Today, it was my pleasure, on behalf of the club and the Former Players Association, to present cap number 342 to three generations of William Bethwaite Elliott’s family at his Daughter’s home in Debenham, Suffolk.
Billy was an Albion legend, a flying winger who joined the club in December 1938 from Bournemouth, making a, staggering 303 first team appearances scoring 157 goals along the way, before eventually ending his Hawthorns career in 1951, being an absolutely essential part of Albion’s promotion push in 1949, the perfect foil for goals scored by Dave Walsh and Jack Haines.
It also a chance to pay homage to Billy’s son-in- law, the late Brian Wood who was a Junior at The, Hawthorns, from 1957 to 1961, before joining the Jim Graham exodus to Crystal Palace, along with so many of his Albion peers. Although Brian never made a senior appearance for the ‘Baggies’, he was still very much part of the Albion family, and played alongside so many Albion legends of the past.
To Carol, Carolyn and the family I thank you all for your wonderful hospitality and the privilege to present you all with Billy’s cap
.