It is with great sadness that Arsenal Football Club reports the death of our long-time left-back, Billy McCullough, aged 90.
Born and raised in Carrickfergus, 20 miles north of Belfast in Northern Ireland, Billy came through local junior football before joining Portadown in County Armagh. On September 12, 1958, new Gunners’ boss George Swindin made Billy his first signing, paying the Northern Irish outfit £5,000 for the 23-year-old, who went on to give the club superb service over eight seasons, playing a total of 268 games across eight seasons, scoring five goals.
His debut, at home to Luton Town on December 27, 1958, pitted him against his countryman Billy Bingham, regarded as one of the best right-wingers in the First Division, and McCullough’s excellent performance in a 1-0 win for the Gunners gave a portent of things to come. After Dennis Evans’ retirement the following season, Billy became the regular left-back at Highbury, missing only a handful of games for the following five seasons under Swindin and then Billy Wright.
Tall and lean, Billy was a wonderful athlete, an attribute that allowed him to hurtle back into a defensive position when on regular forays into enemy territory. Like many full-backs of his day, he also loved the physical battle with opposition wingers and his nickname ‘Flint’, after Flint McCullough, a character in the popular Western TV series of the day Wagon Train also befit his feisty tackling and bravery.
Despite being a consistent attacking threat, Billy’s first four seasons didn’t feature a goal, but 1962/63 saw him score in the first home match of the season, a 2-0 win over Birmingham City at Highbury on August 21, 1962 and two in two games in March against West Ham and Liverpool.
He also made history as a member of the first Arsenal team to play in European competition – a 7-1 away win in Denmark against Staevnet on September 23, 1963, and he played in all four matches of our Fairs Cup campaign. Indeed, his goal in our final match – a 3-1 defeat in Belgium against Standard Liege on December 18, 1963 – made Billy the first defender to score for the Gunners in Europe.
In his final season, 1965/66, the 30-year-old Ulsterman found himself fighting a losing battle for his place at left-back with youngster Peter Storey, with Billy making his final senior appearance for us in a 2-1 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford on March 19, 1966. His spells in reserve team football in his final season also saw him help nurture the Double winners of the future in Storey, Jon Sammels, John Radford and Bob Wilson.
In the summer of 1966, new manager Bertie Mee, keen to utilise the youthful talent at his disposal, allowed Billy to leave for Millwall on July 1, 1966. After a season at The Den, he headed to Bedford Town, then later Cork Celtic in the Republic of Ireland, and Derry City as player-manager in his native Northern Ireland.
Later to work as an electrical engineer at his father-in-law’s factory in Woodford, Essex, Billy maintained a connection with Arsenal until his death and loved to discuss his Highbury days to anyone fortunate enough to be in his company.
Billy’s pride in pulling on the red and white was exemplified by his thoughts on the club after retiring from football: “I loved Arsenal,” he said. “In fact, I would have played for the club for nothing. There is nothing you can say to the detriment of Arsenal.”
Our thoughts are with Billy’s daughter Nancy, grandchildren Nicholas and Zoe, extended family and many friends.
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