Bussey Walter Image 1 Stoke City 1930

Description

Eckington, Yorkshire born inside right Walter Bussey played for Aughton Common Celtic in 1921, Dinnington Main Colliery Welfare in 1922, Anston Athletic in 1923 and Denaby United in 1924 before signing for Stoke in 1925, making his Football League debut against Swansea Town on Boxing Day that year and making 4 appearances as they were relegated from the Second Division, being one of 34 players used by Tom Mather during the campaign. He scored 8 goals in 15 League appearances in 1926-27 as Stoke won the Third Division (North) Championship at the first time of asking.

Despite lacking in height Bussey became a vital member of Mather’s team being used mainly as a playmaker and provided many goals for Charlie Wilson whilst also having a decent scoring record himself. His most prolific season in a Stoke shirt came in the 1928-29 season with saw him score 12 goals in 38 appearances and he was a regular in Stoke’s first team until 1932, before losing his place and making only one appearance in their 1932-33 Second Division Championship season. In 1930 it was said of him “Although built on slender lines, Bussey discounts lack of height and weight with cleverness and skill. Can control a bouncing ball and make a perfect pass when on the run”.

After 50 goals in 197 games for The Potters he joined Blackpool in October 1933, scoring 9 goals in 27 appearances in a single season at Bloomfield Road. He then joined Swansea Town in the summer of 1934, scoring 19 goals in 74 appearances, including scoring 4 goals in an 8-1 win over Bradford City in February 1936, before Exeter City signed him in December 1936. He retired in 1939 after 17 goals in 82 appearances for The Grecians.