Walter Kimberley (28 September 1884 – 22 April 1917) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Aston Villa as a left back and right half.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Walter Kimberley[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 28 September 1884 | ||
| Place of birth | Aston, England | ||
| Date of death | 22 April 1917 (aged 32)[2] | ||
| Place of death | Aston, England[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Left back, right half | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Gower Street School | |||
| Gravelly Hill Schools | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Tower Unity | |||
| Selly Oak St Mary's | |||
| Coldstream Guards | |||
| Aston Manor | |||
| 1906–1912 | Aston Villa | 7 | (0) |
| 1912–1914 | Coventry City | 21 | (2) |
| 1914 | Walsall | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Personal life
As of 1901 and 1904, Kimberley worked as an engraver and a packer respectively.[4] While playing for Coventry City, Kimberley worked at the Coventry Ordnance Works.[5] An army reservist since 1904,[4] Kimberley rejoined the Coldstream Guards in August 1914, after Britain's entry into the First World War and was appointed lance corporal.[4] The following month, he was captured by the Germans at Maubeuge during the First Battle of the Marne and spent two years as a prisoner of war in camps at Döberitz, Dyrotz and Cottbus.[6][7] Beginning with a six-month stay in hospital with laryngitis and bronchitis, Kimberley's health declined during his internment and he was repatriated to Britain in August 1916 with pulmonary tuberculosis.[7] He was immediately discharged from the army and fell into severe ill heath, permanently losing his voice and dying at home in Aston on 22 April 1917.[3] Kimberley was buried in Witton Cemetery, Birmingham.[2] He was married and had two children, one of whom died in infancy.[4]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Aston Villa | 1907–08[8] | First Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1908–09[8] | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Total | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | ||
| Coventry City | 1912–13[8] | Southern League First Division | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| 1913–14[8] | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
| Total | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 28 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 1 | ||