Walter Whittaker: Man United goalkeeper Profile & Stats
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Portrait of Walter Whittaker

Walter Whittaker

Position: goalkeeper

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PWDLFA

HAN P W D L F A Diff Win%
A 3 0 0 3 2 9 -7 0.00
TOTALS 3 0 0 3 2 9 -7 0.00

Name: Walter Whittaker
Birthdate: 20-09-1878
Age: 147
Birthplace: Openshaw, Manchester, England
Height: 6' 1" (1.85m)
Weight: 13st 6lbs (85.28kg)
Years at Club: 1896
Signing Info: Transferred from: Molyeneaux FC, 02/1896, £
Previous Clubs: Molyeneaux FC
Debut: 14/03/1896 v Grimsby Town (A) 2-4 (League Division Two)
Farewell: Transferred to Grimsby Town, 08/1896, £
Passed Away: 08/06/1917

Biography

From a young age, Walter Whittaker proved himself to be a decent goalkeeper. The Mancunian lad spent only three months with local side Molyneaux and was promptly chosen as the best keeper in the Manchester League. Ten weeks followed with Buxton in the Combination, but bigger things were just around the corner...
The Newton Heath officials had rashly sacked their main custodian, Douglas, only to lose his cover, Ridgway, to injury shortly after. After trying practically everyone in goal, they finally secured Whittaker at the end of February 1896. When he made his debut against Grimsby Town on March 14th, he was thus Heath's sixth different goalie in the last 11 overall matches. At a mere 17 years of age, he was also the youngest player in the whole Football League at that moment in time.
Still growing into his frame, which would eventually measure 6'1" in height and 13st 6lb, Walter guarded the Heathens' goal in seven overall games till the end of 1895-96, demonstrating proficiency both with his hands as well as feet. Alas, when the management signed Frank Barrett in the summer and Ridgway recovered, the opposite scenario became true: Walter was now surplus to requirements.
He was allowed to play for local team Fairfield in 1896-97, which attracted Grimsby Town's advances. The Heathens complained about their approach and insisted on a £40 transfer fee. Thus ensued a nomadic career for Walter. He spent 1897-98 with Grimsby, served Reading until February 1900, then minded Blackburn Rovers' net until December 1901 in a spell where he won a Lancashire Cup medal.
Whittaker returned to Grimsby midway through 1901-02 and became fishing mates with future United legend, Charlie Roberts, the two often heading out to sea despite the lanky keeper's susceptibility to motion sickness (much to Charlie's amusement!). He then served Derby County, Brentford, Reading again, Clapton Orient, Exeter City, and Swansea City, the latter in a player-manager capacity. He finally held a similar dual post at Llanelly towards the end of 1914.
For being one of the rare Heathens who carried their career over until World War One, it came as a shock when Whittaker passed away during it. The lifelong abstainer succumbed to pneumonia in 1917 at the relatively young age of 38. Walter died at the young age of 38 of pneumonia. Biography kindly provided by Charbel Boujaoude.
 
League League Cup FA Cup Charity Shield European Cup Europa League Super Cup Cup Winners Cup Inter-cont Cup World Clubs Cup    
Season Goals Season Apps
No Season League Goals League Apps LC Goals LC Apps FAC Goals FAC Apps CS Goals CS Apps EC Goals EC Apps Europa Goals Europa Apps SC Goals SC Apps CWC Goals CWC Apps IC Goals IC Apps CWC Goals CWC Apps Season
Goals		 Season
Apps
1. 1895-1896 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
TOTALS 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

Detailed Match & Performance Charts

MUFC Player Goals MUFC Player Appearances MUFC Player Opponent Manager MUFC Player Club Manager
No Opponent Goals Appearances
Player has never scored for club.
No Opponent Appearances Goals
1. Grimsby Town 1 0
2. Port Vale 1 0
3. Lincoln City 1 0
No Opponent Manager No
1. ? 1
2. Hood, Enoch 1
3. Martin, Alf 1
No MUFC Managers Count
1. Albut, Alf 3
Stadiums Competition Opponents Opponent Nationality
No Stadium Count
1. Abbey Park 1
2. Cobridge Stadium 1
3. Sincil Bank 1
No Competition Count
1. League Division Two 3
No Opponent Count
1. Grimsby Town 1
2. Port Vale 1
3. Lincoln City 1
No Opponent Nationality Count
1. England 3
Roy Keane own goal v Real Madrid Old Trafford 2000 Cup Finals
No Date Opponent Competition Own Goals
Player has never scored an own goal against the club.
No Date Opponent WDL F-A Competition
Player never featured in a Cup Final.
Penalties scored for Manchester United Manchester United Hat-Tricks
No Date Opponents Competition Penaltys
Player has never scored a penalty for the club.
No Date Opponent Competition Goals
Player has never scored a hat-trick or better during a game.
 
Red Cards  
No Date Opponent Competition
Player has never been sent off during a match.
 

All Matches played
No Date Comp Opponent WDL F-A HAN Goal!! Scorers Opponent scorers
1. 14-03-1896 Div 2 Grimsby Town L 2-4 A 0 William Kennedy ??', Richard Smith ??' Thomas McCairns ??', Thomas Pratt ??', ??', James Graham ??'
2. 23-03-1896 Div 2 Port Vale L 0-3 A 0 Joshua Randles 3', 18', Jim Mason 5'
3. 11-04-1896 Div 2 Lincoln City L 0-2 A 0 Alec Smith 23', Jimmy Frettingham 65'
 

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