Billy O'Neil played by Phil Barantini

From a large working class family in Liverpool, Billy always plays the joker of the pack. His family life has always been boring and Billy has created a fairly convincing fantasy world around himself. Although he doesn't fool people for long, some of Billy's lies get through. As a footballer he's a Dennis Wise midfield terrier, who dives recklessly into tackles and never gives up. His enthusiasm, competitiveness, joking and constant high spirits however keep him popular with the team. He is determined to stay as one of the lads and sees always being up for a laugh as a man's most important quality. He can't quite believe that anyone would dislike him because he never has malicious motives. Billy started off his career with his hometown club, Liverpool. He excelled at academy level but he struggled physically when he was promoted to the youth team. After a year without progression, Liverpool decided against offering him a professional contract. This was a crushing blow to Billy but after some thought, he decided to pursue his career and when Frank Patcham expressed an interest in signing him, he was only too happy to have the chance to join Harchester United.

He starts the 1998/99 season in the youth team. He stays at the youth hostel where he rooms with fellow new boy, Leon Richards. After Billy convinces Leon to break curfew, the pair find a package containing £50k. Billy wants to spend the money whereas Leon wants to save it. The pair agree to put the money away but the temptation is too much for Billy. He goes to London in an attempt to spend some of the money. Leon ends up lying to Frank about where Leon is, when Frank finds out, he fines both players two weeks wages. Meanwhile, Jerry is trying to track down the missing money. After he remembers that Leon was there when the money went missing, he sends his associates around to check on him. They thrash the boys room in search of the money but they don’t find it. When the boys discover what’s happened, they try to sell the items Billy had bought in an attempt to recoup the money but nobody took them seriously. Instead, they put several bets on Manchester United to beat Harchester at Addiston Road. All was going according to plan until the last minute when Karl Fletcher equalized for the Dragons. This left the lads in further debt, with no way of paying it off. However, things were going well for Billy on the field. After showing some good form in the youth team, Billy found himself in the first team squad and he made several appearances from the bench. In the end, Jerry’s associates pay the boys a visit and they end up hospitalizing Leon. This is great news to Leon’s rival, Alex Wilkinson. After Leon recovers, he tries all sorts to keep him off the pitch. After spiking his drink, Alex starts to go out with Leon’s ex-girlfriend and then threatens to harm his son. When Billy hears about what has happened, he informs Alex’s mother who then informs Frank. As a result, Leon is selected for the FA Cup final in place of Alex and both Leon and Billy pick up FA Cup winners medals.

After making an impact at the end of last season, Billy starts this season as a first team regular. His first European game comes against Ajax at the Amsterdam Arena. However, the occasion gets the better of Billy and he ends up getting himself sent off. Things go from bad to worse when his best friend, Leon, is killed in a plane crash on his way back to Harchester. Billy finds it hard to get over this loss but after getting some help from Kelly, things soon get back to normal. Billy takes on added responsibility after the plane crash and he seems to have matured as a player. Hes now one of the first names on the team sheet and he has become a driving force from midfield. When new signing Wes Kingsley finds it hard to settle in, Billy tries to get to know him. The pair become great friends and Billy offers him a place to stay. Wes begins to take an interest in Kelly and in the end Billy fixes them up. After a while, Wes proposes to Kelly but the relationship falls apart when Wes finds out that she has been unfaithful. Towards the end of the season, Billy decides to ask for a pay rise. Even though he has been one of the better performers at the club, his salary is nowhere near what some of the other players are getting. The club turn down his request due to their financial problems. Billy is then talked into requesting a transfer request and several clubs come in for him, including Everton, Derby and West Ham. As transfer negotiations conclude, Billy panicks and decides to lock himself in the dressing room toilets. He pulls out of these deals at the last minute and he stays with Harchester until the end of the season. It was then that West Ham came in with an improved offer and the terms were too good for Billy to turn down.

First Appearance: Episode 2.01
Final Appearance: Episode 4.01

Season 2 Character Popularity: 6.06% (6th)
Season 3 Character Popularity: 12.21% (3rd)

The Boys from County Clare (2003) .... Alex
Ned Kelly (2003) .... Steve Hart
The American Embassy China Cup (2002) TV Episode (as Philip Barantini) .... Jason
Band of Brothers (2001) (mini) TV Series .... Sgt. Wayne 'Skinny' Sisk
The Escapist (2001) .... Joey
Big Cat (1998) (TV) .... Young Leo

Nickname:     BARAS or P. TEENY
Hometown:    LIVERPOOL
Born:    13.7.80
Sign:    CANCER
Siblings:    2 YOUNGER BROTHERS
Supports:    LIVERPOOL FC
Hobbies:    PARTYING
Favourite Pastimes:     CLUBBING ANDPARTYING
Pets:     DOG CALLED SHEEBY
Favourite types of music:    HOUSE, SOUL
Dream Car:     ASTON MARTIN DB7
Favourite food:     SPAG BOL
Favourite town to chill in:    LIVERPOOL
Favourite ice cream:     VANILLA BENAND JERRY'S
Favourite soft drink:    COKE
My worst time of day:    ALL DAY
Favourite holiday destination:   CARIBBEAN
Favourite perfume/cologne:    GUCCI ENVY
Favourite website:    www.liverpoolfc.net
Favourite sport to watch:    FOOTBALL,WOMEN'S MUD WRESTLING
Most humiliating moment:    WHEN I WASYOUNGER I GOT A BRAND NEW BIKE AND DECIDED TO RIDE ITDOWN THE ROAD TO IMPRESS A GIRL I FANCIED. I STARTEDSHOWING OFF BUT RAPIDLY FELL OFF KNOCKING MYSELF OUT.WHEN I CAME ROUND THE GIRL I FANCIED WAS ONE OF THEPEOPLE TRYING TO HELP ME!