Billy Wrigglesworth

William (Billy) Wrigglesworth was born in South Elmsall on 12th November 1912. A coalminer, he played for Frickley Colliery before joining Chesterfield in May 1932. One historian described him as "an extremely small and lightweight wingman... who could deliver a strong shot when the opportunity arose".

After scoring 6 goals in 34 games he was signed by Major Frank Buckley, the manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, in December 1934. He joined a team that included Dai Richards, Reg Hollingsworth, Billy Barraclough, Billy Hartill, Charlie Phillips, Stan Cullis, Tom Galley and Tom Smalley.

In the 1934-35 season Wolves finished in 17th place in the First Division winning only 15 of their 42 games. In the 1934-35 season Wolves finished in 17th place in the First Division winning only 15 of their 42 games. Billy Hartill was again top scorer with 33 goals. However, at the end of the season Frank Buckley upset the Wolves' fans by selling Hartill to Everton. A few months later he sold Charlie Phillips to Aston Villa. It seemed that Buckley and the Wolves board were more concerned with making a profit than winning the First Division championship.

Wolves again struggled in the 1935-36 season finishing in 15th place, only five points above the relegated teams, Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers. Wrigglesworth, who had scored 21 goals in 50 games, was sold to Manchester United in January 1937.

Wrigglesworth was a popular player at his new club. Garth Dykes, the author of The United Alphabet (1994) described Wrigglesworth as "a veritable box of tricks, at his best when working his way through a defence by clever dribbling and the use of a very deceptive body swerve." However, he only played 30 games for the club before the outbreak of the Second World War.

Wrigglesworth returned to Manchester United after the war but was 34 years old by the time the Football League resumed in 1946 and was not retained by the club. He also played for Bolton Wanderers (1946-47), Southampton (1947) and Reading (48).

Billy Wrigglesworth died in 1980.