Walter Abbott was born in Birmingham on 7th
December 1877. It is likely that his early years were difficult as his mother,
had been widowed at an early age and had to sustain her four children on her
income as a ‘mangler’ (i.e. in a laundry of some sort).
He began his playing career as an 18 year old forward for
Small Heath (later to become Birmingham City) and in three seasons with them
scored a creditable 57 goals in 76 appearances. He was the Second Division’s
top scorer in the 1898-99 season with 34 goals. This attracted the attention of
Everton, who signed him in 1899. Converted to a wing-half his Everton career
saw him make 257 appearances and score 32 goals. He gained one England cap in
1902 against Wales, and won a winner’s medal as part of Everton’s 1906 FA Cup winning
team.
He left Everton for Burnley in 1908, the Liverpool Daily
Post (16.5.1908) report of his
departure noting that he had been a “clever and gentlemanly player”. Whilst probably nowhere near the calibre of his team-mates Sharp and Makepeace it seems that Abbott could turn his hand to cricket. A Liverpool Daily Post [29.6.1907] article reported that Abbott and Everton trainer Jack Elliott had turned out for a visitors' team against Prestatyn Cricket Club. The visitors prevailed with Abbott contributing 6 to their total of 69.
He
spent two seasons at Burnley before returning to Birmingham. However, he only
made one appearance for his home city club before injury forced his retirement.
At the time of the 1911 census he had
followed the well-trodden path for ex-footballers into pub management, being the
licensee of the Queen’s Arms in Smethwick.
Walter Abbott died on 1st February 1941 aged 63
in his home city of Birmingham.
Whilst an Everton player Abbott, his wife Maud, and their
son Walter, lived at 17 Dyson Street L4 just a few hundred yards along City
Road from Goodison Park. Walter Abbott junior followed in his father’s footsteps
and played professional football for Grimsby Town.
