Nat Walton
Nathaniel (Nat) Walton was born in Preston in 1867. He played football for Witton with John Barton before joining Blackburn Rovers.
The first season of the Football League began in September, 1888. Preston North End won the first championship that year without losing a single match and acquired the name the "Invincibles". Blackburn Rovers finished in 4th place, 14 points behind Preston.
At the beginning of the 1889-90 season Tom Mitchell, the club secretary, recruited four top players from Scotland: Tom Brandon, Johnny Forbes, George Dewar and Harry Campbell. Local lads, Billy Townley, Joseph Lofthouse and Jack Southworth were also drafted into the side.
These decisions definitely improved the attack. Blackburn Rovers beat Notts County (9-1), Stoke (8-0), Aston Villa (7-0), Bolton Wanderers (7-1) and Burnley (7-1). Top scorers were Southworth (22), Campbell (15), Walton (14) and Lofthouse (11).
In the 1889-90 season Blackburn Rovers finished in 3rd place, six points behind Preston North End. They did even better in the FA Cup. On the way to the final they beat Sunderland (4-2), Grimsby Town (3-0), Bootle (7-0) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (1-0).
Blackburn were odds-on favourites to win the cup against Sheffield Wednesday, who played in the Football Alliance league. Blackburn Rovers won 6-1 with Nathan Barton scoring the second goal.
James Southworth, Jack Southworth, Richard Birtwistle, John Horne, George Dewar
Middle row: Joseph Lofthouse, Harry Campbell, Johnny Forbes, Nathan Walton,
Billy Townley. Front row: John Barton and James Forrest.
Nathan Walton won his first international cap for England in a game against Ireland on 15th March 1890. Surprisingly, it was the only game he played for his country.
Walton left Blackburn Rovers in 1892. In a four year period he scored 37 goals in 110 league games. He played non-league football at Nelson before retiring from football.
Nathan Walton died in 1930.
