Biography
Outside left Harry Wilkinson spent the 1904/05 season at Hull City, playing in the club’s first two senior fixtures in the FA Cup. He also played in 35 friendly games during that season, scoring eight goals against an eclectic group of opponents – Grimsby Town, Leeds City, Army Service Corps, Scarborough, Coldstream Guards, York Garrison, Barnsley and East Riding XI. When City joined the Football League in the summer of 1905 they declined to pay the £150 fee to Manchester United to retain Wilkinson in the senior squad.
Henry “Harry” Wilkinson was born in Bury to a father that worked in the cotton trade and a mother who was a hatter. Harry worked in a foundry while playing for Newton Heath’s youth team, the club that changed its name to Manchester United in 1902. He joined Manchester United’s first team squad in the 1903/04 season, making his Second Division debut against Burton United on Boxing Day 1903 and ending the season with 9 appearances. While still registered to Manchester United for League games, Wilkinson had his season at Hull City.
Harry joined Southern League side West Ham United at the start of 1905/06 season, scoring twice in 14 appearances. He returned to his registered league club Manchester United in March 1906 as the Red Devils won promotion to Division One for the first time, but made no further first team appearances.
He joined Lancashire Combination side Haslingden for the 1906/07 season, moving the St Helens Recreation later in the season. Harry returned to the Football League in May 1907 when he signed for Division One side Bury, Wilkinson made two starts for the Shakers in October 1907 before completing his career back in the Lancashire Combination with Oswaldtwistle Rovers and Rochdale.
Wilkinson remained living in Bury where he died in September 1933.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 30 April 1883, Bury
Hull City First Game: 17 September 1904, Stockton A (FA Cup Preliminary Round), 21 years, 140 days old
Hull City Final Game: 22 September 1904, Stockton A (FA Cup Preliminary Round Replay), 21 years, 145 days old
Clubs
Newton Heath/Manchester United (1901-1904), Hull City (1904-1905), West Ham United (1905-1906), Manchester United (1906), Haslingden (1906-1907), St Helens Recreational (1907), Bury (1907-1908), Oswaldtwistle Rovers, Rochdale
Hull City Record
Career: 2 apps, 0 goals
Harry Wilkinson| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1904/05 | – | – | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |