Ken Willingham

Ken Willingham

File:Ken Willingham.jpg
Personal information
Full name	Charles Kenneth Willingham
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s)	Defender (Right Half)

Charles Kenneth (Ken) Willingham was a professional footballer, born in Sheffield on 1 December 1912. As a school boy he captained the Yorkshire Schools' team and won the half-mile county running championship. After playing for Ecclesfield, he joined Worksop Town F.C in 1928 at the age of 16.

He signed professionally for Huddersfield Town F.C in 1930, where he spent most of his playing career. Whilst there he played in the 1938 FA Cup Final, in which Huddersfield Town lost 1-0 to Preston North End F.C, this was the first time the FA Cup Final had been transmitted live on British television.

He still holds the record for the fatest ever goal scored against Sunderland on 14 December 1935, he had the ball in the back of the net after just 10 seconds, with his fourth touch of the ball. Huddersfield Examiner

He was capped 12 times for England, scoring on his debut against Finland in a 8-0 drubbing.

Match Date	Opponent	Stadium	Score	Result
20th May 1937	Finland	Töölön Pallokenttä	0-8	(W)
9th April 1938	Scotland	Wembley	0-1	(L)
14th May 1938

After World War II, in which he worked in the steel industry in Sheffield, he signed for Sunderland A.F.C where he made fourteen appearances. He later signed for Leeds United in 1947 before retiring a year later to become the landlord of the Hopewell Inn in Hunslet. He briefly returned to the game in 1952, where he became coach at Halifax Town F.C.

External links

• England profile
• Sunderland career details