Billy Houliston

William "Billy" Houliston (4 April 1921 – 10 February 1999) was a Scottish footballer who played for Crichton, Queen of the South, Berwick Rangers, Third Lanark and the Scotland national team.

Early years

He was born in Maxwelltown, at Westpark Cottages, where he lived for a short while before his family moved to a house at the Crichton in Dumfries. Houliston played for Brownhall Primary School in the Dumfries and District Primary School League at centre half. Houliston played for the League in cup matches against other areas. Houliton's secondary school was Dumfries High School where he played only occasionally. On leaving school Houliston stopped playing completely.

Aged 17 working as a nurse at the Crichton Royal Hospital Houliston started playing again. It was playing for the Crichton team that Houliston moved from defence to attack playing at either inside or centre forward.

In 1941 Billy Houliston was called up for national service. Houliston joined RAF Coastal Command as a wireless operator. In his 4 years service Houliston was attached to 16 different stations where he represented each at football. Playing in the Arbroath area the local side offered to sign him. On leave back in Dumfries Houliston declined the offer when taking the offer of a trial game for Queen of the South reserves.<ref...
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