Norman Wilkinson (footballer born 1910)
Encyclopedia
Norman Wilkinson was an English
footballer who played for Stoke City
. Wilkinson made a total of 186 league appearances for Stoke.
, County Durham
on 9 June 1910, Wilkinson a collier
, began with junior side Tanfield Lea as a center-half. He then played for West Stanley
on the Durham Coalfield
where he began to play as a Goalkeeper. At the age of twenty he signed for Huddersfield Town
, where he played second fiddle to England international Hugh Turner
. Bob McGrory
wary of Stoke's lack of a decent gaolkeeper signed Wilkinson from Huddersfield's reserves for just £100 in July 1935.
At and just Wilkinson had a slightly sullen look, with heavy eyebrows and a balding pate and would often walk around his penalty area nervously pulling up his woollen gloves. Although he did not inspire confidence he proved to be a fine shot stopper. His main weakness was a penchant for dropping crosses when under pressure for centre forwards. He remained first choice until World War II
when he returned to the north east and guested for Hull City
, Sheffield Wednesday
, Nottingham Forest
and Doncaster Rovers
.
On being demobbed
Wilkinson had suffered hardship having seen action in France
and was in poor physical condition. This led to the Stoke directors to attempt to terminate his employment. Wilkinson protested to the FA
and the law stated that all returning service men would be entitled to their old job. He won his case and Stoke made him forth choice 'keeper behind Dennis Herod
, Emmanuel Foster
and Arthur Jepson
. He seemed to be drifting to retirement but due to Herod being injury prone Wilkinson was handed a last chance against Blackpool
on the penultimate fixture of the 1948–49 season. He produced a fine display including a wonder save from City legend Stanley Matthews
as Stoke won 3–2. His final appearance for Stoke came against his old club Huddersfield Town and Wilkinson kept a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw. He was aged 41 years and 275 days the fourth oldest player to appear for Stoke.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who played for Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
. Wilkinson made a total of 186 league appearances for Stoke.
Career
Born in TantobieTantobie
Tantobie is a former colliery village in County Durham, in England. It is situated to the south of Stanley and Annfield Plain.The etymology is doubtful: it looks as if it ends in Old Norse by "village", "farm", like Lockerbie and Formby, but the meaning is uncertain.To the east is a small housing...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
on 9 June 1910, Wilkinson a collier
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
, began with junior side Tanfield Lea as a center-half. He then played for West Stanley
West Stanley F.C.
West Stanley Football Club was a football club based in the mining village of West Stanley, County Durham, England.Originally known as "Oakey's Lillywhites", the club was founded in 1889 and became founder members of the North Eastern League in 1906...
on the Durham Coalfield
Durham Coalfield
The Durham Coalfield is a coalfield in north-east England. It is continuous with the Northumberland Coalfield to its north. It extends from Bishop Auckland in the south to the boundary with the county of Northumberland along the River Tyne in the north, beyond which is the Northumberland...
where he began to play as a Goalkeeper. At the age of twenty he signed for Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
, where he played second fiddle to England international Hugh Turner
Hugh Turner
Hughie "Hugh" Turner was a professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper mainly for Huddersfield Town.He was born in Wigan, but moved to Gateshead when he was younger. He played for Felling Colliery and Gateshead High Fell, before moving to Huddersfield in 1926.He also played 2 games for...
. Bob McGrory
Bob McGrory
Robert McGrory was a Scottish footballer who played as a defender. After starting his career at Dumbarton, he later moved to the English club Burnley where he made three appearances. In 1921, he moved to First Division side Stoke City where he made 511 appearances as a full-back. He later became a...
wary of Stoke's lack of a decent gaolkeeper signed Wilkinson from Huddersfield's reserves for just £100 in July 1935.
At and just Wilkinson had a slightly sullen look, with heavy eyebrows and a balding pate and would often walk around his penalty area nervously pulling up his woollen gloves. Although he did not inspire confidence he proved to be a fine shot stopper. His main weakness was a penchant for dropping crosses when under pressure for centre forwards. He remained first choice until World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when he returned to the north east and guested for Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
and Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
.
On being demobbed
Demobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
Wilkinson had suffered hardship having seen action in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and was in poor physical condition. This led to the Stoke directors to attempt to terminate his employment. Wilkinson protested to the FA
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
and the law stated that all returning service men would be entitled to their old job. He won his case and Stoke made him forth choice 'keeper behind Dennis Herod
Dennis Herod
Dennis Herod was an English former footballer.-Playing career:A small but agile goalkeeper, Herod rose through the junior ranks of Stoke City to sign professional forms in 1946. Over the next seven years he played 191 league games for the Potters and during a game against Aston Villa in February...
, Emmanuel Foster
Emmanuel Foster
Emmanuel Foster was a footballer who played in The Football League for Stoke City. He made one appearance for Stoke which came in a 3–2 defeat away at Bolton Wanderers in September 1946.-References:...
and Arthur Jepson
Arthur Jepson
Arthur Jepson was an English first-class cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire before becoming an umpire. In addition to cricket he was also an accomplished football goalkeeper who played over 100 games in the Football League before turning his hand to management.-Cricket career:Jepson, a...
. He seemed to be drifting to retirement but due to Herod being injury prone Wilkinson was handed a last chance against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
on the penultimate fixture of the 1948–49 season. He produced a fine display including a wonder save from City legend Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
as Stoke won 3–2. His final appearance for Stoke came against his old club Huddersfield Town and Wilkinson kept a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw. He was aged 41 years and 275 days the fourth oldest player to appear for Stoke.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Stoke City Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
1935–36 | 25 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 30 | 0 |
| 1936–37 | 41 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 0 | |
| 1937–38 | 41 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 0 | |
| 1938–39 | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
| 1948–49 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1949–50 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| 1950–51 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1951–52 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| Career Total | 186 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 198 | 0 | |