The Scottish left half Billy Stewart first rose to prominence playing for the regimental team of the famous Black Watch regiment. After attaining his discharge so that he could play professionally, joined Preston North End via a spell with Belfast Distillery. A move to Everton came in 1893 and he brought a new level of professionalism and fitness to the Everton team.
‘As a stylist Bill Stewart had few points of character play to distinguish him from the average first class half-back of today,’ recorded a 1925 profile. ‘It was in his results for the team that he can best be judged.’
Stewart joined a defence that was overseen by the mighty ‘wee devil’ Johnny Holt and brought ‘untiring skill and ceaseless vigilance… not only in tactical defence, but inventing and developing constant attack, which it, of course the most perfect form of defence.’ A vivid portrait of the former army man was painted by Victor Hall in the Football Echo in 1925.
'Stewart had developed his football under Army conditions, and speed, strength, and stamina were the prime essentials. He had learned in the hard school of experience to stand up to grueling players, to take hard knocks, and to give them in return. There is or was, no school so serve for testing perfect physical fitness as the Army gyms, and playing fields, and Stewart had come through the ordeals with honours. Therefore, professional football had nothing to teach him in a strength, stamina, or physique, and the skill and intuition of the finer points of the game were born in him.'
According to Hall, Stewart was renowned for the power of his throw ins which were often said to be equal to the velocity of a free kick ‘and contemporary players of those days claimed that he could drop the ball into the goalmouth from a touchline throw-in.’
He was a regular over four seasons through the mid-1890s, but after captaining Everton to the 1897 FA Cup Final fell out of favour with the Everton selectors. After losing his place to Jack Robertson he joined Bristol City in the Southern League, where he played out his career.