Walter Abbott

Walter Abbott (7 December 1877 – 1 February 1941) was an English professional footballer who scored 104 goals from 391 games in the Football League playing for Small Heath (which was later renamed Birmingham), Everton and Burnley.[2] He was capped once for the England national team.

For his son, see Walter Abbott (footballer, born 1899). For the college football coach, see Walter Abbott (American football).

Walter Abbott
Abbott pictured in 1907
Personal information
Full name Walter Abbott
Date of birth (1877-12-07)7 December 1877
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Date of death 1 February 1941(1941-02-01) (aged 63)
Place of death Birmingham, England
Height 5 ft 9 1⁄2 in (1.77 m)[1]
Position(s) Inside left / Left half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1896–1899 Small Heath 76 (57)
1899–1908 Everton 257 (32)
1908–1910 Burnley 57 (15)
1910–1911 Birmingham 1 (0)
Total 391 (104)
National team
1902 England 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Life and career

Abbott was born in Small Heath, Birmingham, and began his football career with his local club. For Small Heath he played as an inside left and scored 66 goals in 85 appearances in all competitions for the club. In the 1898–99 season he scored a club record 42 goals, of which 34 came in the same number of League games.[3] At Everton he was turned into a wing half. While at Everton he won his only cap for England, on 3 March 1902 in a goalless draw against Wales at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham.[4] He also played four times for a Football League XI.[3]

Abbott joined Football League Second Division club Burnley from Everton in May 1908 and made his debut for the club on 1 September 1908, playing at left-half in the 1–0 defeat to Chesterfield at Turf Moor. He kept his place in the team for the first 13 games of the season before being dropped in favour of Tommy Mayson. Abbott was selected at inside left for the first game of 1909 away at Glossop, and scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory. He remained first choice in the position for the rest of the campaign, missing only 2 of the last 18 matches. He scored twice during the 9–0 win against Crystal Palace in the second round of the FA Cup, and netted the only goal of the game as Burnley won away at Clapton Orient on 27 March 1909.[5] Abbott scored five goals in the opening seven matches of the 1909–10 season, and netted his first Burnley hat-trick in the 4–2 defeat of Wolverhampton Wanderers on 13 November 1909. He scored his ninth and final goal of the campaign as Burnley beat Leicester Fosse on 11 December 1909. Abbott made his last appearance for the Clarets in the 1–1 draw with Leicester Fosse on 23 April 1910, having played a total of 65 league and cup matches during his two years at Turf Moor.[5] Abbott returned to Small Heath, which had by then been renamed Birmingham, but played only once before injury forced his retirement in 1911.[2][1]

Abbott's son, also named Walter, played League football for Grimsby Town. Abbott died in Birmingham in 1941 at the age of 63.[3]

Honours

Small Heath

Everton[1]

References
  1. "Walter Abbott". England Football Online. Chris Goodwin & Glen Isherwood. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  2. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  3. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  4. "Walter Abbott". Englandstats. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  5. Simpson, Ray (2007). The Clarets Chronicles: The Definitive History of Burnley Football Club. Burnley F.C. pp. 112–115. ISBN 978-0-9557468-0-2.
  6. Ross, James M. (14 June 2007). "English League Leading Goalscorers 1889–2007". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 9 August 2007.
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