Walter Anderson (footballer)

Walter Anderson (1879 – 3 March 1904) was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward.

Walter Anderson
Personal information
Full name Walter Anderson[1]
Date of birth 1879
Place of birth England
Date of death 3 March 1904 (aged 25)
Place of death London, England
Playing position(s) Inside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
– Darlington – (–)
– Thornaby Utopians – (–)
1899–1901 Sheffield United 4 (0)
1901–1903 Woolwich Arsenal 28 (10)
1903–1904 Plymouth Argyle 31 (11)
Total 63 (21)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

A diminutive forward,[2] Anderson began his career with Darlington before moving to Thornaby Utopians.[1] He became a professional in 1899 with Sheffield United and made four appearances in the First Division of the Football League over the next two years.[1] Anderson was transferred to Second Division side Woolwich Arsenal in December 1901.[2] He made his first team debut against Preston North End in a 0–0 draw on 11 January 1902 and scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 win at Chesterfield Town three weeks later.[3] Having formed a partnership in the team's forward line with Bill Gooing,[2] Anderson scored five goals in 13 league games as the club finished fifth in the Second Division table.[4] The following season, he competed with Tim Coleman for a place in the team.[2] Anderson scored five league goals in 15 matches that season and one in the FA Cup, a 3–1 defeat at home to Sheffield United,[3] taking his overall tally to 11 goals in 30 appearances.[2]

Anderson was transferred to Southern League club Plymouth Argyle in the summer of 1903. Commonly known as Wattie,[5] he was signed by Frank Brettell to form part of the Devon club's first professional squad.[6] He made his debut in a 1–0 win at West Ham United on 1 September 1903 and scored his first goal in a 2–1 win at Portsmouth eight days later.[7] Having established himself as their first choice inside right,[8] he scored a hat-trick against Wellingborough on 5 December at Home Park as part of a 4–1 win.[7] Two months later, Anderson contracted pneumonia.[6] He carried on playing, ignoring doctors' advice that he should rest, and collapsed after a match against Fulham at Craven Cottage on 27 February 1904.[6] He was rushed to hospital and died four days later, at the age of 25.[2] He made 38 appearances in all competitions for Plymouth Argyle, scoring 13 goals.[7] A memorial fund was created by the club in his honour and a souvenir handbook was published, which described Anderson as "one of the greatest, cleverest and whole-hearted players a club ever commanded."[8]

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 9.
  2. "Walter Anderson". Arsenal. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  3. "Arsenal first team line-ups". Andy's Arsenal Resource Website. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  4. "English Division Two (old) 1901–1902 : Table". Statto Organisation. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  5. "Rise And Fall of Amateur Era As Brettell Thinks Big". Western Morning News. 15 September 2003. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  6. Tonkin, W. S. (1963). All About Argyle 1903–1963. Plymouth: E. J. Rickard Ltd. pp. 14–15.
  7. Knight, Brian (1989). Plymouth Argyle Complete Record 1903–1989. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 202–203. ISBN 0-907969-40-2.
  8. "Walter Anderson". Greens on Screen. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
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