William Albert James Manuel (born 28 June 1969) is an English retired professional footballer, best remembered for his time as a left back and midfielder in the Football League with Brentford and Gillingham. His tenacious performances in midfield for Brentford led to the nickname 'Billy the Pit Bull'.
Career
Gillingham Manuel began his career in the youth systems at First Division clubs Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, before dropping down to the Third Division to sign for Gillingham on 10 February 1989. His addition to the squad failed to help the struggling club avoid relegation to the Fourth Division at the end of the 1988–89 season and Manuel remained at Priestfield for two more forgettable seasons before leaving in June 1991. He made 97 appearances and scored four goals for the Gills.
Brentford Manuel moved back up to the Third Division to sign for Brentford in a £60,000 deal on 14 June 1991, to bring stability to the left back position. He made 45 appearances during the 1991–92 season and won the first silverware of his career when the Third Division title was clinched at the end of the campaign. In the newly renamed First Division, Manuel moved into the midfield and impressed enough to be voted the Brentford supporters' Player of the Year at the end of the season, though it would end in disappointment with relegation straight back to the Second Division. New manager David Webb installed Manuel as captain for the 1993–94 season and moved him to left back, though he gradually fell out of favour and was released in August 1994. Manuel made 115 appearances and scored two goals during three seasons with Brentford.
Peterborough United Manuel signed for Second Division club Peterborough United on a short-term contract on 16 September 1994. He failed to make an appearance before joining Conference club Stevenage Borough on loan in late September 1994. He made three appearances before leaving Broadhall Way. Manual departed Stevenage on a permanent basis on 28 October 1994.
Cambridge United Manuel transferred to Second Division strugglers Cambridge United on 28 October 1994 and signed a three-month contract. He made 12 appearances before a succession of red cards saw him sacked by the club.
Return to Peterborough United Manuel re-signed for Peterborough United on 28 February 1995, four months after leaving the club. He made 35 appearances and scored five goals before leaving London Road for the final time on 25 January 1996.
Return to Gillingham Manuel rejoined Gillingham, then flying high in the Third Division, on 26 January 1996. He helped the Gills to promotion to the Second Division with a second-place finish at the end of the 1995–96 season and made 11 appearances in 1996–97, before being released at the end of the campaign. In both his spells with Gillingham, Manuel made 118 appearances and scored four goals.
Barnet Manuel dropped back down to the Third Division to sign for Barnet prior to the beginning of the 1997–98 season. He made 38 appearances and scored one goal before being released at the end of the 1998–99 season.
Non-League football Manuel dropped into non-League football in 1999 and signed for Southern League First Division East club Folkestone Invicta and helped the club to promotion to the Premier Division in his first season. He also served as the club's assistant manager. Manuel was released as part of a cost-cutting exercise in December 2000. He moved on to play for Horsham, Grays Athletic, Tonbridge Angels, Bromley, Windsor & Eton, Waltham Forest and Metrogas before retiring in 2005.
Personal life After his retirement from football, Manuel spent a period living in the USA, before returning to his native Hackney to run a pub. He later worked in refurbishments.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGillingham1988–89Third Division1710000001711989–90Fourth Division3232010303831990–91Fourth Division380101020420Total874302050974Brentford1991–92Third Division35030512Appearances in Football League Trophy04511992–93First Division41110106Appearances in Anglo-Italian Cup04911993–94Second Division180002010210Total9414081901152Stevenage Borough (loan)1994–95Conference20——1Appearance in Conference League Cup030Cambridge United1994–95Second Division10020——120Peterborough United1994–95Second Division141———1411995–96Second Division131204320214Total272204320355Gillingham1995–96Third Division100———1001996–97Second Division100100000110Total10744020501184Barnet1997–98Third Division1901030102401998–99Third Division121001010141Total311104020381Career total271913018419032113
Honours Brentford Football League Third Division: 1991–92 Gillingham Football League Third Division second-place promotion: 1995–96 Folkestone Invicta Southern League First Division East: 1999–00 Individual Brentford Supporters' Player of the Year: 1992–93
References
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