As a 15-year-old Bill Bevis joined Portsmouth as an amateur, but not before he had been given a trial at Norwich who were then managed by Tom Parker. When he became Southampton’s new manager, Parker remembered the young Hampshire lad that had been sent to Carrow Road – at the recommendation of ex-Saint and Norwich scout Jim Angell – and signed him professionally in June 1936.

His pairing with Ted Bates (another young import from Norwich) in the 1937-38 season immediately caught the imagination of the Daily Express who deemed the pair “a perfect right-wing”in only their second game together – against Norwich ironically. Bates featured less often the following season, but they enjoyed a late run in tandem, during which Bevis scored a hat-trick at Swansea in April 1939. By then, Newcastle had made enquiries, but the War scuppered any chances of a move. Joining the Merchant Navy as a petty officer gunner, he had an eventful time, being torpedoed three times, mined once to spend seven days adrift (see scrapbook section).

He was rescued from a raft by a destroyer whose crew coincidentally included a former team-mate, Reserve goalkeeper, Alec Warnock. His escapades earned him the DSM which was presented to him by King George VI at Buckingham Palace in 1944 (see left). After being demobbed in November 1945, he returned to The Dell for a few games in the transitional 1945-46 season but, after a further 14 games the following year he decided to retire from League football, despite  tempting offers from Plymouth Argyle and Brighton  (and complimentary cartoons in the Football Echo). 

Reverting to his love of the sea, Bill became a yachtsman whilst continuing to turn out in Hampshire League football. His DSM has been donated to the club and is kept in the trophy cabinet.