| Walter Anthony | |
| Fullname: | Walter Anthony |
| Birth Date: | 21 November 1879 |
| Birth Place: | Basford, England |
| Death Place: | Basford, England |
| Position: | Outside left |
| Clubs1: | Osmaston |
| Clubs2: | Heanor Town |
| Years3: | 189?–190? |
| Clubs3: | Newstead Byron |
| Years4: | 190?–1904 |
| Clubs4: | Arnold |
| Years5: | 1904–1905 |
| Caps5: | 6 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 1905–1908 |
| Caps6: | 80 |
| Goals6: | 8 |
| Years7: | 1908–1915 |
| Caps7: | 149 |
| Goals7: | 11 |
| Years8: | 1915–19?? |
| Clubs8: | Stalybridge Celtic |
Walter Anthony (21 November 1879 – 26 January 1950) was an English professional footballer who made 155 Football League appearances playing as an outside forward for Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers,[1] with whom he won the 1911–12 Football League title and the 1912 FA Charity Shield. He also played in the Southern League for Brighton & Hove Albion.
Anthony was born in Basford, Nottinghamshire.[1] He was the younger brother of George and Henry Anthony, who both played cricket for that county.[2] He began his football career at local level with clubs including Osmaston, Heanor Town,[1] Newstead Byron[3] and Arnold before signing for Football League First Division club Nottingham Forest in February 1904 for a fee reported as £25.[4]
He made six league appearances for Forest, but was reportedly not thought strong enough for top-class football, and moved on to Brighton & Hove Albion of the Southern League in May 1905. He worked on his physical conditioning at his new club, and became a regular at outside right in the first team with 13 goals from 119 appearances in all competitions over two and a half years. Described by club historian Tim Carder as "a tricky little ball-player, noted for the accuracy of his crosses with either foot", he attracted attention from bigger clubs.[2] After Brighton eliminated First Division Preston North End from the 1907–08 FA Cup after two replays,[5] Blackburn Rovers were convinced to sign Anthony and two teammates, Dick Wombwell and Joe Lumley, for "a substantial sum",[6] widely reported as £750.[7] The Football Association had recently imposed a rule forbidding more than £350 to be paid for any single player, and it was understood that Anthony was the primary target and Lumley and Wombwell were makeweights in the circumvention of that maximum.[8] [9]
Anthony soon established himself at outside left in Blackburn's first team.[5] He made 149 league appearances,[1] was part of the 1911–12 Football League-winning side, and played in the Charity Shield, in which Blackburn beat Southern League champions Queens Park Rangers 2–1 in aid of the Titanic Disaster Fund.[10] He appeared only once in 1913–14[11] as Rovers again finished as champions. At the end of the season, the Football League gave Rovers permission to pay Anthony a lump sum in lieu of the benefit match for which he qualified after five years service.[12] He moved on in January 1915, to Stalybridge Celtic of the Lancashire Combination.[13]
Anthony served in the Army in the First World War, and then worked in the mines. He spent 18 years in the dispatch department of a Nottingham car parts supplier, working until two days before his death in Basford in January 1950 at the age of 70.[14]
Blackburn Rovers