Profile

Billy Mitchell joined Oldham from the local St Mary’s club originally as an amateur due to the fact that he was still only fifteen. On reaching his sixteenth birthday he duly signed professional forms, which began a seventeen year association with the club for this skilful centre.

Billy was held in high regard by the Oldham fans and his fellow professionals, so much so that when Terry O’Grady was selected for the 1954 tour to Australia and New Zealand, he made a point of saying how much Billy had helped to further his career. More praise came from ex Oldham wingman, Joe Warham who, when asked which was the best centre he had ever partnered, without hesitation replied, “Billy Mitchell, he was a real winger’s centre”.

After his debut at Widnes in 1938, he soon established himself in the first team and, but for the disruption of the Second World War, his already impressive total of over 300 games for the club would have been many more. It is interesting to note that when Billy first broke into the Oldham first team, his team mates included such old time favourites as Jack Read, Fred Ashworth and Ray Smith and by the time he played his last match against Salford on December 28th, 1954, the 1950’s wonder team was well on the way with Ganley, Davies, Jackson, Winslade etc.