| Billy Thornton | |
| Fullname: | William S. Thornton |
| Birth Date: | unknown |
| Death Date: | unknown |
| Club1: | Hunslet |
| Year1start: | ≤1938 |
| Year1end: | ≥43 |
| Teama: | England |
| Yearastart: | 1943 |
| Appearancesa: | 1 |
| Triesa: | 0 |
| Goalsa: | 0 |
| Fieldgoalsa: | 0 |
| Pointsa: | 0 |
| New: | yes |
| Retired: | yes |
| Updated: | 24 April 2012 |
| Source: | [<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/w-thornton/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012}}</ref><ref name="England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.englandrl.co.uk/player_records?search=Thornton&submit=Go&c=England|title=England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk|publisher=englandrl.co.uk|date=31 December 2011|accessdate=1 January 2012}}</ref> ] |
William Thornton (birth unknown – death unknown) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s. He played at representative level for England, and at club level for Hunslet, as a .
Billy Thornton won a cap for England while at Hunslet in 1943 against Wales.
Billy Thornton played in Hunslet's 8-2 victory over Leeds in the Championship Final during the 1937–38 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 30 April 1938.[1]
Billy Thornton played in Hunslet FC's 7-13 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers in the 1929–30 Yorkshire Cup Final during the 1929–30 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 30 November 1929, in front of a crowd of 11,000.[2]