Walter Anderson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Walter Anderson was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward
.
A diminutive forward, Anderson began his career with Darlington
before moving to Thornaby Utopians. 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, scoring one goal. Anderson was transferred to Second Division
side Woolwich Arsenal
in December 1901. 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. Having formed a partnership in the team's forward line with Bill Gooing, Anderson scored five goals in 13 league games as the club finished fifth in the Second Division table. The following season, he competed with Tim Coleman
for a place in the team. 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, taking his overall tally to 11 goals in 30 appearances.
Anderson was transferred to Southern League
club Plymouth Argyle
in the summer of 1903. Commonly known as Wattie, he was signed by Frank Brettell
to form part of the Devon
club's first professional squad. 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. Having established himself as their first choice inside right, he scored a hat-trick
against Wellingborough on 5 December at Home Park
as part of a 4–1 win. Two months later, Anderson contracted pneumonia
. 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. He was rushed to hospital and died four days later, at the age of 25. He made 38 appearances in all competitions for Plymouth Argyle, scoring 13 goals. 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."
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
.
A diminutive forward, Anderson began his career with Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
before moving to Thornaby Utopians. He became a professional in 1899 with Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
and made four appearances in the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
of the Football League over the next two years, scoring one goal. Anderson was transferred to Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
side Woolwich 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...
in December 1901. He made his first team debut against Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
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
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
three weeks later. Having formed a partnership in the team's forward line with Bill Gooing, Anderson scored five goals in 13 league games as the club finished fifth in the Second Division table. The following season, he competed with Tim Coleman
Tim Coleman
John George "Tim" Coleman was an English footballer.Coleman was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, and first played for local non-league sides, Kettering Town and then Northampton Town in 1901...
for a place in the team. Anderson scored five league goals in 15 matches that season and one in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, a 3–1 defeat at home to Sheffield United, taking his overall tally to 11 goals in 30 appearances.
Anderson was transferred to Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
club Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
in the summer of 1903. Commonly known as Wattie, he was signed by Frank Brettell
Frank Brettell
Frank E. Brettell was an English-born Irish football player, manager and administrator.He played as a full back for Everton, a club that was originally called St. Domingo's. He combined his role as player-secretary-manager with his full time job as a reporter for the Liverpool Mercury...
to form part of the Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
club's first professional squad. He made his debut in a 1–0 win at West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
on 1 September 1903 and scored his first goal in a 2–1 win at Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
eight days later. Having established himself as their first choice inside right, he scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
against Wellingborough on 5 December at Home Park
Home Park
Home Park is an all-seater football stadium in the Central Park area of Plymouth, England, and is the home of Football League Two club Plymouth Argyle. The ground, given the nickname the Theatre of Greens by the club's supporters, has been Argyle's permanent residence since 1901...
as part of a 4–1 win. Two months later, Anderson contracted pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. He carried on playing, ignoring doctors' advice that he should rest, and collapsed after a match against Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
on 27 February 1904. He was rushed to hospital and died four days later, at the age of 25. He made 38 appearances in all competitions for Plymouth Argyle, scoring 13 goals. 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."