Norman Wilkinson (footballer, born 1931)

Norman Wilkinson

Wilkinson attending a York City match in 2007
Personal information
Full name	Norman Francis Wilkinson[1]
Date of birth	16 February 1931[1]
Place of birth	Alnwick, England
Date of death	29 January 2011 (aged 79)
Place of death	Sunderland, England[2]
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Playing position	Inside forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
0000–1952	Crook Town
1952–1954	Hull City	8	(3)
1954–1966	York City	354	(127)
1966–	Annfield Plain
Total		362	(130)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Norman Francis Wilkinson (16 February 1931 – 29 January 2011) was an English professional footballer. He started his career with non-League Crook Town before joining Football League team Hull City in 1953. He joined York City in 1954 and is the club's leading goalscorer with 143 goals. He returned to non-League with Annfield Plain after retiring from League football.

Career

Born in Alnwick, Northumberland, Wilkinson started his career playing in non-League football with Northern League side Crook Town, before joining Hull City of the Second Division as an amateur in November 1952.^[1][3] He made eight appearances and scored three goals in the Football League for Hull in the 1953–54 season.^[4] He joined Third Division North team York City for a signing on fee of £10 in May 1954.^[1][3] He scored two goals on his debut in the 6–2 victory against Wrexham on the opening day of the 1954–55 season.^[5] He was part of the team that reached the semi-final of the 1954–55 FA Cup, scoring against Scarborough, Dorchester Town and Tottenham Hotspur.^[6] Wilkinson is York's highest goalscorer with 143 goals in all competitions.^[5] He retired from League football in 1966 but continued on playing non-League football for Annfield Plain and also worked as a scout for York in the North East.^[5]

Personal life

During his career, Wilkinson played as a part-timer while also working as a shoe repairer and commuted from his home in north Durham.^[7] Before signing for Hull he served in the Royal Air Force.^[8] He died in his sleep at the age of seventy-nine on 29 January 2011.^[9]

Style of play

Wilkinson played as an inside forward.^[10]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Hull City	1952–53[11]	Second Division	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	1953–54[4]	Second Division	8	3	0	0	—		8	3
	Total		8	3	0	0	—		8	3
York City	1954–55[6]	Third Division North	39	19	8	4	—		47	23
	1955–56[12]	Third Division North	27	10	5	1	—		32	11
	1956–57[13]	Third Division North	38	17	3	1	—		41	18
	1957–58[14]	Third Division North	41	10	5	2	—		46	12
	1958–59[15]	Fourth Division	27	9	1	0	—		28	9
	1959–60[16]	Third Division	37	14	3	0	—		40	14
	1960–61[17]	Fourth Division	35	11	6	4	1	0	42	15
	1961–62[18]	Fourth Division	18	3	1	0	4	0	23	3
	1962–63[19]	Fourth Division	38	15	4	2	0	0	42	17
	1963–64[20]	Fourth Division	27	10	1	2	3	0	31	12
	1964–65[21]	Fourth Division	23	9	2	0	0	0	25	9
	1965–66[22]	Third Division	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
	Total		354	127	39	16	8	0	401	143
Career total			362	130	39	16	8	0	409	146

References

1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Edinburgh: Queen Anne Press. p. 658. ISBN 1-85291-665-6.
2. "Norman Wilkinson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
3. Jarred, Martin; Windross, Dave (1997). Citizens and Minstermen, A Who's Who of York City FC 1922–1997. Selby: Citizen Publications. p. 112. ISBN 0-9531005-0-2.
4. Peterson. The Definitive Hull City A.F.C. : A statistical history to 1999. p. 57.
5. Batters, Dave (2008). York City: The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 212. ISBN 978-1-85983-633-0.
6. Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 302–303.
7. Amos, Mike (27 May 2009). "Norman must sit out York’s big day". The Northern Echo (Darlington). Retrieved 2 December 2009.
8. Peterson. The Definitive Hull City A.F.C. : A statistical history to 1999. p. 118.
9. Flett, Dave (1 February 2011). "Tributes paid to York City legend Norman Wilkinson". The Press (York). Retrieved 5 November 2015.
10. "Norman Wilkinson". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 19 July 2007.
11. Peterson, Mike (1999). The Definitive Hull City A.F.C. : A statistical history to 1999. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 56. ISBN 1-899468-13-7.
12. Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 304–305.
13. Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 306–307.
14. Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 308–309.
15. Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 310–311.
16. Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 312–313.
17. Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 314–315.
18. Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 316–317.
19. Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 318–319.
20. Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 320–321.
21. Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 322–323.
22. Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 324–325.