Billy Rafferty

William Henry Rafferty (born 30 December 1950) is a retired Scottish footballer who played as a forward. He appeared in the Football League for Coventry City, Blackpool, Plymouth Argyle, Carlisle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Portsmouth and AFC Bournemouth, scoring 145 goals in 468 matches. He finished his career in Portugal with spells at Louletano and Farense.

Billy Rafferty
Personal information
Full name William Henry Rafferty
Date of birth (1950-12-30) 30 December 1950
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
– Port Glasgow
– Coventry City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1968–1972 Coventry City 27 (3)
1972–1974 Blackpool 36 (9)
1974–1976 Plymouth Argyle 90 (35)
1976–1978 Carlisle United 72 (27)
1978–1979 Wolverhampton Wanderers 44 (6)
1979–1980 Newcastle United 39 (6)
1980–1984 Portsmouth 102 (40)
1984–1985 AFC Bournemouth 58 (19)
1985–1988? Farense 79 (53)
– Louletano 12 (14)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Rafferty began his league career with Coventry City after joining them from Port Glasgow but found opportunities few and far between.[1] A move to Blackpool in 1972 saw him play and score more regularly before joining Plymouth Argyle a year later.[2] With his striking partner, Paul Mariner, he became an important player in the Argyle side that won promotion to the Football League Second Division in 1975. Their partnership contributed 47 goals to the campaign, with Rafferty scoring 26.

He then joined Carlisle United where he continued to score regularly. He moved on to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United. After Newcastle he joined Portsmouth in 1980. At Portsmouth, Rafferty once again became a key striker, winning the Third Division championship in 1983 before joining AFC Bournemouth, which would be his last league club in England.[3]

References
  1. "How Rafferty's Hat-trick Sealed His Place in Carlisle Utd's Hall of Fame". News and Star. Carlisle. 4 September 2009. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  2. "Billy Rafferty". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  3. "Billy Rafferty". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
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