Walter Kimberley Explained

Walter Kimberley
Fullname:Walter Kimberley
Birth Date:28 September 1884
Birth Place:Aston, England
Death Place:Aston, England
Position:Left back, right half
Youthclubs1:Gower Street School
Youthclubs2:Gravelly Hill Schools
Clubs1:Tower Unity
Clubs2:Selly Oak St Mary's
Clubs3:Coldstream Guards
Clubs4:Aston Manor
Years5:1906–1912
Clubs5:Aston Villa
Caps5:7
Goals5:0
Years6:1912–1914
Clubs6:Coventry City
Caps6:21
Goals6:2
Years7:1914
Clubs7:Walsall

Walter Kimberley (28 September 1884 – 22 April 1917) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Aston Villa as a left back and right half.[1]

Personal life

As of 1901 and 1904, Kimberley worked as an engraver and a packer respectively.[2] While playing for Coventry City, Kimberley worked at the Coventry Ordnance Works.[3] An army reservist since 1904, Kimberley rejoined the Coldstream Guards in August 1914, after Britain's entry into the First World War and was appointed lance corporal. The following month, he was captured by the Germans at Maubeuge during the First Battle of the Marne and spent two years as a prisoner of war in camps at Döberitz, Dyrotz and Cottbus.[4] [5] Beginning with a six-month stay in hospital with laryngitis and bronchitis, Kimberley's health declined during his internment and he was repatriated to Britain in August 1916 with pulmonary tuberculosis. He was immediately discharged from the army and fell into severe ill heath, permanently losing his voice and dying at home in Aston on 22 April 1917.[6] Kimberley was buried in Witton Cemetery, Birmingham. He was married and had two children, one of whom died in infancy.

Career statistics

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueFA CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aston Villa1907–08[7] First Division400040
1908–09300030
Total700070
Coventry City1912–13Southern League First Division10110111
1913–1411010120
Total21120231
Career total28120301

Notes and References

  1. Book: Joyce, Michael . Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . Tony Brown . 2012 . 978-1905891610 . Nottingham . 164.
  2. Web site: Coventry City Footballer Walter Kimberley, and World War One . 12 March 2019 . Our Warwickshire . en.
  3. Book: Nowell, Charles . City of Coventry Roll of the Fallen: The Great War 1914–1918 . 7 September 2012 . Andrews UK Limited . 9781781509654 . 188 . en.
  4. Web site: Walter Kimberley Gets Taken Prisoner in World War One . 12 March 2019 . Our Warwickshire . en.
  5. Web site: Walter Kimberley's World War One Prisoner Experience, and Beyond . 12 March 2019 . Our Warwickshire . en.
  6. Web site: Walter Kimberley – Aston Villa and Coventry City . 12 January 2016 . Football and the First World War.
  7. Web site: Walter Kimberley . 4 June 2017 . 11v11.com.