Billy Birse

William Lewis D Birse was born in 1935 at Arbroath.

He joined Dundee in December 1955 from junior team Dundee North End,  and made his debut at Dens in 3-2 win against Hibernian on 24th April 1956. Making 16 appearances and scoring five goals in his first season.

In April 1957 he signed on again as a full-time player. But, in July he told manager, Willie Thornton, that he wanted to go part-time so that he could keep working as a tool-fitter in Arbroath. As a compromise he was asked to keep to his full-time contract until Christmas.

The following season the players received letters telling them to return to Dens for pre-season training in July. Billy didn’t acknowledge his letter, and when he didn’t turn up for training found himself suspended for “breach of training regulations.” With no solution at Dens he signed for East Fife in August as a part time player for a fee of under £1000.

His next club was Brechin City with whom he played for two seasons, before being given a “free transfer” at the end of the 1958/59 season. He hadn’t played much that season due to a leg injury.

Montrose F.C. signed him for the following season.

In May 1961 he joined Keith F.C. from the Highland League, but by 1962 had received yet another “free transfer” and re-joined Brechin City.

Billy died in 2009, in Arbroath.