Early Years
He was born in Maxwelltown, at Westpark Cottages, where he lived for a short while before his family moved to a house at the Crichton in Dumfries. Houliston played for Brownhall Primary School in the Dumfries and District Primary School League at centre half. Houliston played for the League in cup matches against other areas. Houliton's secondary school was Dumfries High School where he played only occasionally. On leaving school Houliston stopped playing completely.
Aged 17 working as a nurse at the Crichton Royal Hospital Houliston started playing again. It was playing for the Crichton team that Houliston moved from defence to attack playing at either inside or centre forward.
In 1941 Billy Houliston was called up for national service. Houliston joined RAF Coastal Command as a wireless operator. In his 4 years service Houliston was attached to 16 different stations where he represented each at football. Playing in the Arbroath area the local side offered to sign him. On leave back in Dumfries Houliston declined the offer when taking the offer of a trial game for Queen of the South reserves.
Read more about this topic: Billy Houliston
Famous quotes related to early years:
“Even today . . . experts, usually male, tell women how to be mothers and warn them that they should not have children if they have any intention of leaving their side in their early years. . . . Children don’t need parents’ full-time attendance or attention at any stage of their development. Many people will help take care of their needs, depending on who their parents are and how they chose to fulfill their roles.”
—Stella Chess (20th century)