Chris Billy On The Move

Ex-Blue Chris Billy

Lee Sinnott, manager of Blue Square Premier club Farsley Celtic, has completed the capture of midfielder Chris Billy following his release by league rivals Halifax Town. The 34-year-old signed for the Shaymen in January from Carlisle and went on to make just ten starts and three substitute appearances. However, Billy was told by Halifax manager Chris Wilder that he was surplus to requirements just before the start of the new season.

After being released by Bury at the end of the 2002-03 season Chris was brought to Brunton Park by then manager Roddy Collins in the summer of 2003, although Collins soon got the sack, to be replaced by Paul Simpson, after an appalling start to the 2003-04 campaign that would eventually end in relegation into the Nationwide Conference for the first time in the history of the club.

Billy, who also lists Huddersfield Town, Plymouth Argyle and Notts County among his former clubs, was a lynchpin in the Cumbrians midfield in their successful shot at promotion, at the first attempt, back into the Football League. The Huddersfield-born enforcer scoring one of only four goals for Carlisle in a hugely important play-off semi-final home game against Aldershot which eventually saw United sneak into the final, and a 1-0 win over Stevenage, at Stoke after a tense penalty shootout.

Chris was always a player that divided opinion among the Brunton Park faithful, with some supporting his all-action displays while others looked at his habit for giving the ball away a bit too much at times. The 34-year old made 160 appearances, plus seven as a substitute for the Blues.