Bill Shortt (13 October 1920 – 20 September 2004) was a Welsh professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He was born in Wrexham and was capped 12 times by Wales.

Bill Shortt
Personal information
Full name William Warren Shortt
Date of birth (1920-10-13)13 October 1920
Place of birth Wrexham, Wales
Date of death 20 September 2004(2004-09-20) (aged 83)
Place of death Plymouth, England
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Hoole Alex.
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1938–1946 Chester
1938–1939Wellington (loan)
1946–1956 Plymouth Argyle 342 (0)
1956–? Tavistock
International career
1947–1953 Wales 12 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Shortt joined Chester on amateur terms in 1938 after being spotted playing for local side Hoole Alex., signing a professional contract the following May after a loan spell with Wellington.[1]

Although Shortt officially never played a Football League match for Chester, he was a regular for the first-team throughout the war years. He made his debut in the club's first wartime league match against Tranmere Rovers in October 1939 and played his final match against Rochdale in January 1946, shortly before moving to Division Two side Plymouth Argyle for £1,000.[1]

Shortt went on to make more than 300 league appearances for Argyle over the next decade, helping them win the Football League Division Three South title in 1951–52. His stint also saw him capped 12 times by Wales, with his first cap coming against Northern Ireland in April 1947.[1] The following season saw him return to Chester with Plymouth in the FA Cup third round, but he was on the losing side as Chester recorded a 2–0 victory.[1]

After leaving Plymouth in 1956, Shortt ended his professional career. He joined non-league side Tavistock and was the landlord of a pub in Plymouth.[1]

He died on 20 September 2004, the same day as legendary football manager Brian Clough.

Honours

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Plymouth Argyle

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Bill Shortt 1920-2004". chester-city.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2008.