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Players Index Page Last Updated
2 March 2023
 
 

Nat Walton

Blackburn Rovers FC

 1 appearances, 0-3 debut goals

P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 F 9: A 1
100% successful
1890

captain: none
minutes played: 90

Timeline
  Nathaniel Walton
Birth Friday, 24 May 1867 in Preston, Lancashire
  registered in Preston July-September 1867
"Walton claims Preston as the place of his birth, which interesting event occurred on the 24th May, 1867. Though a native of the Proud Town, Walton learnt the art and skill of football in Blackburn, for his parents removed to the latter place when 'Nat' was but a youngster."- Blackburn Standard & Weekly Express, Saturday, 20 December 1890.
Education Attended Clayton Street School in Blackburn
 

According to the 1871 census, Nathaniel is the fourth child of five, all sons, to Henry and Betsy (née Metcalf). They live at 19 Orchard Street in Over Darwen. His father is a tape sizer of cotton yarns.
The School Register for St. Mary's Street Methodist School shows that Nathaniel joined school on 9 October 1876 until 16 January 1877. They were living at 104 New Hall Lane.
 

According to the 1881 census, Nathaniel now has three more siblings, and along with their parents, all are now living at 44 Bold Street in Blackburn. His father is an agent.
Marriage to Susannah Harrison, in summer 1885, in Blackburn
  registered in Preston July-September 1867
Children Nat and Susannah Walton had four children together. Henry (b.1886), Edith (b.9 October 1887), Isabella (b.1891), and Margaret (b.21 December 1894)
  "I regret to hear that 'Nat' Walton is confined to his house, suffering from inflammation of the kidneys, and that it will be some time before he is again seen on the football field. Walton is deservedly a great favourite with the football community, and has the wishes of everyone for a speedy recovery." - Blackburn Standard & Weekly Express, Saturday, 20 December 1890.
 

According to the 1891 census, Nathaniel is now married to Susannah and they have three children, Henry, Edith and Isabella. Nathaniel is a coachbuilder and they all live at 3 Oozebooth Terrace in Blackburn.
"THE DANGERS OF CHLOROFORM―SAD DEATH OF A BLACKBURN LAD
"Thomas Walton, a lad of about 18, brother of Nat Walton, a well-known member of the Rovers' team, died at the infirmary, last night week, whilst undergoing an operation, and under the influence of chloroform. An inquest was held at the Blackburn and East Lancashire Infirmary, on Monday, on the body. The first witness who was called was William Henry Walton, brother of the deceased, who said that the latter had been in delicate health for some time...A verdict to the effect that the deceased was suffocated whilst under chloroform was returned." - Blackburn Standard & Weekly Express, Saturday, 12 September 1891.
 

According to the 1901 census, Nathaniel remains married and they have one more child, Maggie, and they all live at 443 Bolton Road in Blackburn. Nathaniel is a Trainer of Athletes at Blackburn Rovers Football Club.
  "At Blackburn, on Monday [11 July], Nathaniel Walton, trainer for the Blackburn Rovers Football Club, was summoned for permitting drunkenness in the Prince of Wales' Inn, Grimshaw Park, of which he is the licensed tenant, Dennis Brown, a labourer, being also concerned in the offence. They were each fined 10s. and costs." - Manchester Courier, Saturday, 16 July 1904.
 

According to the 1911 census, Nathaniel is now a publican and he lives at home with his wife and three of his children. They live at 127 Bolton Road.
 

(His son, Henry, died 18 September 1918 in Salonika)
According to the 1921 census, Nathaniel is now an inn keeper and is still married, and he lives at The Haymarket, 1 Cort Street in Blackburn. He has one servant, and currently three guests, all from the variety circuit.
Death Monday morning, 3 March 1930 at The Haymarket Hotel, 1 Cort Street in Blackburn, Lancashire, of a seizure.
aged 62 years 283 days registered in Blackburn, January-March 1930

