Walter Bussey

Walter Bussey
Personal information
Full nameWalter Bussey
Date of birth6 December 1904
Place of birthEckington, England
Date of death1982 (aged 7778)
Place of deathExeter, England
Playing positionInside-forward
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1924Denaby United
1924–1932Stoke City185(46)
1933–1934Blackpool25(8)
1934–1936Swansea Town72(18)
1936–1938Exeter City75(16)
Total357(88)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Walter Bussey (6 December 1904 – January 1982) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Blackpool, Exeter City, Swansea Town and Stoke City. He made one hundred and eighty five appearances for Stoke.[1][2]

Career

Bussey was born in Eckington on the Yorkshire border and began working as a collier. Whilst employed in the mines Bussey played amateur football with teams in the Doncaster area.[2] He was spotted by scouts at Stoke City and signed for the club in March 1924 initially retaining his amateur status so he could also turn out for Denaby United.[2] He eventually signed a professional contract in November 1925 becoming one of 34 players used by Tom Mather in 1925–26 as Stoke suffered relegation from the Second Division. Bussey broke into the side in 1926–27 campaign scoring eight goals in 15 appearances as Stoke went on to win the Third Division North title.[2]

Despite lacking in height Bussey became a vital member of Mather's team being used mainly as a playmaker and provided many goals for Charlie Wilson whilst also having a decent scoring record himself.[2] His most prolific season in a Stoke shirt came in the 1928–29 season with saw him score 12 goals in 38 appearances. Whilst Bussey was a clear favourite with Mather and the supporters he was notoriously inconsistent being described as having "spasms of form and scoring".[2]

With the emergence of Harry Ware and Tommy Sale, Bussey left Stoke in October 1933 for Sandy MacFarlane's Blackpool.[2] He scored 9 goals in 27 appearances for the Seasiders before moving on to Swansea Town. He spent two season at the Vetch Field before ending his career with Exeter City. He later moved as a painter and decorator in the Exeter area until his death in January 1982.[2]

Career statistics

Club Season League FA Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 1925–26 Second Division 400040
1926–27 Third Division North 15800158
1927–28 Second Division 21841259
1928–29 Second Division 3711113812
1929–30 Second Division 31610326
1930–31 Second Division 39530425
1931–32 Second Division 378324010
1932–33 Second Division 100010
Total 1854612419750
Blackpool 1933–34 Second Division 25821279
Total 25821279
Swansea Town 1934–35 Second Division 37721398
1935–36 Second Division 3211003211
1936–37 Second Division 300030
Total 7218217419
Exeter City 1936–37 Third Division South 20531236
1937–38 Third Division South 36620386
1938–39 Third Division South 19500195
Total 7516518017
Career Total 3578821737895

Honours

Stoke City

References

  1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN 1-874287554.