William Mercer ( – ) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He played at representative level for England and Lancashire, and at club level for St. Helens (

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

), as a or .

Background

Billy Mercer's birth was registered in Prescot district, Lancashire, England, he was a joiner for St. Helens Council, and he died aged 59 in St. Helens district, Lancashire, England.

Playing career

International honours

Billy Mercer won a cap for England while at St. Helens in the 19–35 defeat by Other Nationalities at Thrum Hall, Halifax on Monday 7 April 1930.

County honours

Bill Mercer made his début for Lancashire in the 15–7 victory over

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...

at Whitehaven on Tuesday 29 October 1929, alongside fellow St. Helens player

Alf Ellaby Alfred "Alf" Henry Ellaby (24 November 1902 – 1993) was an English rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for St. Helens (two ...

who scored three tries, Mercer had two further victories alongside Alf Ellaby, against Yorkshire and Glamorgan and Monmouthshire as Lancashire won the County Championship.

Championship final appearances

Bill Mercer played at in St. Helens' 9–5 victory over Huddersfield in the Championship Final during the 1931–32 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 7 May 1932.

County League appearances

Bill Mercer played in St. Helens' victories in the Lancashire League during the 1929–30 season and 1931–32 season.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Bill Mercer played at in St. Helens' 3–10 defeat by Widnes in the

1929–30 Challenge Cup The 1929–30 Challenge Cup was the 30th staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup. First round Second round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final Widnes beat St Helens 10-3 in the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley pl ...

Final at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 3 May 1930, in front of a crowd of 36,544.

Club career

Bill Mercer made his début for St. Helens in the 15–3 victory over

Batley Batley is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. Batley lies south-west of Leeds, north-west of Wakefield and Dewsbury, south-east of Bradford and north-east of Huddersfield. Batley is part of the ...

at Knowsley Road on Saturday 26 September 1925, and scored his first try in the 55–6 victory over Bradford Northern at

Odsal Stadium Odsal Stadium in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, is the home of Bradford Bulls Rugby League team. It has also been used by the Bradford Dukes speedway team, BRISCA F1 and F2 stock cars, the football team Bradford City, following the Valley ...

on Wednesday 14 April 1926, his last match was the 7–25 defeat by Warrington at Knowsley Road on Saturday 6 November 1937. Bill Mercer did not play in St. Helens' 10–2 victory over Widnes in the

1926 Lancashire Cup Nineteen or 19 may refer to: * 19 (number), the natural number following 18 and preceding 20 * one of the years 19 BC, AD 19, 1919, 2019 Films * ''19'' (film), a 2001 Japanese film * ''Nineteen'' (film), a 1987 science fiction film Music ...

Final during the 1926–27 season on Saturday 20 November 1926, George Cotton and

played as s,

Alf Frodsham Alfred Frodsham ( – ) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s, and coached in the 1940s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for St Helens, as a , a ...

and George Lewis played as s, and

Les Fairclough Leslie Stuart Fairclough (30 September 1902 – 7 October 1951) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1920s and 1930s. He played at representative level for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club ...

played as .

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mercer, Billy 1905 births 1965 deaths England national rugby league team players English rugby league players Lancashire rugby league team players Place of death missing Rugby league centres Rugby league locks Rugby league players from St Helens, Merseyside Rugby league second-rows Rugby league wingers St Helens R.F.C. players