Willie Havenga

Willie Havenga
Personal information
Full name	William Stephanus Havenga
Date of birth	6 November 1924
Place of birth	Bloemfontein, South Africa
Date of death	12 December 2008 (aged 84)
Place of death	South Africa
Position(s)	Inside forward
Senior career*
Years	Team
–	Bremner Old Boys
1948–1950	Birmingham City
1950–1952	Luton Town
1952–1953	Ipswich Town
1953–195?	Kettering Town
	Worcester City
	Hinckley Athletic
	Halesowen Town
	Benoni United
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

William Stephanus Havenga (6 November 1924 – 12 December 2008), commonly known as Billy or Willie Havenga, was a South African professional footballer who played in the Football League for Birmingham City, Luton Town and Ipswich Town. He also played in South Africa and in non-league football in England.^[1]^[2]

Career[edit]

Havenga was born in Bloemfontein. He played in South Africa for Bremner Old Boys before coming to England for trials with Birmingham City. The trials were successful, and Havenga signed for the club in July 1948.^[1] He made his debut in the First Division on 22 October 1949, playing at outside right in a goalless draw at home to Everton,^[3] but his proved to be his only first-team game for the club. At the end of the 1949–50 season Havenga joined Second Division club Luton Town. He spent 18 months with Luton,^[1] scoring six goals from 18 league games, before moving to Ipswich Town, for whom he scored three goals from 19 Third Division South games.^[2] He scored five goals from eight appearances for Southern League club Kettering Town during the 1953–54 season,^[4] and also played for Worcester City, Hinckley Athletic and Halesowen Town.^[1]

Havenga then returned to his native South Africa,^[1] where he died in 2008 at the age of 84.^[5]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 95. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
^ ^a ^b "Willie Havenga". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
^ Matthews, p. 185.
^ "Player Profile Billy Havenga". poppiesfans.com. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
^ Benoni City Times (www.classads.co.za/pubs/BENONI_CITY_TIMES/sect0031.html) "WILLIE HAVENGA 6/11/24 - 12/12/08 The family wish to thank everyone for condolences, cards and flowers on the sudden death of Willie".