James Billingsley

Name: James Billingsley
Born: c.1911, Belfast
Height:
Weight:
Position: Outside-Right / Centre-Forward

Representative Honours: Ireland: 2 Amateur Caps / 2 Goals (1934-1935).
Club Honours: (with Cliftonville) Irish Cup Runner-Up 1933/34.

Club Career:

Teams	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	Other
Byron	-	-	Amateur	(Alliance League)
Ards	33/34	c/s-1933	Amateur	-	-	-
Cliftonville	-	-1933	Amateur	-	-	-
TOTALS	-	£		-	-	-

Biography:
From the Shankill Road area of Belfast, James Billingsley made the giant leap from the Alliance Second Division to the Irish League with great success. He had been a regular goalscorer for Byron as they just missed out on the title in 1933 before the club folded due to lack of support. While it was not unexpected that Billingsley would be much sought after, it was a surprise that he went straight to senior football with Ards. His time at Castlereagh Park was brief and his opportunities few before he readily accepted a move to Cliftonville. He was a key player as the Reds caused several upsets in their run to the 1934 Irish Cup final, Glentoran notably defeated 4-2 in the semi-final before the decider was lost 5-0 to Linfield. Billingsley's worth was recognised when he was named in the side to represent Ireland in the amateur international against Scotland. A "brilliant victory was due to the thrustful Billingsley, who took the centre-forward berth at a critical period, and turned the scales in favour of the Irishmen."

Ireland Amateur Cap Details:
25-04-1934 Scotland H W 4-1 2 goals
16-02-1935 England. H L 2-4

Summary: 2/2. Won 1, Drew 0, Lost 1.

Data from an ISN profile kindly forwarded by Jim Murphy.