The son of a cricket bat maker, Walter Toomer’s first-known team was Woolston Rovers, before moving to London to study as a trainee teacher at St John’s College and subsequently signing on as an amateur for Fulham and then Chelsea, for whom he made one FA Cup appearance.

Upon qualifying he came home where he spread his energies taking up his first teaching appointment at Portswood School while also helping to run his father’s sports outfitters in London Road, while signing on as an amateur for Saints. A half-back, Walter remained at The Dell for eight years, never turning pro, getting the occasional run out for the first team, but mainly captaining the Reserves. He was plagued with thigh muscle problems throughout his career which may have persuaded him to remain an amateur. During the Great War he joined the Hampshire RGA in December 1915 but did not arrive in France until March 1918 with the 228 Siege Battery only to be wounded in the August. He remained in France until January 1919 and made a return to teaching for a while and then decided to attend to the family business on a full time basis.

When he was made a director in December 1949 the Echo made much of his sporting prowess including the fact that he held the record at Stoneham Golf Course for achieving the most hole-in-ones – Five. He was very much a fan often travelling away. And he was present at home matches, not only in the directors’ box but in the prominent advert for Toomers Sports Goods.