Billy Ivison


William Ivison was an English professional association football and rugby league footballer who played in the 1940s and 1950s. He played club level association football, for Gillingham F.C., and representative level rugby league for Great Britain, England, Cumberland and British Empire XIII, and at club level for Workington Town, as a, i.e. number 13, during the era of contested scrums.

Background

Billy Ivison was born in Hensingham, Cumberland, England, and he died aged 79 in Hensingham, Cumbria, England.

Playing career

International honours

Billy Ivison won caps for England while at Workington Town in 1949 against Wales, and Other Nationalities, in 1951 against Other Nationalities, in 1952 against Other Nationalities, and won caps for British Empire XIII while at Workington Town on Wednesday 23/1/1952 against New Zealand at Stamford Bridge.
Billy Ivison represented Great Britain while at Workington Town in 1952 against France.
Along with William "Billy" Banks, Edward "Ted" Cahill, Gordon Haynes, Keith Holliday, Robert "Bob" Kelly, John McKeown, George Parsons and Edward "Ted" Slevin, Billy Ivison's only Great Britain appearances came against France prior to 1957, these matches were not considered as Test matches by the Rugby Football League, and consequently caps were not awarded.

County honours

Billy Ivison represented Cumberland while at Workington Town. Billy Ivison played, and scored a try in Cumberland's 5–4 victory over Australia in the 1948–49 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France match at the Recreation Ground, Whitehaven on Wednesday 13 October 1948, in front of a crowd of 8,818.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Billy Ivison played and won the Lance Todd Trophy in Workington Town's 18–12 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1952 Challenge Cup Final during the 1951–52 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 19 April 1952, in front of a crowd of 72,093, and played in the 12–21 defeat by Barrow in the 1955 Challenge Cup Final during the 1954–55 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 30 April 1955, in front of a crowd of 66,513.

Honoured in Workington

in Workington is named after Billy Ivison.