William Howard T. Walton (6 August 1871 – 10 February 1963) was an English footballer who played for Small Heath (now Birmingham City) for fourteen years. He made 232 appearances and scored 70 goals in all competitions.
Walton was born in Hockley Brook, Birmingham. He followed Small Heath from a young age; as a 14-year-old he watched the then Small Heath Alliance outclassed 4–0 by West Bromwich Albion in the semi-final of the 1885–86 FA Cup. On leaving school he trained to be a silversmith in the Hockley area of Birmingham now known as the Jewellery Quarter, and remained employed in that trade while playing football part-time.
In his younger days he played at inside forward. He was skilful on the ball with good movement and shooting ability. In Small Heath's first season in the Second Division, 1892–93, the front three of Walton, Frank Mobley and Fred Wheldon scored over 50 goals between them in a 22-game season; the following season the same trio scored 62 goals in the 28 games, Walton contributing 16 in 20. Later in his career he moved back to wing half, where his tireless encouragement of the younger players earned him the nickname "Mother".
Walton's support for Birmingham was lifelong. He was a guest of the club for the official opening of the St Andrew's ground on Boxing Day 1906, and helped clear snow from pitch and terraces so that the match could go ahead. He attended both of the FA Cup Finals involving Birmingham, in 1931 and 1956, and visited St Andrew's regularly until not long before his death.
Football League Second Division runners-up and promotion: 1893–94, 1900–01
Notesedit
^Promotion was decided by test matches, in which the bottom club in the First Division played off against the top club from the Second Division, in one-off games at neutral venues, the winners to play in the following season's First Division. Small Heath drew 1–1 with Newton Heath but lost the replay 5–2, so were not promoted despite winning the division.
Referencesedit
Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN1-85983-010-2.
Matthews, Tony (2000). The Encyclopedia of Birmingham City Football Club 1875-2000. Cradley Heath: Britespot. ISBN0-9539288-0-2.
December 15, 2023
billy, walton, other, people, with, similar, names, william, walton, disambiguation, william, howard, walton, august, 1871, february, 1963, english, footballer, played, small, heath, birmingham, city, fourteen, years, made, appearances, scored, goals, competit. For other people with similar names see William Walton disambiguation William Howard T Walton 6 August 1871 10 February 1963 was an English footballer who played for Small Heath now Birmingham City for fourteen years He made 232 appearances and scored 70 goals in all competitions Billy WaltonPersonal informationDate of birth 1871 08 06 6 August 1871Place of birthHockley Brook Birmingham EnglandDate of death10 February 1963 1963 02 10 aged 91 Place of deathWinson Green Birmingham EnglandPosition s Inside forward Wing halfSenior career YearsTeamApps Gls 18 1888Hockley Belmont1888 1902Small Heath201 56 1903Dudley Town Club domestic league appearances and goals Contents 1 Biography 2 Honours 3 Notes 4 ReferencesBiography editWalton was born in Hockley Brook Birmingham He followed Small Heath from a young age as a 14 year old he watched the then Small Heath Alliance outclassed 4 0 by West Bromwich Albion in the semi final of the 1885 86 FA Cup On leaving school he trained to be a silversmith in the Hockley area of Birmingham now known as the Jewellery Quarter and remained employed in that trade while playing football part time In his younger days he played at inside forward He was skilful on the ball with good movement and shooting ability In Small Heath s first season in the Second Division 1892 93 the front three of Walton Frank Mobley and Fred Wheldon scored over 50 goals between them in a 22 game season the following season the same trio scored 62 goals in the 28 games Walton contributing 16 in 20 Later in his career he moved back to wing half where his tireless encouragement of the younger players earned him the nickname Mother Walton s support for Birmingham was lifelong He was a guest of the club for the official opening of the St Andrew s ground on Boxing Day 1906 and helped clear snow from pitch and terraces so that the match could go ahead He attended both of the FA Cup Finals involving Birmingham in 1931 and 1956 and visited St Andrew s regularly until not long before his death He died in Dudley Road Hospital Winson Green Birmingham at the age of 91 Honours editSmall Heath Football League Second Division champions 1892 93 a Football League Second Division runners up and promotion 1893 94 1900 01Notes edit Promotion was decided by test matches in which the bottom club in the First Division played off against the top club from the Second Division in one off games at neutral venues the winners to play in the following season s First Division Small Heath drew 1 1 with Newton Heath but lost the replay 5 2 so were not promoted despite winning the division References editMatthews Tony 1995 Birmingham City A Complete Record Derby Breedon Books ISBN 1 85983 010 2 Matthews Tony 2000 The Encyclopedia of Birmingham City Football Club 1875 2000 Cradley Heath Britespot ISBN 0 9539288 0 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Billy Walton amp oldid 1164081636, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
