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| Name: Walter Whittaker |
| Birthdate:
20-09-1878 |
| Age:
147 |
| Birthplace:
Openshaw, Manchester, England |
| Height:
6' 1" (1.85m) |
| Weight:
13st 6lbs (85.28kg) |
| Years at Club:
1896 |
| Signing Info:
Transferred from: Molyeneaux FC, 02/1896, £ |
| Previous Clubs:
Molyeneaux FC |
| Debut:
14/03/1896 v Grimsby Town (A) 2-4 (League Division Two) |
| Farewell:
Transferred to Grimsby Town, 08/1896, £ |
| Passed Away:
08/06/1917 |
Biography
From a young age, Walter Whittaker proved himself to be a decent goalkeeper. The Mancunian lad spent only three months with local side Molyneaux and was promptly chosen as the best keeper in the Manchester League. Ten weeks followed with Buxton in the Combination, but bigger things were just around the corner...
The Newton Heath officials had rashly sacked their main custodian, Douglas, only to lose his cover, Ridgway, to injury shortly after. After trying practically everyone in goal, they finally secured Whittaker at the end of February 1896. When he made his debut against Grimsby Town on March 14th, he was thus Heath's sixth different goalie in the last 11 overall matches. At a mere 17 years of age, he was also the youngest player in the whole Football League at that moment in time.
Still growing into his frame, which would eventually measure 6'1" in height and 13st 6lb, Walter guarded the Heathens' goal in seven overall games till the end of 1895-96, demonstrating proficiency both with his hands as well as feet. Alas, when the management signed Frank Barrett in the summer and Ridgway recovered, the opposite scenario became true: Walter was now surplus to requirements.
He was allowed to play for local team Fairfield in 1896-97, which attracted Grimsby Town's advances. The Heathens complained about their approach and insisted on a £40 transfer fee. Thus ensued a nomadic career for Walter. He spent 1897-98 with Grimsby, served Reading until February 1900, then minded Blackburn Rovers' net until December 1901 in a spell where he won a Lancashire Cup medal.
Whittaker returned to Grimsby midway through 1901-02 and became fishing mates with future United legend, Charlie Roberts, the two often heading out to sea despite the lanky keeper's susceptibility to motion sickness (much to Charlie's amusement!). He then served Derby County, Brentford, Reading again, Clapton Orient, Exeter City, and Swansea City, the latter in a player-manager capacity. He finally held a similar dual post at Llanelly towards the end of 1914.
For being one of the rare Heathens who carried their career over until World War One, it came as a shock when Whittaker passed away during it. The lifelong abstainer succumbed to pneumonia in 1917 at the relatively young age of 38. Walter died at the young age of 38 of pneumonia. Biography kindly provided by Charbel Boujaoude.
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| League |
League Cup |
FA Cup |
Charity Shield |
European Cup |
Europa League |
Super Cup |
Cup Winners Cup |
Inter-cont Cup |
World Clubs Cup |
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Season
Goals |
Season
Apps |
| 1. |
1895-1896 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
| TOTALS |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
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