Robert Blanthorne and John Walker Liverpool Fc

[Flaming Pie]

Robert Blanthorne ( wife’s relative) was with Liverpool 1905-08, playing mainly for The Reserves. He could knock in the goals, but he made just two first team appearances before signing for Newcastle in 1908. It looks like injuries blighted his career. The other battered old photo is John Walker , who played for Hearts , Liverpool, Rangers, Morton and Scotland( 5 caps) between 1893- 1906. I know it’s a long shot, but the question is has anyone on the forum got a programme with Robert Blanthorne in the Liverpool FC line-up , Reserves or First team,, or John Walker in any team line- up that they could display? I’m thinking Carlisleprogs could be the man . Some unbelievable programmes in your collection my friend

[Carlisleprogs]

Have had a look but only found a couple of potentials and sadly neither of your wife’s relatives are mentioned.

Best of luck with the search

[Flaming Pie]

Carlisleprogs, many thanks for having a look .

[Gordon7co]

https://londonhearts.com/images/prprewwii/pages/1896020101%20Ayr%205-1%20Somerset%20Park.htm

[Flaming Pie]

Gordon, thank you so much. Brilliant!

[Carlisleprogs]

Flaming Pie, I am sure you know, but Robert Blanthorne scored 5 of the goals for Grimsby in their 6 - 2 FA cup win v Carlisle on 1 February 1908. Carlisle had knocked Brentford out after a replay in the previous round.

I like looking back at the careers of these early footballers. There are good sections on Blanthorne on both the Liverpool and Newcastle history sites.

[Flaming Pie]

Carlisleprogs, looks like greats things were expected of Blanthorne at Liverpool, but there’s a suggestion that he was lacking in speed. Locally, his early teams were Rock Ferry and Birkenhead before signing for The Reds. My wife had no idea that Blanthorne was related, but when she started doing that family tree thing all was revealed. I think there was only six other families of Blanthorne’s in the country when he was playing for Liverpool. Wife’s grandmother was a Blanthorne from Rock Ferry. John Walker’s story is interesting . After football he went to live in Canada. Sounds like he had a tragic death after a woodcutting accident when he was in his sixties. Here’s an interesting press photo ( Woodland / Fullward London) of one of the greats from the early days of football. The match is The South v The North 1902 at White Hart Lane. The player standing with the ball at his feet is the Spurs , Chelsea and England star Vivian Woodward.

[Flaming Pie]