Arthur Watkin

Arthur Watkin (30 July 1895 – 27 August 1972) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Stoke.[1][3] His brother Frank Watkin was also a footballer who played for Stoke.

Not to be confused with Arthur Watkyn.

Arthur Watkin
Personal information
Full name Arthur Watkin[1]
Date of birth 30 July 1895[1]
Place of birth Burslem, England[1]
Date of death 27 August 1972(1972-08-27) (aged 77)[1]
Place of death Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Centre forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1912 Hanley Swifts
1913–1923 Stoke 142 (58)
1923–1924 Congleton Town
1924–1927 Stoke City 16 (3)
1928 Congleton Town
Total 158 (61)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Watkin was born in Burslem and joined Stoke in 1913 from Hanley Swifts.[3] The 18-year-old was a regular during 1914–15 and his 24 goals in 20 games propelled Stoke to the Southern League Division Two title.[3] He scored three hat tricks and also hit five twice firstly in a 10–0 victory against Ebbw Vale and in an 11–0 FA Cup win against Stourbridge which helped Stoke re-claim their place in the Football League.[3] The outbreak of World War I interrupted his career but he did return in 1919–20.[3] A long-standing knee injury prevented Watkin living up to expectations surrounding him and he scored three goals in eleven matches taking over from the ailing Bob Whittingham. He scored on his Football League debut which was in the Potteries derby against Port Vale, Watkin scoring a 3–0 victory.[3]

Stoke spent heavily before the start of the 1920–21 season, signing centre forward Jimmy McColl from Celtic. Manager Arthur Shallcross moved Watkin to inside-left where he developed into a tricky linkman between McColl and Harry Crossthwaite. Watkin still retained his eye for goal, top scoring with 16.[3] Of his hat tricks early on against Nottingham Forest the Sentinel's Nimrod wrote: "Stoke followers have waited patiently for a glimpse of the real Watkin and they were rewarded by an exhibition which very few forwards can surpass. How the mind went back to season 1914–15, when he struck terror to the hearts of opposing defenders."[3] But dreams of promotion faded and Watkin's goals tailed off and Stoke were almost relegated. By this time Watkin had developed a reputation for either scoring two or three in a game or being anonymous. Some reporters believed that his experiences in the army had given him a nervous temperament. Watkin also had problems combining football with his job as a pottery department manager at Grimwade's.[3] Once Stoke were relegated his company pressured him into quitting Stoke and he duly spent a season with Congleton Town. New Stoke manager Tom Mather brought him back for a short spell in 1924.[3] Watkin worked as a full-time manager at the pot bank until retirement and he died on 27 August 1972.[3]

Career statistics

Source:[4]

Club Season League FA Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 1913–14 Southern Division Two 710071
1914–15 Southern Division Two 2024472431
1919–20 Second Division 11310123
1920–21 Second Division 3515113616
1921–22 Second Division 358554013
1922–23 First Division 34720367
1924–25 Second Division 14310153
1925–26 Second Division 200020
Career Total 15861141317274

Honours

References
  1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. Onward (21 August 1922). "Few big transfers in the First Division of the Football League. Stoke". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
  3. Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN 1-874287554.
  4. Arthur Watkin at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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