Everyone at Port Vale Football Club is saddened to learn of the passing of Billy Bingham MBE, Vale’s oldest surviving former player aged 90.
Born in Belfast in August 1931, he had a glittering playing career on the right wing with Glentoran, Sunderland, Luton and Everton, playing in the 1958 World Cup Finals, the FA Cup Final in 1959 and winning the League Championship in 1963 before joining the Vale for a club record fee of £15,000 from Everton in August 1963.
He made his debut v Shrewsbury Town and was a regular in the 1963/64 campaign.
He was also capped 3 times for Northern Ireland whilst with the Vale, taking his number of caps to 56, a Northern Irish record at the time.
He turned down a move to First Division Nottingham Forest, but broke his leg in a game at Brentford in September 1964 and that ultimately ended his career.
He left the Vale in April 1965 after scoring 7 goals in 43 appearances and went on to manager Southport.
He later managed Northern Ireland, Plymouth Argyle, Linfield, Greece, Everton, PAOK Salonika and Mansfield before returning to manager Northern Ireland for a 13 year spell beginning in 1980.
He famously led them to the World Cup Finals in both 1982 and 1986. He ended his football career as a director of football at Blackpool and as a scout for Burnley.
He was awarded the MBE for services to football in 1981.He died in Birkdale on Friday 10 June.
The thoughts of all at Port Vale FC are with Billy's family and friends at this time.