Whalley: Frederick Harold (Fred)

1921-1924 (Player Details)

Goalkeeper

Born: Bolton: 09-10-1898

Debut: Port Vale (h): 27-08-1921

6’0” 12st (1922)

A product of Preston Schools and Army Football, Whalley enlisted in the North Lancashire Regiment at fifteen and saw active service in France before signing for First Division Preston North End in June 1919. He made eight League appearances at Deepdale before he joined Third Division Grimsby Town the following summer and made twenty-three appearances for them before he became a Leeds United player in May 1921. Whalley thought nothing of chatting to the fans behind his goal when the action was up the other end of the pitch. His antics made him extremely popular at Leeds but beneath the comic exterior was a dedicated professional who excelled at his job. He displaced Billy Down, who had been an ever-present in the Leeds team in their first League season and established himself as United’s keeper for the next two seasons, but after the first few games of the 1923-24 season, Down regained his first team spot and Whalley left for Second Division Fulham in March 1924. He only made eight League appearances at Craven Cottage before he retired in 1926 and returned to Preston, where he became a policeman. He died at Eccles, near Manchester on 25th April 1976.