Walter Bunch

Walter Bunch

Personal information
Full name	Walter Wilbert Swanson Bunch
Date of birth	(1872-08-15)15 August 1872
Place of birth	Weston-super-Mare, England
Date of death	1937 (aged 64–65)
Place of death	Somerset, England
Position(s)	Full back
Youth career
	Compton Colts
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Willenhall Institute
	Blakenhall
1895–1899	Wolverhampton Wanderers	7	(0)
–	Eastville Rovers
1899–1901	Walsall	61	(0)
1901–1902	Small Heath	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Walter Wilbert Swanson Bunch (15 August 1872 – 1937) was an English professional footballer who made 70 appearances in the Football League playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Walsall and Small Heath.[1]

Bunch was born in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. A full back, he entered league football when he joined First Division side Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 1895. He made his Football League debut on 4 January 1896 in a 4–0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers. Only ever a reserve, he made just seven first-team appearances during four seasons with the club.[2]

He moved to Walsall in the 1899 close season,[3] and played regularly, making 61 appearances in two seasons.[1] At the end of his second season, Walsall failed to gain re-election to the Football League,[4] so he signed for a third Midlands club, Small Heath, in September 1901.[3] He played three times in the 1901–02 season, deputising for established full-backs Archie Goldie and Arthur Archer,[5] but was forced to retire in 1902, his career cut short by illness and injury.[3]

He went on to run a pub in Dudley,[3] and died in Somerset in 1937.[2]

References

1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 42. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
2. Matthews, Tony (2001). The Wolves Who's Who. West Midlands: Britespot. ISBN 1-904103-01-4.
3. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
4. "Walsall". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
5. Matthews (1995), p. 148.