William
...Oldnall profile
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Bill "Nodder" Oldnall was a prolific striker for the Rovers in the very successful late 1940s/ early 1950s period. He was their all-time leading goalscorer, with 227 goals, until he was finally overtaken by Chris Hanks in 1992.
Bill was born in Smethwick in 1920. After playing works team football in his teens he was called up to serve in the second world war, where he was a prisoner of war in Poland for five years.
After the war Bill was on the books of Dudley Town at the start of the 1946/47 season. He was unable to get into the side due to the fine form of fellow striker Frank Treagust. He had a trial for Rovers and joined Rovers in October 1946 after a slight false start - he was picked to play in a game against Moor Green, but sent a telegram on the morning of the game saying he had signed for West Bromwich Albion. This must have fallen through for some reason as he never played for the Albion that day and he finally made his debut for Rovers the following week.
He was invited for a trial by Tottenham Hotspur in August 1947. While in December 1947 it was reported six Football League scouts watched him a match against Walsall Reserves, where he bagged a hat-trick. It looked like he was on the brink of a move to Sheffield Wednesday. But this never happenened.
He got married in Smethwick on the morning of 31 January 1948, in the afternoon he las leading the line for Rovers in a game against Birmingham "A". As usual he scored.
There was speculation in March 1948 that Bill was going to move to Darlaston, but this move never materialised.
He was top scorer in four of his five seasons. Bill reckoned half of his goals were scored with his head, hence the "Nodder" nickname
During his time with the club they won the Birmingham Combination in 1946-47, were runners up twice and were never out of the top 4. They also triumphed in the Worcester Senior Cup twice and reached the first round of the F.A. Cup three times.
He was presented with a wrist watch commemorating his 200th goal for the club at half time in a match with Bilston in May 1950.
He left the Rovers, joining Stafford Rangers, at the start of the 1951-52 season.
Stats:
Debut: vs Stafford Rangers, Birmingham Combination, Marston Road, 2 November 1946, 1-2.
Last game:
Double hat-trick:
vs Bedworth, Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground, 30 August 1947, 7-2.
4 goals in a game:
vs Coventry City "A", Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground, 1 February 1947, 4-0.
vs Worcester City Reserves, Birmingham Combination, St Georges Lane, 24 May 1947, 5-0.
vs Hinckley United, Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground, 29 April 1948, 8-2.
vs Cradley Heath, Worcestershire Senior Cup First Round, Victoria Ground, 25 September 1948, 6-0.
Hat-tricks
vs Walsall Reserves, Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground 9 November 1946, 5-3.
vs Wolverhampton Wanderers "A", Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground, 12 April 1947, 5-1.
vs Nuneaton Borough, Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground, 19 April 1947, 7-3.
vs Kidderminster Harriers, Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground, 31 May 1947, 7-4.
vs Oswestry Town, F.A. Cup Premiminary Round, Victoria Road, 20 September 1947
vs Gresley Rovers, Birmingham Senior Cup, Victoria Ground, 11 October 1947, 5-1.
vs Brush Sports, F.A. Cup Fourth Qualifying Round, Victoria Ground, 15 November 1947, 5-2.
vs Walsall Reserves, Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground, 13 December 1947, 4-2.
vs Atherstone Town, Birmingham Combination, Victora Ground, 27 December 1947, 4-2.
vs Walsall Reserves, Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground, 11 December 1948, 6-0.
vs Redditch Town, Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground, 5 February 1949, 7-1.
vs Bilston Town, Birmingham Combination, Prouds Lane, 19 March 1949, 4-0. All 3 with his head.
vs Stourbridge, Birmingham Combination, Amblecote, 13 April 1949, 3-1. All 3 with his head.
1946-47: 34 appearances, 49 goals
1947-48: 44 appearances, 51 goals*
1948-49: 54 goals
1949-50: 51 goals
1950-51: 22 goals
TOTAL: 227 goals
*This does not match the figures on the database, as there are a number of fixtures where details of team line-ups and goalscorers can not be found. This is the figure quoted in the Bromsgrove Messengers end of season round-up.
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D.O.B:
01/02/1920
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