Tough-tackling wing-half Bill joined his brother Archie at Anfield in the 1897/98 season and was a firm fixture in the side during the seven years he stayed there. He was an ever-present in the League for three seasons running from 1900/01 until 1902/03 and in fact played 129 consecutive games from 23 December 1899 until 27 April 1903. He picked up a winners' medal as the club won its first League Championship title at the end of the 1900/01 season. At the end of the 1902/03 season Bill was caught accepting illegal payments from Pompey to sign for them in the Southern league. As a result he along with teammates John Glover and Sam Raybould were banned from football until 31 December 1903. When the suspension was over Bill joined Fulham in January 1904, having played his-last-ever game for Liverpool in April 1903. Bill won two Southern league championships with the Cottagers and featured in the 1907/08 season which was Fulham‘s first-ever League season. This turned out to be his last and after 215 games for Fulham he joined Leicester Fosse who had been promoted to First Division, but was relegated a year later. Bill retired from a successful League career in 1911 and ran a pub while occasionally turning out for amateurs Leicester Imperial.

Referee Kingscott charged Bill for "discourteous language" after the conclusion of the second replay between Sheffield United and Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-finals in 1899. He was banned for the last three matches of the season when Liverpool were competing for the League title. Bill's near-impenetrable Scottish accent forced FA's disciplinary committee to employ an interpreter!