Billy Hampson

Who was Billy Hampson?

Billy Hampson was an English football player and manager.

Hampson was born in Radcliffe, Lancashire. He played for Rochdale, Bury and Norwich City before moving to Newcastle United for £1,250 in January, 1914. However before Hampson could properly settle at the club, war broke out later that year and Newcastle closed St James' Park. Hampson was determined to continue playing, and joined Leeds City as a 'guest' player during the war. He was a regular, turning out in 91 matches between December 1916 and April 1919 and helping them to win the unofficial title of League Champions in 1918.

When the war ended he returned to Newcastle at the age of 37 but found he had lost his place in the first team to an even older player, Billy McCracken. Hampson pledged to fight for a first-team place at the club and was granted it when McCracken left in 1923 to manage Hull City. He went on to become the oldest FA Cup finalist ever when he appeared in the 1924 Final, in which Newcastle beat Aston Villa 2–0. Hampson was 41 years and eight months old at the time.

He stayed at Newcastle for the next three years, before leaving for nearby South Shields in September 1927.