Bill Carrier
Two world wars and the debut game for
the Town
It can be pretty tedious trawling through registration books
and newspaper microfiche when researching Merthyr Town players who may have
served in the First World War but some of the stories need to be told to a new
generation.
One of the characters that was rediscovered was Williams
Sebastian Carrier who was known as just Bill Carrier throughout his life.
Bill Carrier was born in Huyton on 20th January
1885. He was a labourer at sixteen years of age but started his football career
with Stretford in the Manchester League before joining Manchester United in
September 1906, it didn’t seem to work out for him though as he returned to
Stretford within a year. Bill seems to now have moved to South Wales to live and
to eventually take up the challenge of registering for the fledgling new
professional football club at Penydarren Park called of course Merthyr Town FC.
He signed contract forms in August 1908 and made his debut in the club’s first
ever game. A friendly match at home on 5th September against
Swansea. We lost 2-1. He seems to be an ever present in the team also playing
in the club’s first competitive match at Aberdare two weeks later. Another
defeat, this time 4-0. A fortnight later he set a record as being the first Merthyr
player to be sent off. He thumped a Treharris player! Ironically he joined
Treharris for the following season but didn’t stay long as by November he was
at Troedyrhiw Stars but 3 months later he was once again on the move this time
to Midlands to play for Birmingham City. It was around this time that the FAW
offered him a cap for Wales as he had been living in the country but after
discovering he was born in England the offer was withdrawn. Bill’s football
career was drawing to an end though and spells at Kidderminster Harriers,
Pontypridd and Worcester City followed.
Bill signed as a regular soldier with the King’s (Liverpool)
Regiment. He served on the North West Frontier before the Great War and then
went to France on 9th May 1915. Bill’s military service is difficult
to track but there is an intriguing headline in his local newspaper detailing
how he was instrumental in capturing a German spy in July 1915 who was attired
in the clothes of a British officer. He received a special acknowledgement from
his superior officers.
After the war he moved to Jersey where he served as a prison
officer. In a book about the famous British double agent Eddie Chapman it was
reported that Chapman said “I remember a fine old chap called Bill Carrier who was
an ex-professional footballer who had played for several first division teams
in Britain. He barely concealed his contempt for the Germans. When they came on
a visit he would dourly touch his cap to their commander and only just obey
their orders. But as soon as the Nazi had turned his back he would wink at us
and give the V-sign”.
Bill Carrier who played in our first ever game and survived
two world wars died in Jersey in 1964 aged 79 years. He is buried in St Clement
Parish Church graveyard.
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