Initially an outfield-player with St Mary’s, Walter Cox became the club’s third-choice goalkeeper. Although his Southern League outings were limited to three in 1895-96, he played in every game of that season’s FA Cup-run, which ended with his heroic display against Sheffield Wednesday of the Football League’s First Division. Not that that was enough to prevent Wednesday winning 3-2 and going on to lift the Cup.

Although he achieved county senior recognition, he opted for first-team football in Bristol, initially with Bristol St George and then with Southern League Bedminster. After another season in that League with Millwall, he made it into the Football League with Manchester City. He would get but one game there, however, before returning to local football in Southampton. He was later employed at the Railway Works in Eastleigh.