Arthur Watkin

Arthur Watkin (30 July 1895 – 27 August 1972) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Stoke.[1][2] His brother Frank Watkin was also a footballer who played for Stoke.

Arthur Watkin

Personal information
Full name	Arthur Watkin[1]
Date of birth	30 July 1895[1]
Place of birth	Burslem, England[1]
Date of death	27 August 1972(1972-08-27) (aged 77)[1]
Place of death	Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Playing position(s)	Centre forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1912	Hanley Swifts
1913–1923	Stoke	142	(58)
1923–1924	Congleton Town
1924–1927	Stoke City	16	(3)
1928	Congleton Town
Total		158	(61)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Watkin was born in Burslem and joined Stoke in 1913 from Hanley Swifts.[2] The 18-year-old was a regular during 1914–15 and his 24 goals in 20 games propelled Stoke to the Southern League Division Two title.[2] He scored three hat tricks and also hit five twice firstly in a 10–0 victory against Ebbw Vale and in an 11–0 FA Cup win against Stourbridge which helped Stoke re-claim their place in the Football League.[2] The outbreak of World War I interrupted his career but he did return in 1919–20.[2] A long-standing knee injury prevented Watkin living up to expectations surrounding him and he scored three goals in eleven matches taking over from the ailing Bob Whittingham. He scored on his Football League debut which was in the Potteries derby against Port Vale, Watkin scoring a 3–0 victory.[2]

Stoke spent heavily before the start of the 1920–21 season, signing centre forward Jimmy McColl from Celtic. Manager Arthur Shallcross moved Watkin to inside-left where he developed into a tricky linkman between McColl and Harry Crossthwaite. Watkin still retained his eye for goal, top scoring with 16.[2] Of his hat tricks early on against Nottingham Forest the Sentinel's Nimrod wrote: "Stoke followers have waited patiently for a glimpse of the real Watkin and they were rewarded by an exhibition which very few forwards can surpass. How the mind went back to season 1914–15, when he struck terror to the hearts of opposing defenders."[2] But dreams of promotion faded and Watkin's goals tailed off and Stoke were almost relegated. By this time Watkin had developed a reputation for either scoring two or three in a game or being anonymous. Some reporters believed that his experiences in the army had given him a nervous temperament. Watkin also had problems combining football with his job as a pottery department manager at Grimwade's.[2] Once Stoke were relegated his company pressured him into quitting Stoke and he duly spent a season with Congleton Town. New Stoke manager Tom Mather brought him back for a short spell in 1924.[2] Watkin worked as a full-time manager at the pot bank until retirement and he died on 27 August 1972.[2]

Career statistics

Source:[3]

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Stoke City	1913–14	Southern Division Two	7	1	0	0	7	1
	1914–15	Southern Division Two	20	24	4	7	24	31
	1919–20	Second Division	11	3	1	0	12	3
	1920–21	Second Division	35	15	1	1	36	16
	1921–22	Second Division	35	8	5	5	40	13
	1922–23	First Division	34	7	2	0	36	7
	1924–25	Second Division	14	3	1	0	15	3
	1925–26	Second Division	2	0	0	0	2	0
Career Total			158	61	14	13	172	74

Honours

• Southern League Division Two champion: 1914–15
• Football League Second Division runners-up: 1921–22

References

1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
2. Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN 1-874287554.
3. Arthur Watkin at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)