Brian Walsh (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Brian Walsh is an English former professional footballer.
as an amateur in March 1949 before signing professional for the club five months later. He played a handful of friendlies for Arsenal before being called up for national service
in 1950. He returned to Highbury
in 1952 and played regularly for the reserve side before making his debut on 26 September 1953 against Cardiff City
. He went on to make just seventeen league appearances for the club before leaving as part of a deal which saw Cardiff City players Mike Tiddy
and Gordon Nutt
move to London and Walsh move the other way to Ninian Park
.
He made his Cardiff debut in a 2–1 win over Preston North End
and his performances on the wing saw him become popular with the Cardiff fans. He helped the club to two Welsh Cup
's, including scoring twice against Cardiff's arch rivals Swansea City
in a South Wales derby
final which ended 3–2 to the Bluebirds. In November 1961 he left Cardiff for £2,000 to sign for Newport County
and spent two years at Somerton Park
before retiring. He later went on to become an accountant, a profession he qualified for while playing in Cardiff.
Following his retirement from football he returned to live in South East England. Brian Walsh died in Epsom on December 19, 2001.
Career
Walsh began his career playing non-league football before joining ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
as an amateur in March 1949 before signing professional for the club five months later. He played a handful of friendlies for Arsenal before being called up for national service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in 1950. He returned to Highbury
Highbury
- Early Highbury :The area now known as Islington was part of the larger manor of Tolentone, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Tolentone was owned by Ranulf brother of Ilger and included all the areas north and east of Canonbury and Holloway Road. The manor house was situated by what is now...
in 1952 and played regularly for the reserve side before making his debut on 26 September 1953 against Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
. He went on to make just seventeen league appearances for the club before leaving as part of a deal which saw Cardiff City players Mike Tiddy
Mike Tiddy
Michael Douglas "Mike" Tiddy is an English former professional footballer and manager.-Career:Born in Cadgwith, Cornwall, Tiddy joined Torquay United at the end of World War II but was forced to wait two years to play for the club while he finished his National Service...
and Gordon Nutt
Gordon Nutt
Gordon Nutt is an English former professional footballer who played in England, Wales, the Netherlands, and Australia. He made a total of 189 league appearances, and scored 32 goals.-Career:...
move to London and Walsh move the other way to Ninian Park
Ninian Park
Ninian Park was a football stadium in Leckwith, Cardiff, Wales. Until 2009, it was the home ground of Cardiff City F.C., who compete in the English Football League Championship...
.
He made his Cardiff debut in a 2–1 win over Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
and his performances on the wing saw him become popular with the Cardiff fans. He helped the club to two Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
's, including scoring twice against Cardiff's arch rivals Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
in a South Wales derby
South Wales derby
The South Wales derby is a football local derby between Welsh clubs Cardiff City and Swansea City and is regarded as one of the most fierce rivalries in British football....
final which ended 3–2 to the Bluebirds. In November 1961 he left Cardiff for £2,000 to sign for Newport County
Newport County A.F.C.
Newport County Association Football Club are a professional football club based in the city of Newport, south Wales, who currently play in the Conference National, the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
and spent two years at Somerton Park
Somerton Park
Somerton Park was a football, greyhound and speedway stadium in Newport, Monmouthshire. In April 1912 Newport County had been accepted to play in the Southern League for the 1912–13 season. Shortly afterwards, the site for the ground was obtained by the Club's chairman Bert Moss...
before retiring. He later went on to become an accountant, a profession he qualified for while playing in Cardiff.
Following his retirement from football he returned to live in South East England. Brian Walsh died in Epsom on December 19, 2001.