Former Workington forward Billy Griffin has died at the age of 82.
A talented youngster with Sheffield Wednesday he played against the legendary Pele in a famous game at Hillsborough against Santos.
Billy shone that night by scoring one goal whilst laying on another for David ‘Bronco’ Layne and at the end of the game Pele asked to swap shirts with him.
He originally joined the Owls’ ground staff as a teenager whilst playing for Hillsborough Boys Club.
He joined Wednesday permanently in 1957 and his career took off under the management of Harry Catterick, making his debut against Cardiff on November 22 1958.
Blessed with pace and sharp shooting skills, the Worksop product quickly became known as Billy ‘The Goal Kid’ with a stack of goals for the reserves in the Central League and a good scoring ratio with the first team.
Griffin’s goals to games ratio was outstanding, he netted 21 times in 37 matches for Wednesday before moving to Bury in 1962.
At Gigg Lane he scored 22 goals in 84 appearances before, in February 1966 he was part of the deal that took winger Barry Lowes to Bury while he moved to Workington.
Between then and January 1969 he played 95 League and Cup games for the Reds, scoring 22 goals.
He was troubled with a knee injury at the Reds (one he originally picked up during his time with Wednesday) and when he made his final move within the Football League it was to Rotherham where he only managed 14 starts and just one goal.
He did move into non-league football with Cambridge City and Frickley Athletic but was forced to hang up his boots because of the old injury.
