Frank Watkin
Personal information
Full name Frank Watkin[1]
Date of birth (1904-03-30)30 March 1904[1]
Place of birth Stoke-upon-Trent, England[1]
Date of death 26 January 1979(1979-01-26) (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

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 both Stoke and Vale, but never nailed down a regular first team place despite scoring a combined total of 12 goals in 18 league games for the two clubs. His brother, Arthur Watkin, was also a footballer who played for Stoke.

Career

Watkin 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

Source:[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

Stoke City

Port Vale

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Frank Watkin at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  3. ^ 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.
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