Walter Judd (footballer) facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Walter James Judd | ||
| Date of birth | 25 October 1926 | ||
| Place of birth | Salisbury, Wiltshire, England | ||
| Date of death | 17 December 1964 (aged 38) | ||
| Place of death | Nomansland, Wiltshire, England | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Downton | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1947–1949 | Nomansland | ||
| 1949–1953 | Southampton | 34 | (13) |
| 1957 | Nomansland | ||
| International career | |||
| 1952 | England B | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Walter James Judd was an English football player. He was born on October 25, 1926, and passed away on December 18, 1964. He played as a centre-forward, which is a key attacking position, for the Southampton team in the 1940s and 1950s.
Contents
Early Life and Career Start
Walter Judd grew up in Salisbury, England. As a young person, he played football for local teams like Downton and Nomansland. Before becoming a professional footballer, he was a "Bevin Boy". This meant he had to work in a coal mine during a special time in history. He worked at Blackwood Colliery in South Wales.
Playing for Southampton
In August 1949, Judd signed with Southampton. For his first two years, he played for the reserve team. He was very good, scoring 27 goals in 34 matches!
First Team Debut
His great performance in the reserves helped him get a chance with the main team. He played his first game for Southampton on April 21, 1951. This was a Second Division match against Leicester City.
A Strong Season
Judd started the 1951–52 season back with the reserves. But he was called up to the first team again on December 22, 1951. He scored a goal in his first game back, which was a 1–1 draw against Barnsley. He kept his spot on the team for the rest of that season. He scored nine goals in 19 games. His excellent play even earned him a spot on the England B team for a match.
Injury and Retirement
Judd began the next season, 1952–53, as the main centre-forward. He played in the first 13 games and scored four goals. However, he later lost his spot and went back to the reserve team. On December 26, 1952, during a reserve match, Walter Judd suffered a serious leg injury. He snapped ligaments, which meant his professional football career had to end.
Life After Football
After he stopped playing professional football, Walter Judd lived in Nomansland. This area is part of the New Forest. He worked for the Forestry Commission, which manages forests. In 1957, he decided to play football again for his local village team.
Walter Judd passed away in Nomansland on December 18, 1964, when he was 38 years old.
