Walter Anthony (footballer) explained

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.

Life and career

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]

Honours

Blackburn Rovers

Notes and References

  1. Book: Joyce, Michael . Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . SoccerData . Nottingham . 2004 . 10 . 978-1-899468-67-6.
  2. Book: Tim . Carder . Roger . Harris . Albion A–Z: A Who's Who of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. . Goldstone Books . Hove . 1997 . 15 . 978-0-9521337-1-1.
  3. News: Notts. and District League . Nottingham Evening Post . 11 January 1902 . 3.
  4. News: Sporting Notes . Nottingham Evening Post . 20 February 1904 . 6 . Nottingham Forest have signed a promising young local forward in Walter Anthony, the outside left of the Arnold club. Anthony has been a most consistent performer in Notts. League football, and many good judges who have seen him play prophesy a great future for him. The Arnold club, we understand, have received a cheque for £25 in connection with the transfer..
  5. Web site: All time greatest F A cup giant killings Number 72: Brighton & Hove Albion 1–0 Preston North End . The Giant Killers . Steve Porter . 31 August 2018.
  6. News: New players for Blackburn Rovers . Sheffield Independent . 15 February 1908 . 9.
  7. News: Brighton players for Blackburn . The Globe . London . 14 February 1908 . 3.
  8. News: TAM . From the field. The Southern raid on the Football League . Bognor Regis Observer . 19 February 1908 . 3 . I have indicated all along how the law relating to the limitation of transfer fees may be evaded, and we have not had to wait long for a demonstration. Here we have Blackburn Rovers paying Brighton and Hove £750 for three players—Anthony, Wombwell, and Lumley. I do not suppose that Blackburn Rovers wanted all three men. They probably wanted only Anthony, but they had to take the others—and pay the price..
  9. Book: Carder . Harris . Albion A–Z . 268 . First Division Blackburn Rovers signed [Wombwell] along with Joe Lumley and their main target, Walter Anthony....
  10. Web site: QPR v Blackburn Rovers – The 1912 Kinnaird Shield match in aid of the Titanic Disaster Fund . Steve . Russell . Independent R's . 19 July 2012 . 31 August 2018.
  11. News: Football League Reviewed: Blackburn Rovers . Star Green 'Un . Sheffield . 9 May 1914 . 2.
  12. News: League Management . Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough . 25 April 1914 . 6.
  13. News: Football League meeting . Yorkshire Post . 12 January 1915 . 10.
  14. News: Death of former Forest star . Nottingham Journal . 27 January 1950 . 3.