Walton Billy Image 2 Birmingham City 1896

Description

Hockley Brook, Birmingham born inside forward and wing half Billy Walton began his football career with Hockley Belmont in 1887 before joining Small Heath (now Birmingham City) in their pre Football League era as an inside forward. After they joined the Football League Second Division in 1892, he was their joint second top goalscorer in their inaugural League season with 14 goals including a hat-trick against Grimsby Town in February 1893, which he followed with 16 goals in 1893-94 as Birmingham were promoted as Second Division runners up, with Grimsby Town again on the receiving end of a Walton hat-trick in October 1893.

He converted to the half back line in 1896 after Small Heath’s relegation at the end of 1895-96 where his tireless encouragement of the younger players earned him the nickname “Mother”, and he spent a further 6 seasons with The Blues winning a further promotion with them, again as runners up in the Second Division, in 1901. However, after they were immediately relegated the following season he joined non league Dudley in 1902 after 57 goals in 189 appearances during their League era. He was a guest of the club for the official opening of the St Andrew’s ground on Boxing Day 1906, and helped clear snow from pitch and terraces so that the match could go ahead. He attended both of the FA Cup Finals involving Birmingham, in 1931 and 1956, and visited St Andrew’s regularly until not long before his death in 1963 aged 91.