South Yorkshire Times, January 1, 1944

Clever Young Boxer

Billy Thompson, the popular Thurnscoe boxing champion, has had a remarkable amateur boxing career.  He started boxing at the age of 12 and was Schoolboy Champion of Yorkshire in 1939,  1940,  1941.

He went on to become Northern Counties A.B.A. Flyweight Champion in 1942 and A.T.C. Bantamweight Champion the same year.  In 1943 he gained the A.T.C. Featherweight Championship of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by knocking out McKenny in the first round at Manvers.  Then he won the North-East England Championship, knocking out his two opponents in the first round.  In the final at Liverpool he knocked out Simmonds in the fourth round.

Billy also represented Northern England at Birmingham, Newcastle, Sunderland, Liverpool and Leeds against the Welsh A.B.A. Northern Command, Southern Command, Western Command and Welsh A.T.C.  As an amateur he has had over 150 fights in seven years and has only one decision against him by Jimmy Malloy (Liverpool) who has since turned professional.

Billy is the son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Thompson, of 29, Brunswick Street, Thurnscoe East, and is employed in the fitting shop at Hickleton Main Colliery.  He is also a member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade attached to the colliery.