Frank Watkin

Frank Watkin (30 March 1904 – 26 January 1979) was an English footballer who played at centre-forward for Congleton Town, Stoke City, and Port Vale. He won the Third Division North title with Stoke and Vale but never nailed down a regular first-team place despite scoring 12 goals in 18 league games for the two clubs. His brother, Arthur Watkin, was a footballer who played for Stoke.

Frank Watkin

Personal information
Full name	Frank Watkin[1]
Date of birth	(1904-03-30)30 March 1904[1]
Place of birth	Stoke-upon-Trent, England[1]
Date of death	26 January 1979(1979-01-26) (aged 74)[1]
Place of death	Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Position(s)	Centre-forward
Youth career
	Congleton Town
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1926	Stoke City	5	(3)
1929–1931	Port Vale	13	(9)
1931–1937	Congleton Town	246	(180)
Total		264	(192)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Watkin played for Congleton Town before joining Stoke City. He featured in five Third Division North games in the 1926–27 title-winning season, and scored in three games in a row: a 2–1 win over Crewe Alexandra at the Victoria Ground (12 March), a 2–2 draw with Stockport County at Edgeley Park (19 March), and a 4–0 home win over Southport (26 March). However, this was the extent of his appearances with the "Potters".

He was signed by local rivals Port Vale in June 1929.^[1] He picked up a knee injury in a 2–2 draw at Rotherham United on 19 October 1929, which kept him on the sidelines for four months.^[1] He made his return in style, gaining revenge over Rotherham by scoring five goals in a 7–1 win over them at the reverse fixture at The Old Recreation Ground on 22 February.^[1] He finished the 1929–30 Third Division North title-winning season with nine goals in 13 appearances.^[1] He struggled to nail down a place in the side, though and never featured in the 1930–31 Second Division season.^[1] He was given a free transfer back to former club Congleton in April 1931.^[1]

Career statistics

Source:^[2]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Stoke City	1926–27	Third Division North	5	3	0	0	5	3
Port Vale	1929–30	Third Division North	13	9	0	0	13	9

Honours

Stoke City

• Football League Third Division North: 1926–27

Port Vale

• Football League Third Division North: 1929–30^[3]

References

1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 303. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
2. Frank Watkin at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
3. Kent, Jeff (1990). "From Glory to Despair (1929–1939)". The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale. Witan Books. pp. 124–150. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.