Willingham: Charles Kenneth (Ken)

1947-1948 (Player Details)

Right Half

Born: Sheffield: 01-12-1912

Debut: Arsenal (h): 22-03-1947

5’7 1/2” 10st 7lb (1947)

As a youngster Willingham was an outstanding athlete, representing England Schools after becoming Sheffield half-mile Schools champion. He played soccer for Yorkshire Schools six times, once as captain, and then played for Ecclesfield before joining Worksop Town as a sixteen-year-old. He went to Huddersfield Town as a member of the groundstaff and turned professional in 1931. Willingham became one of Huddersfield’s all time greats, winning twelve England caps, representing the Football League six times and playing in the Town side that lost the FA Cup Final to Preston North End in 1938. At Leeds Road he scored four goals in two hundred and forty-seven League appearances before World War Two brought the Football League to an end for its duration. Although he played as a guest in wartime games, like many players of his time he lost some of his best years during the Second World War. His standing was such that he played in six war-time Internationals. He ended a fourteen year association with Huddersfield when he joined Sunderland in December 1945, where he played fourteen League games. In 1947 he became a Leeds player and the vastly experienced England defender ended his professional career at Elland Road. He could do little about United’s relegation in his first season and played thirty-five League games for United before retiring in May 1948. He spent some time on the coaching staff at Elland Road and was later coach at Halifax Town in 1952. He became a publican after finishing with football and died at Dewsbury in May 1975, aged sixty-two.