William Howard T. Walton (6 August 1871 – 10 February 1963) was an English footballer who played for Small Heath (now Birmingham City) for fourteen years. He made 232 appearances and scored 70 goals in all competitions.

Biography

Walton was born in Hockley Brook, Birmingham. He followed Small Heath from a young age; as a 14-year-old he watched the then Small Heath Alliance outclassed 4–0 by West Bromwich Albion in the semi-final of the

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. On leaving school he trained to be a silversmith in the Hockley area of Birmingham now known as the Jewellery Quarter, and remained employed in that trade while playing football part-time. In his younger days he played at inside forward. He was skilful on the ball with good movement and shooting ability. In Small Heath's first season in the Second Division, 1892–93, the front three of Walton,

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scored over 50 goals between them in a 22-game season; the following season the same trio scored 62 goals in the 28 games, Walton contributing 16 in 20. Later in his career he moved back to wing half, where his tireless encouragement of the younger players earned him the nickname "Mother". Walton's support for Birmingham was lifelong. He was a guest of the club for the official opening of the St Andrew's ground on

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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

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, and visited St Andrew's regularly until not long before his death. He died in

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, Birmingham, at the age of 91.

Honours

*Small Heath ** Football League Second Division champions: 1892–93 **Football League Second Division runners-up and promotion: 1893–94, 1900–01

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Walton, Billy 1871 births Footballers from Birmingham, West Midlands 1963 deaths English footballers Association football inside forwards Association football wing halves Birmingham City F.C. players English Football League players English silversmiths Dudley Town F.C. players Football Alliance players