Before his county cricket career with Surrey took off, Billy spent the winter months playing football.

While with Old Centrals he was putting scores together as a right-hand bat and legbreak bowler in Surrey's second XI. He made his first class debut in April 1903, scoring 9 runs and taking 3 wickets against a London County side that included W.G. Grace. His County Championship debut followed the following month and the same season he also played alongside Grace for London County. Billy went on to play in 113 first class matches, scoring 3 centuries .