| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Walter Anthony | ||
| Date of birth | (1879-11-21)21 November 1879[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Basford, England | ||
| Date of death | 26 January 1950(1950-01-26) (aged 70)[1] | ||
| Place of death | Basford,[1] England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Outside left | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Osmaston | |||
| Heanor Town | |||
| 189?–190? | Newstead Byron | ||
| 190?–1904 | Arnold | ||
| 1904–1905 | Nottingham Forest | 6 | (0) |
| 1905–1908 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 80 | (8) |
| 1908–1915 | Blackburn Rovers | 149 | (11) |
| 1915–19?? | Stalybridge Celtic | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Walter Anthony (21 November 1879 – 26 January 1950) was an English professional footballer who made 155 Football League appearances playing as an outside forward for Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers,[2] with whom he won the 1911–12 Football League title and the 1912 FA Charity Shield. He also played in the Southern League for Brighton & Hove Albion.
Anthony was born in Basford, Nottinghamshire.[2] He was the younger brother of George and Henry Anthony, who both played cricket for that county.[1] He began his football career at local level with clubs including Osmaston, Heanor Town,[2] Newstead Byron[3] and Arnold before signing for Football League First Division club Nottingham Forest in February 1904 for a fee reported as £25.[4]
He made six league appearances for Forest, but was reportedly not thought strong enough for top-class football, and moved on to Brighton & Hove Albion of the Southern League in May 1905. He worked on his physical conditioning at his new club, and became a regular at outside right in the first team with 13 goals from 119 appearances in all competitions over two-and-a-half years. Described by club historian Tim Carder as "a tricky little ball-player, noted for the accuracy of his crosses with either foot", he attracted attention from bigger clubs.[1] After Brighton eliminated First Division Preston North End from the 1907–08 FA Cup after two replays,[5] Blackburn Rovers were convinced to sign Anthony and two teammates, Dick Wombwell and Joe Lumley, for "a substantial sum",[6] widely reported as £750.[7] The Football Association had recently imposed a rule forbidding more than £350 to be paid for any single player, and it was understood that Anthony was the primary target and Lumley and Wombwell were makeweights in the circumvention of that maximum.[8][9]
Anthony soon established himself at outside left in Blackburn's first team.[5] He made 149 league appearances,[2] was part of the 1911–12 Football League-winning side, and played in the Charity Shield, in which Blackburn beat Southern League champions Queens Park Rangers 2–1 in aid of the Titanic Disaster Fund.[10] He appeared only once in 1913–14[11] as Rovers again finished as champions. At the end of the season, the Football League gave Rovers permission to pay Anthony a lump sum in lieu of the benefit match for which he qualified after five years service.[12] He moved on in January 1915, to Stalybridge Celtic of the Lancashire Combination.[13]
Anthony served in the Army in the First World War, and then worked in the mines. He spent 18 years in the dispatch department of a Nottingham car parts supplier, working until two days before his death in Basford in January 1950 at the age of 70.[14]
Blackburn Rovers
Nottingham Forest have signed a promising young local forward in Walter Anthony, the outside left of the Arnold club. Anthony has been a most consistent performer in Notts. League football, and many good judges who have seen him play prophesy a great future for him. The Arnold club, we understand, have received a cheque for £25 in connection with the transfer.
I have indicated all along how the law relating to the limitation of transfer fees may be evaded, and we have not had to wait long for a demonstration. Here we have Blackburn Rovers paying Brighton and Hove £750 for three players—Anthony, Wombwell, and Lumley. I do not suppose that Blackburn Rovers wanted all three men. They probably wanted only Anthony, but they had to take the others—and pay the price.
First Division Blackburn Rovers signed [Wombwell] along with Joe Lumley and their main target, Walter Anthony...
