Bromage Billy Image 1 Sheffield United 1907

Description

Derby born outside left Billy Bromage joined hometown club First Division Derby County in 1900 but didn’t make an appearance for their first team while on the books in 1900-01, joining Derby Hills Ivanhoe in 1901. He signed for Second Division Gainsborough Trinity in 1902 making his Football League debut at Stockport County that September, scoring 3 times in 23 appearances during his single season at Trinity. After a spell at non league Whitwick White Cross in 1904 he returned to Football League action with First Division Sheffield United in 1905 making his debut the following February at Goodison Park in a 3-2 defeat to Everton, scoring 5 times in 32 appearances before joining Doncaster Rovers in 1909, where he became club captain before his eventual retirement. He later became a trainer at Derby County.

There are a number of Bromage family footballers with Derby County connections. Billy’s son Sidney Bromage played for the reserves in the mid 1930’s, as well as for Sheffield United reserves. His eldest brother Harry Bromage was a goalkeeper who played for Derby County, Burton United, Doncaster Rovers and Leeds City. A younger brother, George Bromage, also had five years’ professional experience as an outside left. While his total League appearances were just five, with Sheffield United between 1923 and 1924, he also was on the books of Derby County, Doncaster Rovers and Buxton. Enos Bromage was the youngest of four footballing brothers and played for Derby County, Gillingham, West Bromwich Albion and Nottingham Forest.

Also related were his uncle Enos Bromage (Sr) who played most of his career with Derby Junction, but did played 17 League games for Derby County in the early 1890’s, and probably George Edward Bromage was a cousin, he played three games with Doncaster Rovers as a goalkeeper in 1925 but had already played with Bentley Colliery and Barnsley, but not at senior level, and later saw service with Frickley Colliery and Scunthorpe United.