Willie Almond Explained

Willie Almond
Fullname:William Almond
Birth Date:5 April 1868
Birth Place:Blackburn, England
Death Date:1942
Position:Half-back
Years1:1887–1888
Clubs1:Witton
Years2:1888–1892
Clubs2:Blackburn Rovers
Caps2:58
Goals2:3
Years3:1892–1893
Clubs3:Accrington
Caps3:9
Goals3:1
Years4:1893–1894
Clubs4:Northwich Victoria
Caps4:5
Goals4:0
Years5:1893–1894
Clubs5:Middlesbrough
Years6:1893–1894
Clubs6:Nelson
Years7:1894–1895
Clubs7:Millwall Athletic
Years8:1895–1897
Clubs8:Tottenham Hotspur
Caps8:16
Goals8:2
Years9:1897–1898
Clubs9:Millwall Athletic
Years10:1897–1898
Clubs10:Wandsworth
Years11:1899–1900
Clubs11:Clapton
Years12:1900–1901
Clubs12:Wandsworth

William Almond, known as Willie Almond (5 April 1868 – 1942), was an English footballer who played in The Football League for Accrington, Blackburn Rovers, and Northwich Victoria.[1]

In 1887 Almond signed with Witton, the year Witton FC recruited 19 professional footballers. Witton had its best run in both the FA Cup and the Lancashire Cup. What role Almond played in these cup runs is not recorded.

Season 1888–1889

Blackburn Rovers had a highly successful inaugural league season in 1888–1889. They finished 4th in the League and reached the semi-final of the FA Cup. Willie Almond made his League and Club debut, playing at centre-half, on 15 September 1888 at Leamington Road, home of Blackburn Rovers in a match against Accrington. The match was drawn 5-5. When he made his League debut Willie Almond was 20 years and 163 days old; that made him, on the second weekend of League football, Blackburn Rovers' youngest player. Almond scored his debut League goal on 10 November 1888 at Leamington Road, Blackburn, against Everton FC. Blackburn Rovers won the match 3–0. Almond missed only one of the 21 League matches played by Blackburn Rovers in 1888-1889 and scored one League goal. As a centre-half he played in a defence-line that kept three clean sheets and kept the opposition to one-in-a-match on three separate occasions. He also played one match as a wing-half.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Joyce, Michael. Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. 2004. SoccerData. 1-899468-67-6.
  2. Web site: English National Football Archive. 2017-12-26. (registration & fee required)