Billy Manuel
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Albert James Manuel[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 28 June 1969[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Hackney, London, England | ||
| Playing position | Left back, midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Chelsea | |||
| –1987 | Tottenham Hotspur | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1987–1989 | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | (0) |
| 1989–1991 | Gillingham | 87 | (5) |
| 1991–1994 | Brentford | 94 | (1) |
| 1994 | Peterborough United | 0 | (0) |
| 1994 | → Stevenage Borough (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 1994–1995 | Cambridge United | 10 | (0) |
| 1995–1996 | Peterborough United | 27 | (2) |
| 1996–1997 | Gillingham | 20 | (0) |
| 1997–1999 | Barnet | 33 | (1) |
| 1999–2000 | Folkestone Invicta | ||
| 2001 | Horsham | ||
| 2001 | Grays Athletic | ||
| 2001–2002 | Tonbridge Angels | ||
| 2002–2003 | Bromley | ||
| 2003 | Windsor & Eton | ||
| 2003–2004 | Waltham Forest | ||
| 2004–2005 | Metrogas | ||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
William Albert James "Billy" Manuel (born 28 June 1969) is an English retired professional football left back and midfielder, best remembered for his time in the Football League with Brentford and Gillingham.[1] His tenacious performances in midfield for Brentford led to the nickname 'Billy the Pit Bull'.[1]
Career
Gillingham
Manuel began his career in the youth systems at Division One sides Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, before dropping down to Division Three to sign for Gillingham on 10 February 1989.[3] His addition to the squad failed to help the struggling club avoid relegation to Division Four at the end of the 1988–89 season and Manuel remained at Priestfield for two more forgettable seasons before leaving in June 1991.[3] He made 91 appearances and scored five goals for the Gills.[3]
Brentford
Manuel moved back up to Division Three to sign for Brentford in a £60,000 deal on 14 June 1991, to bring stability to the left back position.[1][3][4] He played in most of the Bees' matches during the 1991–92 season and won the first silverware of his career when the Division Three title was clinched at the end of the campaign.[1] In the newly renamed Division One, Manuel moved into the midfield and impressed enough to be voted the Brentford supporters' Player of the Year at the end of the season, though it would end in disappointment with relegation straight back to Division Two.[1] New manager David Webb installed Manuel as captain for the 1993–94 season and moved him to left back, though he gradually fell out of favour and was released at the end of the season.[1] Manuel made 116 appearances and scored one goal during three seasons with Brentford.[1]
Peterborough United
Manuel signed for Division Two club Peterborough United on a short-term contract on 16 September 1994.[3] He failed to make an appearance before departing on 28 October.[3]
Stevenage Borough (loan)
Manuel joined high-flying Conference side Stevenage Borough on loan in late September 1994.[5] He made three appearances before leaving Broadhall Way.[5]
Cambridge United
Manuel signed for Division Two strugglers Cambridge United on a three-month contract on 28 October 1994.[3] He made 12 appearances before his contract expired.[3]
Return to Peterborough United
Manuel re-signed for Peterborough United on 28 February 1995, four months after leaving the club.[3] He made 35 appearances and scored five goals before leaving London Road for the final time on 25 January 1996.[3]
Return to Gillingham
Manuel rejoined Gillingham, then flying high in Division Three, on 26 January 1996.[3] He helped the Gills to promotion to Division Two with a second-place finish at the end of the 1995–96 season and made 11 appearances in 1996–97, before being released at the end of the campaign.[6] In both his spells with Gillingham, Manuel made 112 appearances and scored five goals.[3]
Barnet
Manuel dropped back down to Division Three to sign for Barnet prior to the beginning of the 1997–98 season.[3] He made 40 appearances and scored one goal before being released at the end of the 1998–99 season.[3]
Non-league football
Manuel dropped into non-league football in 1999 and signed for Southern League Division One East side Folkestone Invicta and helped the club to promotion to the Premier Division in his first season.[7] He was released as part of a cost-cutting exercise in December 2000.[8] He moved on to play for Horsham, Grays Athletic, Tonbridge Angels, Bromley, Windsor & Eton, Waltham Forest and Metrogas before retiring in 2005.[4]
Management career
While a player at Folkestone Invicta, Manuel was also the club's assistant manager.[4]
Personal life
After his retirement from football, Manuel spent a period living in the United States before returning to his native Hackney to run a pub.[9]
Honours
As a player
- Football League Division Three runner-up: 1995–96
As an individual
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 100. ISBN 978-0955294914.
- ↑ Triggs, Roger (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing Ltd. pp. ptbc. ISBN 0-7524-2243-X.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Billy Manuel | Football Stats | No Club | Age 46 | 1987-1999 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
- 1 2 3 "Billy Manuel's Career - UpThePosh! The Peterborough United Database". www.uptheposh.com. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
- 1 2 Stevenage Player: Billy Manuel profile - BoroGuide
- ↑ "Billy Manuel | Football Stats | No Club | Season 1996/1997 | 1987-1999 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
- 1 2 "Football Club History Database - Folkestone Invicta". fchd.info. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
- ↑ "Fifc latest". archive.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
- ↑ "Where Are They Now? Brentford Division Three Champions 1991-92". The League Paper. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
