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Billy SILTO | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
After injury caused a £1000 transfer to Aston Villa to fall through, Silto joined Swindon during the summer of 1909, after being released by Barnsley, who suspected he was injury-prone. These fears proved unfounded, however, as he went on to make well over 200 appearances for Swindon over the following eleven years - and without the interruption of the First World War, it would have been far more. A strong-tackling, energetic half-back with incredible stamina, Silto was part of one of the most successful sides in the Town's history, winning two Southern League championship medals, the Dubonnet Cup, and also reaching the FA Cup semi-finals twice. In the 1912 semi-final replay against Barnsley, Swindon were awarded a penalty, and, with regular penalty-taker Billy Tout out through injury, Silto stepped up to take the kick, eager to score against his former club. He was stopped in his tracks by captain Peter Chambers, who told Silto, "you don't take penalties, Billy", and handed the responsibility to a reluctant Archie Bown. Bown missed the kick, and Barnsley went on to win the tie 1-0. Such were Silto's performances in the Swindon team, that he was recognised as the understudy to the England half-back Fatty Wedlock for many seasons, and though he joined up with the England squad on many occasions, the only appearances he made were on an unofficial tour of South Africa in 1910. After the war, in which Silto was posted to the front after choosing to guest for Arsenal rather than playing for his regiment's team, he made just five more appearances for the Town, before retiring from football. He went on to work on the railways, and was landlord of The Ship in Faringdon Road. PLAYING RECORD:
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date of birth usual positions centre half left half back other positions right half back senior career |