Former senior member and lifelong Linfield supporter Billy Boyd has sadly passed away at the age of 91 after a long illness.

 

Billy was born and raised in the Linfield hotbed of Belfast’s Shankill Road with his family steeped in the Linfield tradition for generations.

 

Billy had witnessed many of the great Linfield teams and players often sharing great stories of his favourite players Jackie Milburn, Tommy Dickson and Bobby Braithwaite. Billy recalled the magnificent 7 trophy winning team on many occasions as well as games against Belfast Celtic, Glentoran, Derry City and Distillery particularly when Distillery played at Grosvenor Park.

 

Billy also used to recall that when he was growing up on the Shankill Road he would walk every other Saturday with his friends and many other hundreds of Blues supporters across the Falls Road to Windsor Park without any issues.

 

Billy also used to recall that at grounds such as the Oval both sets of supporters would walk past each other switching ends at half time mostly without any issues..

 

Billy moved to Newtownabbey in the early 60s and served on Newtownabbey Borough Council as an Alderman and Councillor from 1985 to 1997 and had a deep Christian faith. 

 

Billy’s last match was in October 2022 when he celebrated his 90th birthday (see photo). Billy will be sadly missed by his family and friends in the Linfield family.