Billy McAdams

Any of you older nutters remember Billy McAdams?
We signed the Northern Irish international in 1960 as a replacement for Nat Lofthouse,and in his first season he scored 18 goals in just 27 league appearances. Not bad.
His second season was ravaged with injury,and he managed only eight. 
Don Revie took him to Leeds for £12,000.
He wasn't with us long,but I rarely hear him mentioned.

No.

Next on Radio Four,The Archers.

I remember Lofthouse playing so I should remember McAdams - but I don't.

Sorry.

A lot of people have said the same thing Sluffy,and to be fair,I can't claim to have been that aware of him myself.
It was earlier this week,when I was sorting through some old programmes from 1960,that I noticed his name cropping up at No.9 on the team sheets.
He scored a hat trick for NI against West Germany,and came out on the losing side.
26/10/1960 Belfast West Germany 3-4 Billy McAdams (3)
Jack McClelland, Dick Keith, Alex Elder, Danny Blanchflower, Tommy Forde, Bertie Peacock, Billy Bingham, Jimmy McIlroy, Billy McAdams, Jimmy Hill, Peter McParland

McADAMS SCORES THREE GOALS, GERMANY FOUR
The Times – Thursday 27th October
In spite of three goals by McAdams, the Bolton Wanderers centre-forward, Northern Ireland lost the first leg of their world cup game against west Germany, who won by 4-3 at Windsor Park, Belfast, yesterday. The goals for Germany were scored by Bruells, Seeler, and Doerfel (two).
Ireland showed considerable promise and in the first half, in particular, it seemed as if they might emerge as winners when, for a time, they had Germany on the run. In the second half, after taking a 2-1 lead, they fell away and allowed the quick-moving German forwards to take control.
Ireland were certainly the more dangerous early in the game, but Germany scored first, Bruells hitting a brilliant goal from just outside the penalty area. After a period of German domination, however, McAdams scored the first of his three goals when he headed a centre from Bingham well out of Tilkowski’s reach…
McAdams scored 10 minutes after the interval, but the Irish lead was short-lived, for Seeler took advantage of a defensive slip to put his side level again. Then Doerfel made it 3-2 two minutes later when the ball came in from the right over McClelland’s head…
Ten minutes from the end Doerfel raced in from the left to score his side’s fourth goal, and just on the final whistle McAdams, from six yards, drove the ball into the net for Ireland’s third.

I can't remember him at all. I remember the usual suspects: Roy Hartle, Freddie Hill, Ray Parry, Syd Farrimond, Eddie Hoppy in goal and I know it's around the time Franny Lee came through from the youth team but I thought Nat was still playing then?
Worrying that I don't remember such a prolific goalscorer.

Big rough up and at them type centre forward. Seem to remember him wearing the No. 9 shirt when Francis Lee made his debut v citeh. Probably one of the very few times Sir Nat didn't wear the 9 shirt. He wore 8 that day. Always liked McAdams for the short period he was with us. Signed Ron McGarry shortly after from Workington, anyone remember him?

Barryjw wrote:Big rough up and at them type centre forward. Seem to remember him wearing the No. 9 shirt when Francis Lee made his debut v citeh. Probably one of the very few times Sir Nat didn't wear the 9 shirt. He wore 8 that day. Always liked McAdams for the short period he was with us. Signed Ron McGarry shortly after from Workington, anyone remember him?

I remember Ron. Just looked him up to check his record.
27 appearances/7 goals.
Apparently,he used to carry printed cards with 'Have goals will travel' on them.

I remember the name but only started in 1963 just after Nat finished 
Hopkinson- Hartle, Farrimond, Rimmer, Edwards, Hatton, Lee, Bromley, Davies, Hill, Taylor.
This was the team after we were relegated i started when we declined
My first team but i did see people like Dougie Holden who played prior to that.

Here's one. Geoff Sleight,an Australian international,born in Barnsley.

Played two games for the Wanderers in 61/62,before moving on to Wigan.
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I can remember both McAdams and McGarry played for us, but can't actually remember them playing, too long ago for me.

Found this video yesterday, its a bit long but its more about the state of the pitch and the players we had at the time..

Banks of the Croal wrote:I can remember both McAdams and McGarry played for us, but can't actually remember them playing, too long ago for me.

Found this video yesterday, its a bit long but its more about the state of the pitch and the players we had at the time..

Thanks I enjoyed that.

Great stuff Banksy.
That pitch would sort a few modern day ponces out.
Odd camera angle.

Glad you both liked the video, you might be interested in this, i was there but can't remember much about the actual game or this incident.
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Headington are Oxford United these days. Very posh area Headington.

It certainly wasn't posh around the Manor Ground!

In fact the most noticeable thing around was this -

The Headington Shark

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