Graham Wilkins

Graham George Wilkins (born 28 June 1955) is an English retired professional football full-back who made over 130 appearances in the Football League for Chelsea. He also played league football for Brentford and Southend United.

Graham Wilkins

Personal information
Full name	Graham George Wilkins[1]
Date of birth	(1955-06-28) 28 June 1955 (age 70)
Place of birth	Hillingdon, England
Position(s)	Full-back
Youth career
1965–1972	Chelsea
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1972–1982	Chelsea	137	(1)
1982–1984	Brentford	38	(0)
1984	→ Southend United (loan)	3	(0)
	Southall
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Wilkins was born in Hillingdon. Able to play on either flank as a full-back, he began his career at Chelsea at the age of 10 and signed his first professional contract in 1972.^[2][3] He remained a bit-part player until the 1976–77 season, when he made 29 appearances to help the Blues to promotion back to the First Division.^[4][5] Wilkins remained at Stamford Bridge until July 1982, by which time he had made 151 appearances and scored one goal.^[4] He dropped down to the Third Division to join West London neighbours Brentford on a free transfer,^[3] but with the Bees he experienced "the worst two years of my life. I dislocated my shoulder, had seven teeth kicked out, ruptured my cruciate ligaments and that was it".^[2] Wilkins' final appearances as a professional came late in the 1983–84 season, on loan at Third Division club Southend United.^[3]

Personal life

Wilkins was the son of footballer George Wilkins and the eldest of four Hillingdon-born brothers who played professional football.^[6] He later worked at Heathrow Airport.^[6]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Chelsea	1972–73[4]	First Division	1	0	0	0	0	0	—		1	0
	1973–74[4]		4	0	1	0	0	0	—		5	0
	1974–75[4]		1	0	0	0	1	0	—		2	0
	1975–76[4]	Second Division	13	0	0	0	0	0	—		13	0
	1976–77[4]		26	0	0	0	3	0	—		29	0
	1977–78[4]	First Division	21	0	3	0	0	0	—		24	0
	1978–79[4]		28	1	1	0	0	0	—		29	1
	1979–80[4]	Second Division	18	0	0	0	1	0	—		19	0
	1980–81[4]		14	0	0	0	2	0	—		16	0
	1981–82[4]		11	0	1	0	1	0	—		13	0
	Total		137	1	6	0	8	0	—		151	1
Brentford	1982–83[7]	Third Division	25	0	2	0	2	0	3[a]	0	29	0
	1983–84[7]		13	0	1	0	1	0	—		15	0
	Total		38	0	3	0	3	0	3	0	47	0
Southend United (loan)	1983–84[8]	Third Division	3	0	—		—		1[b]	0	4	0
Career total			178	1	9	0	11	0	4	0	202	1

1. Appearances in Football League Group Cup
2. Appearance in Football League Trophy

Honours

Chelsea

• Football League Second Division second-place promotion: 1976–77^[4][5]