Bloody hell, I got the name right! I remember he missed the next game and when it was announced he was injured, there were a few laughs.
Billy Elliot was indeed as hard as nails. Feared nobody. He had a small grocery shop at the bottom of Bede Street for a time. He was, like Shackleton, born in Bradford. We signed him as a fast,direct left winger from Burnley for £26,000 in 1953. After a couple of seasons at left wing, he moved, as you say, to left half whenever George Aitken wasn't available, and later, to left back until we signed Joe McDonald from Falkirk. Then he became a general utility player, filling in wherever we needed him. Never gave less than 100%. After a season under Alan Brown, he left to play for Wisbech. Then, he went to manage the Libyan national team for a while. He was capped five times for England. Billy died in 2008.
Just brought back memories of being at a match when I was 7 or 8 and a guy shouting at the top of his voice: "Fresh meat Joe." Those were the days.
This has reminded me of my early days at Roker Park standing on the fence at the back of The Fulwell End. We had then a 'no nonesense' centre half of the old school, (famous for his pigeons!), called Fred Hall. there was an occasional call that would come from some in the crowd after one of Freds crunching tackles, 'KICK IM AGAIN,EE'S STILL BREATHIN' Now you don't get sportsmanship like that anymore.
Yes, I remember Fred Hall. Another 'sporting' thing they used to shout if an opponent lay injured was "Dig a hole'!
