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English Football Legends Series

Billy Meredith, "the Welsh Wizard", was that rarest of players, a hero to both the blue and red halves of Manchester.

Billy Meredith

Clubs: Manchester City, Manchester United

Position: Winger

Appearances*: 681

Goals*: 169

Honours: League Championship, 2
FA Cup, 2

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* League appearances and goals only

Widely regarded as the game's first superstar, Meredith was also a hugely controversial figure who received an 18 month-ban for bribery and was at the forefront of the first players union.

'The Welsh Wizard' was born in 1874 in Black Park, Chirk. He was from Welsh mining stock was already working underground by the age of 12. But football was an overriding passion, and Meredith turned out for his local club Chirk, as well as for struggling Football League club Northwich Victoria.

Manchester City

His performances for Northwich attracted the attention of a number of League clubs, and he eventually signed for Manchester City, on amateur terms, in 1894 .

As an amateur he continued his work as a miner while commuting back and forth for matches. This arrangement was to continue until he signed as a professional in January 1895.

Meredith made his City debut in a 5-4 defeat to Newcastle in November 1894. He quickly established himself as a skilful, free-scoring winger, and finished as top scorer in each of his first two seasons.

By 1904, now aged 30, he was City's captain, a much-loved figure who attracted huge crowds wherever he went. That year he captained the club to its first triumph, the FA Cup, and scored the game's only goal to beat Bolton Wanderers. City also narrowly missed out on the double after finishing 2nd in the league.

Bribery Scandal

But Meredith's career was rocked by a bribery scandal at the end of the 1904-05 season. He was accused of giving Aston Villa's Alex Leake 10 pounds to lose a match, and although he always denied the charge, he received an 18-month ban from football.

Manchester United

In May 1906, while his ban was still in force, Meredith moved to Manchester United, making his belated debut on 1 January 1907, in a 1-0 win against Aston Villa. He would enjoy 15 successful years at United where he became a firm favourite amongst fans and won two league titles (1908 and 1911), as well as the FA Cup in 1909.

The Players Union

During his time there he, and United team-mate Charlie Roberts, set up the Players' Union, in order to fight restrictions on transfers and players wages. When the Football Association banned the fledgling union Meredith and his fellow members refused to back down, forcing the FA into a concession.

One of the union's first successes was an increase of the maximum wage from 4 pounds to five pounds. The modern-day PFA has its roots in the Player's Union established by Meredith.

Back to City

In 1921, Billy Meredith rejoined Manchester City as player-coach. He continued to play until the age of 49, making his final appearance against Newcastle United in the 1924 FA Cup semi-final.

In total, Meredith played 390 games for City, scored 150 goals and won the FA Cup. For United, he played 335 games scoring 36 goals, and winning two League Championships, and another FA Cup.

He also played 48 times for Wales, winning his last cap at 45.

Death and Legacy

Billy Meredith died in Withington, Manchester, in 1958 at the age of 83. For many years his grave was unmarked, until the Professional Footballers Association, the Welsh FA, Manchester City and Manchester United, paid for a headstone.

He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

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