Walter Metcalf (footballer)

Walter Metcalf
Personal information
Full name Walter Frederick Metcalf[1]
Date of birth (1910-12-15)15 December 1910
Place of birth Scarborough, England
Date of death 1981 (aged 70–71)[1]
Place of death Scarborough, England
Height 6 ft 0+12 in (1.84 m)[2]
Position(s) Left back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1931–1932 Scarborough 6 (0)
1932–1934 Sunderland 0 (0)
1934–1937 Brentford 7 (0)
1937–1946 Coventry City 76 (1)
1941–1942Nottingham Forest (guest) 18 (0)
Northampton Town (guest)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Walter Frederick Metcalf (15 December 1910 – 1981) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Brentford and Coventry City as a left back.

Club career

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Early years

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A left back, Metcalf began his career with hometown Midland League club Scarborough in 1931.[3] He made just six league appearances before earning a move to First Division club Sunderland in 1932.[3] Metcalf failed to make a senior appearance for the Rokerites and departed in March 1934.[3]

Brentford

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Metcalf transferred to Second Division club Brentford in March 1934 for a four-figure fee.[4] With first Jack Astley and then new signings Arthur Bateman and George Poyser ahead of him in the full back pecking order, Metcalf had to wait until 29 September 1934 to make his professional debut, which came in a 2–1 defeat to Hull City.[5] He spent much of his time in the reserve team, with which he won the 1934-35 London Challenge Cup.[6] Metcalf made just six further first team appearances for the Bees before departing Griffin Park in 1937.[4]

Coventry City

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Metcalf joined Second Division club Coventry City in 1937 and made 78 appearances during the 1937–38 and 1938–39 seasons before professional football was suspended due to the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939.[3][7] Metcalf remained with Coventry during the war and made 130 appearances, in addition to playing as a guest for Nottingham Forest and Northampton Town.[3][8] After hostilities ceased in 1945, Metcalf made two FA Cup appearances during the 1945–46 season and retired at the end of the campaign.[7]

Personal life

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After retiring from football, Metcalf worked as a prison officer in Malaysia for 15 years.[3] He later returned to his native Scarborough.[4]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 1934–35[5] Second Division 1 0 0 0 1 0
1935–36[5] First Division 1 0 0 0 1 0
1936–37[5] 5 0 0 0 5 0
Total 7 0 0 0 7 0
Coventry City 1937–38[7] Second Division 42 0 1 0 43 0
1938–39[7] 34 1 1 0 35 1
1945–46[7] 2 0 2 0
Total 76 1 4 0 80 1
Career total 83 1 4 0 87 1

Honours

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Brentford Reserves

References

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  1. ^ a b Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 (Third edition, with revisions ed.). Toton, Nottingham. p. 202. ISBN 9781905891610. OCLC 841581272.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ "Brentford. Only one change in 'Bees' team". Sunday Dispatch Football Guide. London. 23 August 1936. p. iv – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Ady, Peter & Walter Metcalf Tied Together". ccfpa.co.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 108. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  5. ^ a b c d White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 373–374. ISBN 0951526200.
  6. ^ a b Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. p. 82. ISBN 1-874427-57-7.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Walter Metcalf". 11v11.com. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Walter Metcalf". The City Ground. Retrieved 27 September 2021.