December 1884[2] |
| Birth place | Bristol, England |
| Death date | 8 August 1916 (aged 31)[3] |
| Death place | Somme, France[3] |
| Height | 5ft 9in[4] |
| Position | Inside forward |
| Youthclubs 1 | Eastville Board School |
| Years 1 | –1905 |
| Clubs 1 | Freemantle |
| Years 2 | 1905–1909 |
| Clubs 2 | Bristol Rovers |
| Caps 2 | 49 |
| Goals 2 | 11 |
| Years 3 | 1909–1912 |
| Clubs 3 | Aston Villa |
| Caps 3 | 55 |
| Goals 3 | 17 |
| Years 4 | 1912 |
| Clubs 4 | Preston North End |
| Caps 4 | 3 |
| Goals 4 | 0 |
| Years 5 | 1912–1913 |
| Clubs 5 | Chesterfield Town |
| Caps 5 | 8 |
| Goals 5 | 0 |
William Webber Walter Gerrish (28 December 1884 – 8 August 1916), sometimes known as Willie Gerrish, was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward in the Football League for Aston Villa and Preston North End.[1][5]
Personal life
Gerrish's brother Howard was also a footballer.[4] In February 1915, six months into the First World War, Gerrish enlisted in the Football Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment.[6] He was severely wounded in both legs by a shell blast at Delville Wood on 8 August 1916 and died later that day.[6] Gerrish has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.[3]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bristol Rovers | 1905–06[7] | Southern League First Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 1906–07[7] | Southern League First Division | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 2 | ||
| 1907–08[7] | Southern League First Division | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 1 | ||
| 1908–09[7] | Southern League First Division | 29 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | 29 | 8 | ||
| Total | 49 | 11 | 0 | 0 | — | 49 | 11 | |||
| Aston Villa | 1909–10[8] | First Division | 36 | 14 | 3 | 1 | — | 39 | 15 | |
| 1910–11[8] | First Division | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 3 | ||
| 1911–12[8] | First Division | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| Total | 55 | 17 | 3 | 1 | — | 58 | 18 | |||
| Chesterfield Town | 1912–13[9] | Midland League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Career total | 63 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 18 | ||
Honours
Aston Villa
References
- ^ Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 109. ISBN 978-1905891610.
- ^ "Southern League Players Index 1899–1920". Bristol Rovers Memorabilia. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
- ^
- ^ "We Will Remember Them". www.bristolrovers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Gerrish, William Webber Walter (Billy)". Aston Villa Player Database. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ "Club Remembers its Somme Casualties". Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ "Bristol Rovers match record". The Bristol Rovers History Group. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "William Webber Walter Gerrish". 11v11.com. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ "Line-ups – 1912–13". Sky is Blue – Chesterfield FC history & statistics. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ Riddoch, Andrew & Kemp, David (2010). When the Whistle Blows: The Story of the Footballers' Battalion in the Great War. Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset: Haynes Publishing. p. 138. ISBN 978-0857330772.