56 George Walden

Biography

Centre forward Walden joined the Tigers in October 1909 after he was spotted playing Sunday League football in London. He quickly made his way into the Tigers’ Reserves and scored in three consecutive games, earning himself a rapid call up to the first team. He made his senior debut and scored in a November 1909 victory over Bradford Park Avenue, alas in his second game against Derby County a week later he suffered an injury that left City fielding ten men for the entire second half. He returned to fitness in a couple of weeks and netted a January 1910 hattrick as City’s Reserves thumped their Gainsborough Trinity counterparts 13-3. But City manager Ambrose Langley preferred prolific Tynesider John Smith in the centre forward role and Walden was unable to win his first team place back, leaving the club in the 1910 close season.

George Joseph Walden was born in Poplar, close to London’s East End docklands. Hull City was his first senior club after learning his trade in London’s junior football scene and briefly serving Millwall’s reserves. Walden joined Midland League side Rotherham Town in September 1910 and moved on to divisional rivals Denaby United a year later. In March 1912 he joined Southern League side Luton Town before returning north to join Midland League side Scunthorpe & Lindsey United in July 1912. In May 1914 he returned to Rotherham Town for his final season as a professional, the Football League was suspended in the 1915 close season and Walden did not resume his playing career following the end of the First World War.

Walden died in April 1944 in seemingly tragic circumstances, he was found dead by the railway lines at Manor Park station in East London.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 31 March 1888, Poplar
Hull City First Game: 6 November 1909, Bradford Park Avenue A (Division Two), 21 years, 220 days old
Hull City Final Game: 13 November 1909, Derby County A (Division Two), 21 years, 227 days old

Clubs

Hull City (1909-1910), Rotherham Town (1910-1911), Denaby United (1911-1912), Luton Town (1912), Scunthorpe & Lindsey United (1912-1914), Rotherham Town (1914-1915)

Hull City Record

Career: 2 apps, 1 goals