The Thistle Archive

Billy originally started out as a left sided midfielder at juvenile level with Addiewell Hearts and Seafield, before an emergency situation forced him to revert to goalkeeper; from there, he never looked back! Whilst serving his apprenticeship as a joiner, he joined Bathgate Thistle. Another chance emergency gave him a trial for Bill Struth's Rangers, and he had his foot in the door. Billy was a Hearts fan, and there was a fair bit of interest from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Everton, but, in August 1954, the 17-year-old Billy signed provisional forms for Rangers, under new manager Scot Symon. For several years, George Niven was the #1 at Ibrox, so Billy had to be patient, but he finally made his breakthrough as the regular #1 in 1957-58.

In total Billy would make over 350 appearances for Rangers with an impressive clean-sheet ratio of around one in three. He would win four Scottish Cups (including three successive from 1962-64), three League Cups, two League Championships and, in season 1963-64, was an ever-present as Rangers secured the ‘treble’. He enjoyed one of his greatest games for the club in the 1961 Cup Winners’ Cup Semi-Final against Wolves at Molineux, helping Rangers reach the Final, before losing over two legs to Fiorentina. On the international stage, competition from both Bill Brown of Tottenham Hotspur and Kilmarnock’s Campbell Forsyth restricted Billy to just the one full international appearance. The 25-year-old turned out in front of 67,181 at Hampden Park on 2 May 1962; Scotland 2 Uruguay 3.

In late 1967, Willie Thornton brought the 31-year-old Billy Ritchie in to Firhill to act as back-up and to challenge #1 George Niven who was, by now, entering the veteran stage of his career. It was a case of two ex-Rangers men vying for the custodian's jersey at Thistle. Billy had to bide his time, but finally got going for the first team in pre-season 1968, making his debut in a 3-3 friendly draw at Bury. Niven got the nod 2 days later for the match at Blackpool, but he went off with a dislocated shoulder after 11 minutes, and the 39-year-old never played again. Naturally, Billy was called in to action, but had a torrid time of it as Blackpool rattled 4 past him, Thistle replying just the once. There was no respite for Billy who immediately had to face Rangers & Celtic in the league cup section, and 19 goals were lost in these 4 games, although 2 wins over Morton (3-1 and 2-0) softened the blow.

Shortly afterwards, manager Thornton surprisingly departed to take up the post of assistant manager to David White at Rangers. At this point, the writing was really on the wall for Billy and for the team. He played in all 44 competitive games of 1968-69, a season in which Thistle finished 14th of 18 under new gaffer, Scot Symon, another ex-Ranger. The results and the atmosphere were on the slide by now, and 1969-70 was truly disastrous. Thistle and Billy were hit for 8 by both St Johnstone and Celtic that term. Thistle conceded 117 goals in all competitions in 1969-70, the club's highest tally of all-time. For the first time since 1901, Thistle were relegated to the second tier. The winds of change swept through Firhill at that point, and a young new manager in the form of Davie McParland took the reigns. His emphasis was on youth and, so impressive was young Alan Rough already, the 33-year-old Billy was freed in April 1970, much to his shock, as he felt he still had several years in him at that stage.

Billy joined Motherwell in August 1970, helping the Steelmen cope with a minor injury crisis, before he himself was struck down with a broken leg in a match versus St Johnstone at Fir Park on the 29th January 1972. Joe Wark had to deputise but the side managed to record a 2-0 win all the same! Billy would also enjoy a spell as goalkeeping coach at Fir Park, where he helped develop the likes of Stuart Rennie. In 1975-76, Stranraer was his final port of call, where he played 25 times in the league and cup that term. After retiring as a footballer, Billy worked at Motherwell College for almost thirty years and, as a resident of Livingston, he opened the first shop in the new town centre. For fun, he returned to his roots as a coach at West Calder in October 1980. Billy was inducted into the Rangers hall of fame in 1993 where it was noted that “his consistency, reliability and shot-stopping ability were legendary”. It was said that his positional sense, anticipation and ability to read the game were first-class. Billy died on 11 March 2016 following a short illness. He was survived by his wife Margaret.

Billy is included in our feature piece, The Definitive Who's Who Of The Partick Thistle Internationalists →

1969 - GLASGOW CUP