Bill Voisey

Bill Voisey spent 50 years in football as a player, coach, and trainer. He started his career at his local club, Glengall Rovers, at the age of 14. A wing-half, Voisey moved to Millwall St. Johns in 1907 before joining Southern League Millwall the following year.

The war years interrupted his career as Voisey served as a battery sergeant-major in the Royal Field Artillery and was honoured with the DCM (Distinguished Conduct Medal), MM (Military Medal) and the Belgian Croix de Guerre. Vosiey resumed his playing career with Millwall after World War I and played in their first ever Football League game in August 1920. He joined Bournemouth three seasons later, and also played for them in their first ever game in the Football League.

Voisey never won a full international cap, but did play for England against Wales in a Victory International in 1919. He was selected for the full England team in two occasions, in 1919 (v. Ireland) and 1921 (v. Belgium), but was only a reserve each time and never played. However, during the FA tour of South Africa in 1920, he played three matches against the host country but full international caps were not awarded.

After retiring from playing Voisey, joined the Isthmian League club Leytonstone as trainer in 1924. He joined Fulham in 1929, and during his time there was in charge of the 1936 Great Britain Olympic squad. After 10 years at Fulham he returned to Millwall as trainer/manager. In 1941, having just 10 players available for Millwall’s London War Cup match against West Ham, Voisey selected himself and played again, at the age of 50.

Having missed some serious bombing raids during World War II, Millwall’s Den ground, in the heart of London’s docklands, eventually succumbed to a direct hit in April 1943. Voisey, was working late in his office at the time and was seriously injured, which resulted in his football career ending the following year.