Billy Scott – Everton’s 1st Cup Winning keeper

Billy Scott, who kept goal for Everton when they won the FA Cup for the first time in 1906, has recently had his grave rededicated in Anfield Cemetery.

billyscottportrait

Born in Belfast in 1882, Billy won the Irish League and Irish Cup with Linfield before joining Everton in 1904. An Irish international, he competed with Welshman Leigh Roose during his first season when Everton finished second in the league. However in 1905-06 established himself as the club’s first choice keeper.

In the semi-final of the FA Cup, Everton beat rivals Liverpool 2-0 to set up a clash with Newcastle United at the Crystal Palace.  Newcastle were the favourites, but struggled to cope with the windy conditions and Billy had very little to do.  Alex Young, who had already had one goal ruled out for offside, scored after an hour and it was enough to win the game for Everton.

Billy helped Everton to the cup final again the following year but they were beaten in the final by Sheffield Wednesday. He was also part of the Everton side that finished second in the league in 1909 and 1912. In total he played 289 times for the club.

billy scott

Photo by Kieran Smith

In the summer of 1912 Billy made a controversial move to Leeds City. They were in the second division and paid him a full year’s salary at a time when players were meant to receive less wages  during summer. He was eventually forced by the football authorities to pay the excess money back and during his two years in Yorkshire he failed to win promotion.

Billy returned to Merseyside in 1914 and joined Liverpool as reserve keeper, but he never played a competitive fixture for the first team in the 1914-15. The Football League was suspended during World War I but he did play 27 times for Liverpool in regional games before retiring from playing in 1919.

Billy was capped by Ireland 25 times and in 1913 he was a member of the first Irish side to beat England, 2-1 at Windsor Park. After his playing career finished he remained in Liverpool, working alongside his wife in the licensed trade.

After dying of pneumonia in 1936 Billy Scott was buried in Anfield Cemetery in a grave that was left unmarked. The Everton Heritage Society, with the help of the club and relatives, have now arranged for the grave to be rededicated and a new memorial was unveiled on 17th May 2017.