Walter Cox (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Walter Cox was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century.
and started playing for the newly formed Southampton St Mary's
club in 1892 as an outfield player. He later converted to a goalkeeper and made his first-team debut when he replaced Jack Barrett
in an FA Cup
match at the Antelope Ground
against Reading
on 3 November 1894. Cox retained his place for the next cup match against Marlow
before being replaced by H. Williamson
.
Cox made his Southern League
debut away to Royal Ordnance on 5 October 1895 before Tom Cain
took over as the first-choice 'keeper. Although Cain was preferred for League matches, Cox played in all five FA Cup
matches, where the club reached the First Round proper for the second consecutive season, going down 3–2 to The Wednesday of the Football League First Division
. Despite conceding three goals, Cox "performed heroically" and as a result won County recognition.
Following the arrival of George Clawley
, Cox moved to Bristol
where, after a season playing for Bristol St George in the Birmingham & District League, he returned to the Southern League with Bedminster
in May 1898. In October 1899, he moved on to Millwall Athletic and then to Manchester City
in May 1900. At Hyde Road
, Cox was used as cover for Charlie Williams
and made only one league appearance before moving on to Bury
.
He failed to make any first team appearances at either Bury or his next club Preston North End
and finished his career in Scotland with Dundee
.
Football career
Cox was born in SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and started playing for the newly formed Southampton St Mary's
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
club in 1892 as an outfield player. He later converted to a goalkeeper and made his first-team debut when he replaced Jack Barrett
Jack Barrett (footballer)
Uriah John "Jack" Barrett was an amateur footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Southampton St. Mary's in the mid-1890s.-Football career:...
in an 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...
match at the Antelope Ground
Antelope Ground
The Antelope Ground, Southampton was a sports ground that was the first home of both Hampshire County Cricket Club, who played there prior to 1884, and of Southampton Football Club, who played there from 1887 to 1896 as "Southampton St...
against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
on 3 November 1894. Cox retained his place for the next cup match against Marlow
Marlow F.C.
Marlow F.C. is an English football club based in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. The club are currently members of Division One Central of the Southern League and play at the Alfred Davis Memorial Ground...
before being replaced by H. Williamson
H. Williamson
H. Williamson was an amateur footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Southampton St. Mary's and Royal Ordnance Factories in the mid-1890s.Williamson made his debut for Southampton in the third match of the inaugural Southern League season, replacing Walter Cox...
.
Cox made his 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...
debut away to Royal Ordnance on 5 October 1895 before Tom Cain
Tom Cain
Thomas "Tom" Cain was an English footballer who played as goalkeeper for Stoke, Everton and Southampton St. Mary's in the 1890s.-Football career:...
took over as the first-choice 'keeper. Although Cain was preferred for League matches, Cox played in all five FA Cup
FA Cup 1895–96
The 1895–1896 FA Cup was the 25th season of the world's oldest association football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup . The cup was won by The Wednesday, who defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 in the final of the competition, played at Crystal Palace in London...
matches, where the club reached the First Round proper for the second consecutive season, going down 3–2 to The Wednesday of the Football League 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....
. Despite conceding three goals, Cox "performed heroically" and as a result won County recognition.
Following the arrival of George Clawley
George Clawley
George Clawley was an English professional goalkeeper who played for Stoke, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries...
, Cox moved to 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...
where, after a season playing for Bristol St George in the Birmingham & District League, he returned to the Southern League with Bedminster
Bedminster F.C.
Bedminster F.C. was an English football club based in Bristol. The club was established in 1887 as Southville and played at Ashton Gate. They were founder members of the Bristol & District League in 1892, which became the Western League in 1895...
in May 1898. In October 1899, he moved on to Millwall Athletic and then to Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
in May 1900. At Hyde Road
Hyde Road
Hyde Road was a football stadium in Ardwick, Manchester, England. It was home to Manchester City F.C. and their predecessors from its construction in 1887 until 1923, when the club moved to Maine Road. It was named after Hyde Road, a road which begins at the east end of Ardwick Green South in...
, Cox was used as cover for Charlie Williams
Charlie Williams (footballer)
Charles Albert "Charlie" Williams was an English football goalkeeper and manager, who was the first goalkeeper known to have scored a goal in a first-class match.- Playing career :...
and made only one league appearance before moving on to Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
.
He failed to make any first team appearances at either Bury or his next club 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...
and finished his career in Scotland with Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
.