Frank Watkin (30 March 1904 – 26 January 1979) was an English footballer who played at centre-forward for Congleton Town, Stoke City, and Port Vale. He won the Third Division North title with Stoke and Vale but never nailed down a regular first-team place despite scoring 12 goals in 18 league games for the two clubs. His brother, Arthur Watkin, was a footballer who played for Stoke.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Frank Watkin[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 30 March 1904[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Stoke-upon-Trent, England[1] | ||
| Date of death | 26 January 1979 (aged 74)[1] | ||
| Place of death | Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, England[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Congleton Town | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1926 | Stoke City | 5 | (3) |
| 1929–1931 | Port Vale | 13 | (9) |
| 1931–1937 | Congleton Town | 246 | (180) |
| Total | 264 | (192) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editWatkin played for Congleton Town before joining Stoke City. He featured in five Third Division North games in the 1926–27 title-winning season, and scored in three games in a row: a 2–1 win over Crewe Alexandra at the Victoria Ground (12 March), a 2–2 draw with Stockport County at Edgeley Park (19 March), and a 4–0 home win over Southport (26 March). However, this was the extent of his appearances with the "Potters".
He was signed by local rivals Port Vale in June 1929.[1] He picked up a knee injury in a 2–2 draw at Rotherham United on 19 October 1929, which kept him on the sidelines for four months.[1] He made his return in style, gaining revenge over Rotherham by scoring five goals in a 7–1 win over them at the reverse fixture at The Old Recreation Ground on 22 February.[1] He finished the 1929–30 Third Division North title-winning season with nine goals in 13 appearances.[1] He struggled to nail down a place in the side, though and never featured in the 1930–31 Second Division season.[1] He was given a free transfer back to former club Congleton in April 1931.[1]
Career statistics
editSource:[2]
| Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Stoke City | 1926–27 | Third Division North | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| Port Vale | 1929–30 | Third Division North | 13 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 9 |
Honours
editStoke City
Port Vale
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 303. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
- ^ Frank Watkin at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
- ^ Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.