Harold Walden
Encyclopedia
Harold Adrian Walden (10 October 1887 in Umballa, India – 2 December 1955 in Leeds
) was an English amateur football player who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics
.
A centre forward, he began his career at Halifax Town
before joining Bradford City
in December 1911. He spent four seasons with the Bantams and was the League's top scorer in 1911–12. That summer, he was part of the English amateur team
that represented Great Britain at the Olympic football tournament
, winning the gold medal. He played in all three matches and scored nine goals.
Walden entered the army by joining the Cheshire Regiment
in 1903, and served in India and Ireland. He played for the Army against the Navy in 1910 and 1911, and also served in World War I, for the West Yorkshire Regiment, rising to the rank of captain
. After the war ended he joined Arsenal
and played twice for the Gunners, both times against Oldham Athletic
, with his debut coming on 12 February 1921. With just those two games (and a single goal) to his name, he returned to Bradford at the end of the 1920–21 season.
After retiring from football and the army, he went into the music hall as a variety performer in Yorkshire
, after making his stage debut while still playing football, in 1919. He had also had a minor film career, which included starring in The Winning Goal
, one of the earliest football-related films, in 1920. Also played himself in the film Cup-Tie Honeymoon
in 1948.
He made at least two 78rpm records, "Ronnie the Robin" b/w "And only me knows why", on the Imperial label (Imperial 2589), and (from Ernest Binns' Arcadian Follies), 'Mother I'm a soldier' and 'Only me knows why' on Parlophone (Parlo. F1552) (The latter reviewed in The Gramophone November 1939).
He died in 1955 of a heart attack at Leeds railway station.
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
) was an English amateur football player who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
.
A centre forward, he began his career at Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
before joining Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
in December 1911. He spent four seasons with the Bantams and was the League's top scorer in 1911–12. That summer, he was part of the English amateur team
England national amateur football team
The England national amateur football team was the amateur representative team for England at football. It was formed in 1906, due to the growth of the professional game which meant that amateur players could no longer easily find places in the main England national team.-First match and unbeaten...
that represented Great Britain at the Olympic football tournament
Football at the 1912 Summer Olympics
Football at the 1912 Summer Olympics was one of the 102 events at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden. It was the fourth time football was on the Olympic schedule. The tournament was contested between 11 nations, all of them from Europe, with Great Britain winning the gold medals...
, winning the gold medal. He played in all three matches and scored nine goals.
Walden entered the army by joining the Cheshire Regiment
Cheshire Regiment
The Cheshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division.The regiment was created in 1881 as part of the Childers reforms by the linking of the 22nd Regiment of Foot and the militia and rifle volunteers of Cheshire...
in 1903, and served in India and Ireland. He played for the Army against the Navy in 1910 and 1911, and also served in World War I, for the West Yorkshire Regiment, rising to the rank of captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
. After the war ended he joined Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and played twice for the Gunners, both times against Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
, with his debut coming on 12 February 1921. With just those two games (and a single goal) to his name, he returned to Bradford at the end of the 1920–21 season.
After retiring from football and the army, he went into the music hall as a variety performer in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, after making his stage debut while still playing football, in 1919. He had also had a minor film career, which included starring in The Winning Goal
The Winning Goal
The Winning Goal is a 1920 British silent sports film directed by G.B. Samuelson and starring Harold Walden, Maudie Dunham and Tom Reynolds. It was based on the play The Game by Harold Brighouse. It was set in Lancashire against a backdrop of the fictional Association football team Blackton Rovers...
, one of the earliest football-related films, in 1920. Also played himself in the film Cup-Tie Honeymoon
Cup-tie Honeymoon
Cup-Tie Honeymoon was the first motion picture to be filmed at the Dickenson Road Studios by the Mancunian Film Corporation in 1948, themed around football.-Plot summary:...
in 1948.
He made at least two 78rpm records, "Ronnie the Robin" b/w "And only me knows why", on the Imperial label (Imperial 2589), and (from Ernest Binns' Arcadian Follies), 'Mother I'm a soldier' and 'Only me knows why' on Parlophone (Parlo. F1552) (The latter reviewed in The Gramophone November 1939).
He died in 1955 of a heart attack at Leeds railway station.