Johnny Walton - Sky Blue Archive

Position

Forward

Date Of Birth

21 March 1928

Date Of Death

1 January 1979 (50)

Place Of Birth

Horwich, Greater Manchester

Nationality

Games Played

Per Game

Games Started

1.0

Per Game

Minutes

1260

90.0

Per Game

Goals

Per Game

Assists

Per Game

Walton was one of a rare breed after World War Two to play Division One football as an amateur. After the war he was a sergeant in the Army Education corps stationed at Bodmin and played as an amateur for Plymouth reserves and Saltash United. After he was demobilised in 1949 he returned to his native North West and made a name for himself as an inside forward at Bury and was signed for Manchester United by Matt Busby in 1951. With a stocky build and a shock of blond hair he stood out on the pitch and was a goal-maker rather than a goalscorer. He made just two first team appearances in his one season at Old Trafford before returning to Bury. He won 19 England Amateur Caps and represented Great Britain at the 1952 Olympics.

Harry Warren signed Walton for Coventry from Burnley in October 1956 but Johnny played only a handful of games before joining Kettering in early 1958 before ending his playing career at Chester. After hanging up his boots he lived in Chorley and was a teacher at Horwich Grammar School.