Billy Ayre

Born in Consett on 7th May 1952, he made a late entry into professional football, having spent most of his younger years in the education sphere. He had graduated from Durham University, becoming a P.E., art and English teacher, while also playing non-league football for Scarborough, but eventually decided on playing full time football when he was 25, and signed for Hartlepool United in August 1977. He soon settled into the professional game in his central defenders role, and made 141 League appearances for Hartlepool in which he scored a remarkable 27 goals, transferring to Halifax Town in January 1981. Another 63 League appearances accrued there, with 5 goals, before he transferred to Mansfield Town in August 1982 where he played another 2 seasons, 67 league appearances, and 7 goals. He returned to Halifax in the close season of 1984, where he retired from the game in the summer of 1986, having made another 32 League appearances and scored 2 goals. He then decided on a coaching and management role, working at a series of clubs, including Swansesa City, and became assistant manager to Frank Burrows at Cardiff City in February 1998, taking over the manager's role in February 2000, when Frank Burrows resigned from the post. He was caretaker manager until the end of the 1999-2000 season, and despite being unable to save the club from relegation, it seemed very much likely that he would take over on a full time basis. Indeed, he oversaw the draughting of the retained list, while also making some moves in the transfer market. However, once Sam Hammam took control of the club, he decided to install his own manager. He initially agreed to become assistant to the new incumbent, Bobby Gould, but eventually decided to leave the club for a coaching appointment at Bury. He fell ill shortly afterwards, with lymphoma, and despite battling the disease bravely, he passed away on 16th April 2002, aged just 49.