Joe Walter (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Dorville "Joe" Walter (16 August 1895 – 23 May 1995) was a professional footballer, who played for Bristol Rovers
, Huddersfield Town
, Taunton United and Bath City
. He was the last surviving player to play under Herbert Chapman
while at Huddersfield.
Walter's early footballing experience came while serving in the Gloucestershire Regiment during the First World War
, when he represented the Third Battalion of the Glorious Glosters, before joining Horfield United in the Horfield
area of his home city of Bristol
. After a year playing in the Bristol and Suburban Association Football League
, he joined his first professional team in 1919 when he signed for Bristol Rovers.
Later in life he worked as a groundsman, firstly for the Bristol Co-Operative Society, before taking responsibility for Bristol City
's Ashton Gate pitch in 1955. He was later appointed as an assistant coach at his former club, Bristol Rovers, in 1960 when he was aged 65.
In Huddersfield's final game at Leeds Road, against Blackpool
on 30 April 1994, he was the guest of honour. He was also present for Town's visit to Bristol Rovers
' Twerton Park
. On 5 November 1994, he made English football history as he became the oldest living professional player at 99 years.
.
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
, Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
, Taunton United and Bath City
Bath City F.C.
Bath City Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset. They play in the Conference National league after gaining promotion from the Conference South via the play-offs in May 2010...
. He was the last surviving player to play under Herbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman was an English association football player and manager. Though he had an undistinguished playing career, he went on to become one of the most successful and influential managers in early 20th century English football, before his sudden death in 1934.As a player, Chapman played for...
while at Huddersfield.
Walter's early footballing experience came while serving in the Gloucestershire Regiment during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, when he represented the Third Battalion of the Glorious Glosters, before joining Horfield United in the Horfield
Horfield
Horfield is a suburb of the city of Bristol, in southwest England. It lies on Bristol's northern edge, its border with Filton marking part of the boundary between Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Bishopston lies directly to the south. Monks Park and Golden Hill are to the west. Lockleaze and...
area of his home city of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. After a year playing in the Bristol and Suburban Association Football League
Bristol and Suburban Association Football League
The Bristol and Suburban Association Football League is a football competition in England. The league has a total of seven divisions, the highest of which, the Premier Division One, sits at level 12 of the English football league system. The league is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA...
, he joined his first professional team in 1919 when he signed for Bristol Rovers.
Later in life he worked as a groundsman, firstly for the Bristol Co-Operative Society, before taking responsibility for Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
's Ashton Gate pitch in 1955. He was later appointed as an assistant coach at his former club, Bristol Rovers, in 1960 when he was aged 65.
In Huddersfield's final game at Leeds Road, against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
on 30 April 1994, he was the guest of honour. He was also present for Town's visit to Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
' Twerton Park
Twerton Park
Twerton Park is a multi-purpose stadium in the Twerton suburb of Bath, England. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Bath City. From 1986 to 1996 Bristol Rovers played there due to financial problems...
. On 5 November 1994, he made English football history as he became the oldest living professional player at 99 years.
Death
On 23 May 1995, less than three months before what would have been his 100th birthday, Walter died in his sleep. His funeral was attended by the entire of the Huddersfield Town squad and their then manager Neil WarnockNeil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
.