Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 5 January 1903 | ||
Place of birth | Prudhoe, England | ||
Date of death | 26 July 1932 | (aged 29)||
Place of death | London, England | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Youth career | |||
–1923 | Prudhoe Town | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | ( Gls) |
1923–1932 | Crystal Palace | 202 | (0) |
International career | |||
1926 | The Football League XI | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Billy Callender (5 January 1903 [1] – 26 July 1932) was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He made 202 Football League appearances for Crystal Palace between 1923 and 1932. [1]
Callender was born in Prudhoe, Northumberland and was playing in local football with Prudhoe Town [2] when he was signed by Crystal Palace in 1923. [1] Initially, he was understudy to Jack Alderson and made only two appearances in his first two seasons at the club. [1] He became a regular in the 1925–26 season and was ever-present in 1926–27, when he also played for the Football League representative team. [1] Callender continued to be a regular in the Crystal Palace team until the end of the 1931–32 season. [1]
On 26 July 1932, [3] Callender committed suicide at the club ground, following the death of his fiancée [1] from polio. [2] He was found hanged in the team dressing room after training. [1] [2]