Coley, Bill

Birth Date

17th September 1916

Birthplace

Wolverhampton, Staffordshire

Occupation

Half-Back

Biographical Text

Bill Coley made a small number of appearances for Exeter City during the early weeks of the 1951/52 season. He joined the club from Northampton and later played for St Austell. He had earlier appeared for Torquay United either side of the war. 

On the books at Wolverhampton Wanderers as a junior, Bill signed professional forms in September 1933 and had two league outings. He was transferred to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in September 1937 where he made 13 league appearances. 

Joining Torquay United in July 1938, Bill played 42 league games before the outbreak of war followed by another 19 in 1946/47 when 'official' football resumed after the war. Moving to Northampton Town in August 1947, he made over a hundred league appearances scoring seven times.

Arriving at Exeter City aged 35 in July 1951, Bill made his Grecians debut on the opening day of the season at Crystal Palace but, after playing in eight of the first sixteen games of the season, didn't play for the first-team beyond November 1951. He then joined St Austell and, long-settled in South Devon, died in the Torbay area on 1 September 1974.

Appearances

Exeter City league games only

8

Files

Comments

Wayne Coley

Thank you for this detailed history of our dad's career.

He died on September 1st 1974 

Keith , Wayne and Clive Coley

Torquay

Wayne Coley

Just for your records dad was always known as Bill.

Many thanks

Wayne, Keith and Clive Coley 

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