Billy Totten
Lisburn Distillery Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former player, and friend, Billy Totten.
Billy was a big favourite here at New Grosvenor because of his skills on the wing, and was affectionately known on the terraces as “the tricky winger” – a term often used to describe him in match reports of that era.
He had a successful career at a number of clubs with a host of medals along the way – he played for Linfield, Crusaders, Coleraine and Glentoran. And he joined The Whites late in the 1991/92 season when manager Billy Hamilton brought him in from Glentoran, in what proved a host of hugely influential signings, at the same time, for the club in the seasons that followed. Joining “Totsy” were; Tom Cleland, Philip Mitchell, Dean Gordon, Jamesie Irwin and goalkeeper David Collins.
Billy Totten certainly played his part the following season – a hugely memorable one – the team finished fifth in the league, just four points behind winners Linfield and 14 points ahead of sixth-placed Glenavon. Not only did Totsy weigh-in with plenty of “assists” in modern parlance, he also scored 12 goals.
The Whites won the Gold Cup that season, and bringing Totsy on in the second-half was a big factor in that trophy win.
In that 92/93 season many of our supporters recall a match at Bangor on 02nd January. The Seasiders were top of the league that morning – it was short stay, Billy Hamilton’s side coming back from a goal down to win 3-1, Totsy set up two and scored one. A match report described him as “the ever dangerous Billy Totten”, indeed he was and it summed up the many skills he had to his game, a traditional right-winger in the finest sense, he could turn, he could dribble, he went round and past people.
We suited him, and he suited us, and he went on to shine on the right wing for five seasons, netting 27 goals in 169 appearances before moving on to H&W Welders. And whilst he left the club, he didn’t lose interest in The Whites – he worked at the Northern Bank in Belfast and anytime I passed him he would be over asking about the club and how things were.
Sadly, Billy had been in poor health in recent years, but it was great, indeed fitting, that he was able to attend the club’s 30th Anniversary event for that Gold Cup win, in November 2023. He is pictured far left in the front row of the group shot.
We mourn his passing and send our very deepest sympathies to his family and friends, including his fellow team-mates here at Distillery. He will be remembered fondly. (DH)
