Walter Watkins
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Walter Martin Watkins | ||
| Date of birth | 1880 | ||
| Place of birth | Caersws, Wales | ||
| Date of death | 14 May 1942 (aged 62) | ||
| Place of death | Stoke-on-Trent, England | ||
| Playing position | Centre forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1894–1896 | Caersws | ||
| 1896–1900 | Oswestry Town | ||
| 1900–1903 | Stoke | 108 | (44) |
| 1903–1904 | Aston Villa | 6 | (1) |
| 1904–1905 | Sunderland | 14 | (9) |
| 1905–1906 | Crystal Palace | 15 | (6) |
| 1906–1907 | Northampton Town | 38 | (10) |
| 1907–1908 | Stoke | 17 | (4) |
| 1908–1909 | Crewe Alexandra | ||
| 1909–1910 | Stafford Rangers | ||
| 1910–1911 | Tunstall Park | ||
| Total | 160 | (64) | |
| National team | |||
| 1902–1908 | Wales | 10 | (4) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Walter Martin "Mart" Watkins (1880 – 14 May 1942) was a Welsh footballer who played in the Football League for Aston Villa, Stoke and Sunderland.
Watkins was born in Caersws and was one of six sons of a Welsh farmer from Llanwnnog in Montgomeryshire. Along with his elder brother Ernie, Mart played for his local club, Oswestry Town where he was spotted by Football League side Stoke. He signed in August 1900 and with the "Potters" awful start to the 1900–01 season – one point from the first seven games – ensured a rapid entrance to first team football. Tall and slim with a neat moustache, Watkins was described as a 'smart player', possessing a whiplash shot who pass to his winger before dashing back into the penalty area to launch himself at the ensuing cross.
Watkins helped Stoke avoid relegation in 1900–01, scoring the winning goal in the team's last three matches. In 1901–02 he finished top scorer with 16 and repeated the feat with 13 in 1902–03 which earned him some Welsh caps. In January 1904 Manchester City offered Stoke £450 for Watkins' services. The deal collapsed, but with Stoke desperate for funds following the construction of a new stand Aston Villa manager George Ramsey signed Watkins for a 'high price' joining up with former Stoke winger Arthur Lockett.
His career at Villa Park didn't last long after playing just six matches scoring once, ironically against Stoke, he signed for Sunderland in October 1904. Watkins made his debut for Sunderland on 22 October 1904 in a 3–0 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday at Roker Park where he scored two goals. Over his career at the club, he made 15 league appearances scoring nine goals.
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