Obituary
"DEATH OF MR. NAT. WALTON AT BLACKBURN.―POSSESSOR OF THREE F.A. CUP MEDALS.
"The death occurred at Blackburn  this morning of Mr. Nat Walton, licensee of the Haymarket Hotel and a famous football who helped Rovers to make history as Cup fighters. Sixty-two years of age, Mr. Walton was born at Preston and followed the occupation of a coachbuilder. His first football club was the Imperial, and on joining the Rovers he did not gain a regular place until the replayed F.A. Cup final tie against West Bromwich Albion in 1886. He did not play with them in the goalless draw at Kennington Oval, but was called upon the following week at Derby, where the Rovers beat West Bromwich Albion by 2-0. That provided him with the first of his three Cup medals. When next the Rovers reached the final, in 1890, he was one of the scorers against Sheffield Wednesday in a match that produced the record score for such an event, the Rovers winning 6-1. In the following year he helped to beat Notts County 3-1 in his third Cup final. In the first he played outside right, the second at inside left, and in the third at inside right. Walton was chosen to play for Lancashire against Birmingham in the 1889-90 season; later he assisted England in an international match against Ireland, and also appeared in a trial match against Scotland five days before his second Cup final. He helped the Rovers beat Manchester by 11-0 and Bury by 10-0 in Queen Victoria's Jubilee year. When Ewood Park was opened on Sept. 13th, 1890, he played against Accrington. Walton gave further proof of his versatility by succeeding Pennington in goal in 1892-3. The next season he transferred his services to Nelson. Nat, as he was familiarly called, was a sterling footballer. He was thoroughly reliable and was always good, though perhaps rarely brilliant.  He could play on either wing, and, in partnership with Townley, gave opposing defences many a harassing time. It may be recalled  that Mr. Walton attended the Rovers v. Everton Cup-tie at Ewood Park five weeks ago, when he unexpectedly met John Southworth, the once famous centre-forward of the Rovers and later of Everton. The excitement of the match combined with the thrill of seeing his old colleague proved too much for Mr. Walton, who had a seizure which proved fatal."
- The Lancashire Evening Post, Monday, 3 March 1930.
"...Mr. Walton had a seizure at Christmas and was recovering, when he went to the Cup-tie between the Rovers and Everton on January 25. He unexpectedly met an old football colleague, Mr. John Southworth. The surprise was so great that Mr. Walton had a second seizure, and he had been confined to bed since."
- Liverpool Echo, Monday, 3 March 1930.
"Death of Nat Walton.
"A player of considerable versatility, Nat Walton, the famous Blackburn Rovers and English international forward of the 'nineties, died at Blackburn yesterday, following upon a seizure caused through intense excitement at Blackburn's Cup-tie with Everton a few weeks ago. Most successful when playing on either wing in the attack, Walton gave clear proof of his ability to adapt himself in other positions, when, in the Cup final with Sheffield Wednesday in 1898, he took Pennington's place in goal. Walton represented England against Ireland in 1889-90, and gained three English Cup medals with the Blackburn Rovers side in 1885-86, 1889-90, and the following season."
 - The Sheffield Independent, Tuesday, 4 March 1930.
Probate "WALTON Nathaniel of Market Hotel Cort-street Blackburn died 3 March 1930 Probate Lancaster 24 April to Susannah Walton widow and Clarence Stones master plumber.
 Effects £578 6s. 9d." [2019 equivalent: £38,064]
  Susannah Walton died on 25 December 1942

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s)		 Began his football career with Inkerman Rangers FC as an outside-winger. After two years, he joined Blackburn Imperial FC, alternataing between the right wing and half-back. After a season, he was invited to join the Blackburn Rovers FC reserve side. After his first appearance, he also joined Witton FC in the same town, before returning to Rovers to earn a first-team place. "Nat Walton feels he is getting too old to play in the open field, and prefers acting between the sticks. He now figures there in the second team matches, and he shapes very well." - Blackburn Standard & Weekly Express, Saturday, 1 October 1892.
After failing to agree terms with Rovers, he joined rivals Nelson FC as their goalkeeper on 23 May 1893, appointed as club captain almost immediately. Southport Central FC attempted to sign Walton in August 1891, but negotiations failed. Walton retired in 1898.
League History
110 appearances, 37 goals		 Blackburn Rovers FC 1888-93, 110 appearances 37 goals.
debut: 15 September 1888 Blackburn Rovers FC 5 Accrington FC 5.
last: 3 April 1893 Stoke FC 2 Blackburn Rovers FC 2.
Club honours FA Cup winners 1885-86, 1889-90 (5ᵃ 4ᵍ), 1890-91 (1ᵃ);
Football League third place 1889-90 (21ᵃ 14ᵍ);
Lancashire League Cup winners 1895-96c;
Individual honours Lancashire FA (vs. East of Scotland, March 1889).
Walton's Benefit Match was played between Rovers and Everton FC on Monday, 16 February 1891 in front of 6,000 at Ewood Park. Rovers won 2-1.
Height/Weight 5' 8", 10st. 12lbs [1890], 5' 9" [1891].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & ENFA.

England Career
Player number One of four who became the 167th players (171) to appear for England.
Position(s) Inside-left
Only match No. 38, 15 March 1890, Ireland 1 England 9, a British Championship match at Ulster Cricket Ground, Ballynafeigh Park, Belfast, aged 22 years 295 days. Some reports credit Walton with up to three goals, some don't.
Major tournaments British Championship 1889-90;
Team honours British Championship shared 1889-90;
Individual honours The North (reserve in January 1890);
The Whites (one appearance 1ᵍ, March 1890)
Distinctions Took charge of the England team that faced Ireland in Dublin in March 1900.

Beyond England
After retiring from playing, Walton returned to Blackburn Rovers to become their trainer until March 1905. Afterwhich, he became a Blackburn licensee at The Prince of Wales Inn, at at the time of his death, The Haymarket Hotel. Throughout it all, he became accomplished on the Bowling scene. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.259.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain
2 1 1 90 0 to 3 0 min to 90 min 0 to 3 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
1 1 0 0 9 1 +8 0 0 9 1 100 +1
His only match was played in the British Championship competition and at an away venue

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1889-90 1 1 0 0 9 1 +8 0 0 9.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC All 1 1 0 0 9 1 +8 0 0 9.00 1.00 100.0 +1

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1 1 0 0 9 1 +8 0 0 9.00 1.00 100.0 +1
1 1 0 0 9 1 +8 0 0 9.00 1.00 100.0 +1

Match History

 Club: Blackburn Rovers F.C. - one full appearance (90 min) 0-3ᵍ F.A. International Select Committee - one full appearance (90 min) 0-3ᵍx

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 22
1 38 15 March 1890 - Ireland 1 England 9
Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast		 BC AW ? il
Some reports credit Walton with as many as three goals, some don't.

one of four who became the 167th player (170) to appear for England
one of two who became the eleventh player from Blackburn Rovers FC to represent England

40 5 April 1890 - Scotland 1 England 1, Hampden Park, Glasgow BC AD reserve
  


     

 
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