Billy Manuel
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Albert James Manuel | ||
| Date of birth | 28 June 1969 | ||
| Place of birth | Hackney, 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 | (4) |
| 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 | 31 | (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 | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 1999–2000 | Folkestone Invicta (assistant) | ||
| * 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. His tenacious performances in midfield for Brentford led to the nickname 'Billy the Pit Bull'.
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. 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. He made 97 appearances and scored four goals for the Gills.
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. He made 45 appearances 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. 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. 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 in August 1994. Manuel made 115 appearances and scored two goals during three seasons with Brentford.
...
Wikipedia