Introduction
William Thomas "Billy" Sperrin (9 April 1922 – 21 June 2000) was an English football inside forward and coach. He made 100 appearances as a player for Brentford and was later a member of the coaching staff at Hillingdon Borough for 12 years.
Club career
Early years
An inside forward, Sperrin began his career as an amateur at Division Two side Tottenham Hotspur and also represented Middlesex Schools. His career was interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, but he managed to make 26 wartime appearances for Spurs, scoring six goals. He also turned out as a guest for Clapton Orient, Fulham, Millwall, Bradford Park Avenue, Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea during the war. After the war, Sperrin dropped into non-league football and had a short spell at Athenian League side Finchley, then spending a season with Southern League side Guildford City.
Brentford
Sperrin joined Division Two side Brentford in September 1949, linking up with former Guildford City teammate Fred Monk. He made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday at Griffin Park on 1 October 1949. He gradually broke into the team and scored 11 goals in 35 appearances during the 1951–52 season. Sperrin's appearances tailed off after that, making just 23 appearances between August 1952 and his final appearance in September 1956. He was jointly awarded a testimonial with George Bristow, Ken Horne and Reg Newton against an International Managers XI in 1956. Sperrin made 100 appearances for Brentford during his seven years with the club and scored 30 goals.
Non-league football
Sperrin dropped back into non-league football in 1956, linking up with fellow Brentford departee Reg Newton at Kent League Division One side Tunbridge Wells United. He saw out his career with a 14-year spell at Southern League club Hillingdon Borough and finally North Greenford United.
Coaching career
After his retirement as a player, Sperrin went on to serve Yiewsley (later named Hillingdon Borough) for 12 years in the trainer, coach, assistant manager and caretaker manager roles. As assistant manager, he had the honour of leading the team out for the 1971 FA Trophy final at Wembley Stadium, as player-manager Jim Langley included himself in the starting lineup as a player.
Personal life
Sperrin's brother James was also a footballer and the brothers' early careers mirrored each other, with both on the books at Tottenham and later signing for Finchley. Sperrin's son Martyn was also a footballer, making a single professional appearance for Luton Town in April 1978 and also playing for Edgware Town, Barnet and Wealdstone.
Honours
Hillingdon Borough
- Southern League Division One runner-up: 1965–66
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brentford | 1949–50 | Second Division | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 3 |
| 1950–51 | 26 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 11 | ||
| 1951–52 | 31 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 35 | 11 | ||
| 1952–53 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 3 | ||
| 1953–54 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||
| 1954–55 | Third Division South | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| 1955–56 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 90 | 27 | 10 | 3 | 100 | 30 | ||