Walter Bussey

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 185 appearances for Stoke.[1][2]

Walter Bussey
Personal information
Full name Walter Bussey
Date of birth (1904-12-06)6 December 1904
Place of birth Eckington, England
Date of death January 1982 (aged 77–78)
Place of death Exeter, England
Position(s) Inside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1924 Denaby United
1924–1932 Stoke City 185 (46)
1933–1934 Blackpool 25 (8)
1934–1936 Swansea Town 72 (18)
1936–1938 Exeter City 75 (16)
Total 357 (88)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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 worked as a painter and decorator in the Exeter area until his death in January 1982.[2]

Career statistics

Source:[3]

Club Season League FA Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City 1925–26 Second Division 4000—40
1926–27 Third Division North 15800—158
1927–28 Second Division 21841—259
1928–29 Second Division 371111—3812
1929–30 Second Division 31610—326
1930–31 Second Division 39530—425
1931–32 Second Division 37832—4010
1932–33 Second Division 1000—10
Total 18546124—19750
Blackpool 1933–34 Second Division 25821—279
Swansea Town 1934–35 Second Division 37721—398
1935–36 Second Division 321100—3211
1936–37 Second Division 3000—30
Total 721821—7419
Exeter City 1936–37 Third Division South 20531—236
1937–38 Third Division South 3662010396
1938–39 Third Division South 1950010205
Total 751651208217
Career total 357882172038095

Honours
Stoke City

References
  1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN 1-874287554.
  3. Walter Bussey at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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