Wally Radford
Encyclopedia
Walter Robert "Wally" Radford (July 1886–1943) was an English footballer, who played as an inside-forward in the 1900s with Southampton
and Wolverhampton Wanderers
, with whom he won the FA Cup
in 1908
.
, Derbyshire
, where he played football as a youth before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers
, then in the Football League First Division
, as a trainee. He made two first-team appearances in the 1905–06 season, at the end of which the "Wolves" were relegated.
In January 1906, he moved to the south coast
, to join Southampton
of the Southern League
. The "Saints" finished the season
as runners-up, and were hopeful of regaining the championship title in 1907, which they had won six times in the previous ten years. Radford made his debut in the opening match of the 1906–07 season, playing at centre-forward; after the team picked up only one point from the first three matches, Radford moved to outside-right, with Fred Harrison moving into the centre. This had little effect on the team's performances, and Radford lost his place to Frank Jefferis
. Radford was recalled at the end of the season, initially replacing George Harris
at inside-left, before three games back at centre-forward. In the first of these, away to Northampton Town
on 6 April, Radford scored his only goals for the Saints in a 4–2 victory. Saints finished the season 11th in the League, their lowest position since joining the Southern League in 1894.
In the summer of 1907, Radford returned to Molineux
, to rejoin his former club, now starting their second season in the Second Division
. Radford made 26 League appearances in the 1907–08 season, scoring nine goals. In the FA Cup
, Radford's goals at Bury
and Stoke helped Wolves reach the semi-final against his former club, Southampton. In the semi-final, played at Stamford Bridge
, Radford and another former Southampton player, George Hedley
, scored the goals to put Wolves into the final. In the final
, played at Crystal Palace
on 25 April 1908, Wolves met Newcastle United
. Despite playing a team from the First Division, Wolves upset the odds by winning the match 3–1, with goals by Kenneth Hunt
, Hedley and Billy Harrison.
In the following season, Wolves' defence of the cup ended at the first hurdle, where Radford's three goals couldn't prevent Crystal Palace
of the Southern League going through after a replay. In the league, Radford scored 21 goals from 37 appearances, making him the club's top-scorer. Radford remained at Molineux for one further season, before dropping down to non-league football
with Southport Central of the Lancashire Combination
in 1910.
and in 1919 became a referee in the Erewash
Amateur League, before progressing to the Football League
list of referees.
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, with whom he won the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 1908
1908 FA Cup Final
The 1908 FA Cup Final was contested by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United at Crystal Palace Park. Newcastle had just finished fourth in the First Division during this season, after two successive league titles and this was their third FA Cup final appearance in four years...
.
Football career
Radford was born in PinxtonPinxton
Pinxton is a village on the eastern boundary of Derbyshire in the Bolsover district, England.In Anglo-Saxon times it was a small agricultural community, thought to have been recorded in the Domesday Book as "Esnotrewic." It is also thought that it was known as "Snodeswic," given by Wulfric Spott to...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, where he played football as a youth before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, then in the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, as a trainee. He made two first-team appearances in the 1905–06 season, at the end of which the "Wolves" were relegated.
In January 1906, he moved to the south coast
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
, to join Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
. The "Saints" finished the season
Southern Football League 1905-06
The 1905–06 Southern League season saw Fulham win Division One and Crystal Palace finishing top of Division Two. No clubs were relegated from Division One as it was expanded to 20 clubs the following season...
as runners-up, and were hopeful of regaining the championship title in 1907, which they had won six times in the previous ten years. Radford made his debut in the opening match of the 1906–07 season, playing at centre-forward; after the team picked up only one point from the first three matches, Radford moved to outside-right, with Fred Harrison moving into the centre. This had little effect on the team's performances, and Radford lost his place to Frank Jefferis
Frank Jefferis
Frank Jefferis was a football player.-Playing career:He initially played football for his local non-league team, Fordingbridge Turks, before being invited for a trial at The Dell by Southampton of the Southern League in March 1905...
. Radford was recalled at the end of the season, initially replacing George Harris
George Harris (footballer born 1877)
George Harris was an English professional footballer who played at inside-left for various clubs in the 1900s.-Football career:Harris was born in Rocester, Staffordshire and started his football career at nearby Uttoxeter, from where he joined the local Football League First Division side, Stoke...
at inside-left, before three games back at centre-forward. In the first of these, away to Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
on 6 April, Radford scored his only goals for the Saints in a 4–2 victory. Saints finished the season 11th in the League, their lowest position since joining the Southern League in 1894.
In the summer of 1907, Radford returned to Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
, to rejoin his former club, now starting their second season in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. Radford made 26 League appearances in the 1907–08 season, scoring nine goals. In the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, Radford's goals at Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
and Stoke helped Wolves reach the semi-final against his former club, Southampton. In the semi-final, played at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
, Radford and another former Southampton player, George Hedley
George Hedley
George Albert Hedley was a professional footballer who won the 1902 and 1908 FA Cup finals with Sheffield United and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively, scoring in both.He was born in South Bank, Middlesbrough....
, scored the goals to put Wolves into the final. In the final
1908 FA Cup Final
The 1908 FA Cup Final was contested by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United at Crystal Palace Park. Newcastle had just finished fourth in the First Division during this season, after two successive league titles and this was their third FA Cup final appearance in four years...
, played at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
on 25 April 1908, Wolves met Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. Despite playing a team from the First Division, Wolves upset the odds by winning the match 3–1, with goals by Kenneth Hunt
Kenneth Hunt
Reverend Kenneth Reginald Gunnery Hunt was an English amateur football player, Oxford Blue, F.A...
, Hedley and Billy Harrison.
In the following season, Wolves' defence of the cup ended at the first hurdle, where Radford's three goals couldn't prevent Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
of the Southern League going through after a replay. In the league, Radford scored 21 goals from 37 appearances, making him the club's top-scorer. Radford remained at Molineux for one further season, before dropping down to non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
with Southport Central of the Lancashire Combination
Lancashire Combination
The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League...
in 1910.
Later career
Radford returned to DerbyshireDerbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
and in 1919 became a referee in the Erewash
Erewash
Erewash is a local government district and borough in eastern Derbyshire, England, to the east of Derby and the west of Nottingham. It contains the towns of Ilkeston, Long Eaton and Sandiacre and fourteen civil parishes....
Amateur League, before progressing to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
list of referees.
Honours
Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winner: 19081908 FA Cup FinalThe 1908 FA Cup Final was contested by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United at Crystal Palace Park. Newcastle had just finished fourth in the First Division during this season, after two successive league titles and this was their third FA Cup final appearance in four years...