Billy Houliston

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Personal information
Billy Houliston
Full name	William Houliston
Date of birth	4 April 1921
Place of birth	Dumfries, Scotland
Date of death	February 10, 1999 (aged 77)
Playing position	Striker
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1945-1952 1952-1953 1953	Queen of the South Berwick Rangers Third Lanark
National team²
1948-1949	Scotland	3 (2)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 July 07. ² National team caps and goals correct as of 13 July 07. * Appearances (Goals)

William "Billy" Houliston (born 4 April 1921 in Dumfries; died 10 February 1999) was a Scottish footballer who played for Queen of the South, Berwick Rangers, Third Lanark and the Scotland national team.

He is perhaps best known for his seven seasons at home town club Queen of the South, where he signed in 1945 from local side Crichton Royal F.C. Nick named "Basher" from his 'afraid of no one' style,^[1]Houliston was the idol of Palmerston Park in the late 1940s. Manager Jimmy McKinnell Junior joined in 1946 as did goalkeeper Roy Henderson and full back Dougie Sharpe.In 1949 the goals king of Queens and Scotland cap Jim Patterson signed. Jimmy Binning joined in 1951.

During Houliston's time as a Queen of the South player they spent only one season out of the top division of Scottish football. That season was 1950-51 when they were promoted straight back to the top flight as Scottish B Division champions. The success of that season was enhanced by a run to the semi final of the Scottish League Cup. ^[2] [1]

In 1950 they reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals for the only time in the 20th century.

Houliston's displays were recognised by Scotland and he was capped in 1948 for the Scottish League v The League of Ireland. Houliston's goalscoring form then earned him three full Scotland caps in 1948-49. He scored twice on his Scotland debut, a 3-2 Hampden win over Northern Ireland and played in the Wembley win against England (3-1). This 3rd cap was again at Hampden, the 2 - 0 win over France. In all Houliston collected 9 caps at different levels and never played in a losing Scotland side.^[3]

After an ankle injury, he left Queen of the South in July 1952 and signed for Berwick Rangers. A year later he joined Third Lanark but retired soon after due to injury.

After his playing career he became a director at Queen of the South and was later chairman for several years.

[edit] International caps

#	Date	Opponent	Result	Competition
1	17 November 1948	Northern Ireland	SCOTLAND 3 - 2 NORTHERN IRELAND	UK international championships
2	9 April 1949	England	ENGLAND 1 - 3 SCOTLAND	UK international championships
3	27 April 1949	France	SCOTLAND 2 - 0 FRANCE	Challenge match