William Webber Walter Gerrish (28 December 1884 – 8 August 1916), sometimes known as Willie Gerrish, was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward in the

Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in the world. It was the top-level football league in Engla ...

for

Aston Villa Aston Villa Football Club is a professional football club based in Aston, Birmingham, England. The club competes in the , the top tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1874, they have played at their home ground, Villa Park ...

and

Preston North End Preston North End Football Club, commonly referred to as Preston, North End or PNE, is a professional football club in Preston, Lancashire, England, who currently play in the EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football league syste ...

Personal life

Gerrish's brother Howard was also a footballer. In February 1915, six months into the First World War, Gerrish enlisted in the Football Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. He was severely wounded in both legs by a shell blast at Delville Wood on 8 August 1916 and died later that day. Gerrish has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Career statistics

Honours

Aston Villa *

Football League First Division The Football League First Division was a division of the Football League in England from 1888 until 2004. It was the top division in the English football league system from the season 1888–89 until 1991–92, a century in which the First ...

: 1909–10

References

English men's footballers English Football League players Men's association football inside forwards Aston Villa F.C. players Footballers from Bristol British Army personnel of World War I British military personnel killed in the Battle of the Somme Middlesex Regiment soldiers 1884 births 1916 deaths Military personnel from Bristol Freemantle F.C. players Bristol Rovers F.C. players Southern Football League players Preston North End F.C. players Chesterfield F.C. players Midland Football League players {{England-footy-forward-1880s-stub