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.
 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] | ||
| Position(s) | Inside forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| –1952 | Crook Town | ||
| 1952–1954 | Hull City | 8 | (3) |
| 1954–1966 | York City | 354 | (127) |
| 1966–? | Annfield Plain | ||
| Total | 362 | (130) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editBorn 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
editDuring 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
editWilkinson played as an inside forward.[10]
Career statistics
edit| 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
edit- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ "Norman Wilkinson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b Peterson. The Definitive Hull City A.F.C. : A statistical history to 1999. p. 57.
- ^ a b c Batters, Dave (2008). York City: The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 212. ISBN 978-1-85983-633-0.
- ^ a b Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 302–303.
- ^ Amos, Mike (27 May 2009). "Norman must sit out York's big day". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
- ^ Peterson. The Definitive Hull City A.F.C. : A statistical history to 1999. p. 118.
- ^ Flett, Dave (1 February 2011). "Tributes paid to York City legend Norman Wilkinson". The Press. York. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ^ "Norman Wilkinson". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 19 July 2007.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 304–305.
- ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 306–307.
- ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 308–309.
- ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 310–311.
- ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 312–313.
- ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 314–315.
- ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 316–317.
- ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 318–319.
- ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 320–321.
- ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 322–323.
- ^ Batters. York City: The Complete Record. pp. 324–325.
