Players - Billy McDevitt

Billy McDevitt
Birthdate: 5 January 1898
Birthplace: Belfast, Ireland
Other clubs: Belfast United, Swansea Town (1920-23), North Belfast United (loan 1922-23), Exeter City (1925-31)
Signed from: Swansea Town
Signed for LFC: 02.06.1923
Liverpool debut: 17.11.1923
Last appearance: 18.10.1924
Contract expiry: 22.05.1925
Win ratio: 25% W:1 D:1 L:2
League games / goals: 4 / 0
Total games / goals: 4 / 0

Player Profile

McDevitt arrived as an inside-forward from Belfast, but was transformed into a centre-half at Liverpool. McDevitt had attracted the attention of English club scouts when he was with Belfast United, and 1921 Swansea Town beat all the clubs to his signature. McDevitt wasn't considered ready for the first team yet, so he was loaned back to Ireland where he featured for North Belfast United. Liverpool moved in to sign him and Swansea didn't raise any objections. Three of McDevitt's appearances at Liverpool came in the 1923/24 season when Walter Wadsworth was unavailable. In his fourth and last game McDevitt was a centre-forward in a 4-1 home win over Sheffield United on 18 October 1924 when all four of Liverpool's goals were scored by Dick Forshaw. When Forshaw headed his fourth he crashed through United's Milton and McDevitt, who both had to be carried off the park semi-conscious. McDevitt sported a nasty cut above his eye. McDevitt joined Exeter City for a club transfer record in 1925, and was appointed the club's manager four years later. He kept on playing for the club until the 1930/31 season and served them as manager until 1935. He was said to be one of the most popular players ever associated with the club and took Exeter to second place in Third Division South in the 1932/33 season, just missing out of promotion, the best achievement in its history. McDevitt headed back to his hometown, Belfast, to take over as manager of Distillery in February 1938.
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 4 0 0 0 0 4
1923-1924 3 0 0 0 0 3
1924-1925 1 0 0 0 0 1
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
2 180 Aston Villa
1 90 Arsenal
1 90 Sheffield United
Total Venue
2 Away
2 Home
Total Competition
4 League
Total W D L Win % Manager
4 1 1 2 25% Matt McQueen
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 17.11.1923 Aston Villa Villa Park League
Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Belfast United Irish League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Swansea City 1921-1922 England Third Division South 5 0 5 0
North Belfast United 1922-1923 Irish League N/A N/A N/A N/A
Exeter City 1925-1926 England Third Division South 24 2 25 2
Exeter City 1926-1927 England Third Division South 28 2 31 3
Exeter City 1927-1928 England Third Division South 36 3 42 4
Exeter City 1928-1929 England Third Division South 21 2 25 2
Exeter City 1929-1930 England Third Division South 16 0 16 0
Total 130 9 144 11