Billy Rafferty
Encyclopedia
William "Billy" Rafferty (born 30 December 1950 in Glasgow
) is a former Scottish
footballer who played as a forward. He is most notable for a two-year spell spearheading the attack for Plymouth Argyle
alongside Paul Mariner
in the 1970s.
Rafferty began his league career with Coventry City after joining them from Port Glasgow
but found opportunities few and far between. A move to Blackpool
in 1972 saw him play and score more regularly before joining Plymouth Argyle
a year later. With his striking partner, Paul Mariner
, he became an important player in the Argyle side that won promotion to the Football League Second Division
in 1975. Their partnership contributed 27 goals to the campaign, of which Rafferty provided 12.
He then joined Carlisle United where he continued to score regularly. He moved on to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United before joining Portsmouth
in 1980. At Portsmouth he once again became a key striker, winning the Third Division
championship in 1983 before joining Bournemouth
, which would be his last league club in England
.
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
) is a former Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
footballer who played as a forward. He is most notable for a two-year spell spearheading the attack for Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
alongside Paul Mariner
Paul Mariner
Paul Mariner is an English football coach, manager, and retired player, who is currently with Toronto FC.A striker during his playing days, Mariner began his career with Chorley. He became a professional player in 1973 with Plymouth Argyle, where he scored 61 goals in 155 appearances and is...
in the 1970s.
Rafferty began his league career with Coventry City after joining them from Port Glasgow
Port Glasgow
Port Glasgow is the second largest town in the Inverclyde council area of Scotland. The population according to the 1991 census for Port Glasgow was 19426 persons and in the 2001 census was 16617 persons...
but found opportunities few and far between. A move to Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in 1972 saw him play and score more regularly before joining Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
a year later. With his striking partner, Paul Mariner
Paul Mariner
Paul Mariner is an English football coach, manager, and retired player, who is currently with Toronto FC.A striker during his playing days, Mariner began his career with Chorley. He became a professional player in 1973 with Plymouth Argyle, where he scored 61 goals in 155 appearances and is...
, he became an important player in the Argyle side that won promotion to the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
in 1975. Their partnership contributed 27 goals to the campaign, of which Rafferty provided 12.
He then joined Carlisle United where he continued to score regularly. He moved on to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United before joining Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
in 1980. At Portsmouth he once again became a key striker, winning the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
championship in 1983 before joining Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
, which would be his last league club in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.