Today is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Walter Arnott, one of football's true 'greats' in the Victorian era. Born in Pollokshields on 12 May 1863*, he was inspired as a young boy by watching the first international at Hamilton Crescent in 1872, and joined Queen's Park ten years later. Over the following decade he was capped 14 times by Scotland, including a record ten consecutive appearances against England. He won the Scottish Cup with Queen's Park three times appeared for them in two FA Cup finals, and even found time to guest for a range of other clubs in Scotland, England and Ireland - winning an Irish Cup medal with Linfield** and turning out for Celtic, Newcastle West End, St Bernard's and Notts County. He died in Glasgow on 18 May 1931.
He regularly wrote articles for newspapers and was interviewed about the early days, but never compiled a full biography. However, in 1928 he did publish privately a little booklet for distribution at a reunion of Vale of Leven players, and I have now digitised this for posterity. Click here to read it or visit my Publications page.
*EDIT It turns out the widely published date of 1863 for his birth is wrong! Arnott was, in fact, born in 1861 (albeit still on 12 May). Apologies for the confusion.
** EDIT Another correction: Wattie didn't win an Irish Cup medal, in fact he didn't play for Linfield at all. He has been confused (perhaps understandably) with his younger brother, Willie Arnott, who was left back for Linfield in 1891-92 and who played in the Irish Cup winning team of 1892.
He regularly wrote articles for newspapers and was interviewed about the early days, but never compiled a full biography. However, in 1928 he did publish privately a little booklet for distribution at a reunion of Vale of Leven players, and I have now digitised this for posterity. Click here to read it or visit my Publications page.
*EDIT It turns out the widely published date of 1863 for his birth is wrong! Arnott was, in fact, born in 1861 (albeit still on 12 May). Apologies for the confusion.
** EDIT Another correction: Wattie didn't win an Irish Cup medal, in fact he didn't play for Linfield at all. He has been confused (perhaps understandably) with his younger brother, Willie Arnott, who was left back for Linfield in 1891-92 and who played in the Irish Cup winning team of 1892.
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