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Players Index Page Last Updated
19 February 2023
 
 

Albert Aldridge

West Bromwich Albion FC, Walsall Town Swifts FC

 2 appearances, 0 goals

P 2 W 2 D 0 L 0 F 11: A 2
100% successful
 1888-89

captain: none
minutes played: 180

Timeline
  Albert James Aldridge
 

According to the 1861 census, John, a buckle tongue maker, and Harriett (née Jones) are living at 68 Lantarra Street in Walsall with a single servant, Miss Sarah Littleton, aged 11..
Birth Tuesday, 4 August 1863 at 68 Lantarra Street in Walsall, Staffordshire
  registered in Walsall July-September 1863
  There was a Walsall-born Albert Aldridge, probably born on 13 April 1864, as most history books state, but this cannot be the footballer Albert James, because he was registered in Walsall a whole six months before. Another reason is because that this Walsall-born Albert Aldridge also died in Walsall as a 77 year old in 1941. His parents were George and Hannah (née Tickle).
 

(His mother died on 5 August 1866)
According to the 1871 census, Albert is the second of three children, the only son, to his widowed father, John, who has now remarried to Lydia Dorothy (née Cubley), still living at 68 Lantarra Street. His father is still a buckle tongue maker. Albert had a step-brother, John Edgar (b.17 June d.19 September in 1869).
 

According to the 1881 census, Albert, a harness maker, is the eldest of just two children still living with his father, still a buckle tongue maker, and step-mother, now at 71 Lantarra Street.
Marriage to Emily Shelley, on Sunday, 5 August 1888 at St. John's Church in Walsall
  registered in Walsall July-September 1888
 

According to the 1891 census, Albert and his wife Emily are living at The Barrel Inn, 322 Summers Lane in Walsall. He is a licensed victualler.
Death Monday, 22 June 1891 at The Barrel Inn, 322 Summers Lane, Birmingham, Warwickshire, due to poor health.
aged only 27 years 322 days registered in Birmingham April-June 1891
"Footballers generally will regret to learn of the death of that genuine Walsall footballer, Albert Aldridge, which took place at his residence, the Barrel Inn, Summer Lane, Birmingham, on Monday last, at the early age of 27 years. Aldridge was one of the most gentlemanly, as well as one of the most skilful, exponents of the game that ever toed a ball, and his popularity among players as well as spectators was due to the entire absence of any semblance of rough or unfair tactics in his play." - Walsall Observer, Saturday, 27 June 1891
Funeral 2.00pm, Monday, 29 June 1891 at Walsall cemetery
Probate 'ALDRIDGE Albert. 19 September. Administration of the Personal Estate of Albert Aldridge late of 232 Summer-lane in the City of Birmingham who died 22 June 1891 at 232 Summer-lane was granted at Birmingham to Emily Aldridge of 105 Frederick-street Walsall in the County of Stafford Widow of Relict.
Personal Estate £56 16s. 4d.'
  Emily Aldridge died on 1 December 1946

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], Patrick Talbot's White Shirt, Black Country [2004]

Playing Career
Club(s)

Started with Walsall Swifts FC from 1882.  He joined West Bromwich Albion FC in March 1886 and returned to the newly amalgamated club Walsall Town Swifts FC in July 1888; From April 1889, Aldridge joined Aston Villa FC, but his games were limited because of his unseen illness, then his untimely death in June 1891.
League History
17 appearances		 Aston Villa FC 1889 seventeen appearances
debut: 7 September 1889 Aston Villa FC 2 Burnley FC 2.
last: 28 December 1889 Derby County FC 5 Aston Villa FC 0.
Club honours FA Cup runners-up 1886-87, winners 1887-88.
Individual honours Birmingham FA, and Staffordshire FA;
Distinctions None
Height/Weight not known.

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], ENFA & Patrick Talbot's White Shirt, Black Country [2004]

England Career
Player number One of five who became the 147th player (147) to appear for England.
Position(s) Right/left-back.
First match No. 34, 7 April 1888, Ireland 1 England 5, a British Championship match at Ulster Cricket Ground, Ballynafeigh Park, Belfast, aged 24 years 247 days.
Last match
329 days		 No. 36. 2 March 1889, England 6 Ireland 1, a British Championship match at Anfield Road, Anfield, Liverpool, aged 25 years 210 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1887-88, 1888-89;
Team honours British Championship winners 1887-88;
Individual honours  
Distinctions None

Beyond England
Died at the very young age of 27. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.9.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes captain
2 2 2 180 0 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
2 2 0 0 11 2 +9 0 0 5.5 1 100 +2
Both of his matches were played in the British Championship competition and against Ireland

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 1 1 0 0 6 1 +5 0 0 6.00 1.00 100.0 +1
Away 1 1 0 0 5 1 +4 0 0 5.00 1.00 100.0 +1

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1887-88 1 1 0 0 5 1 +4 0 0 5.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC 1888-89 1 1 0 0 6 1 +5 0 0 6.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC All 2 2 0 0 11 2 +9 0 0 5.50 1.00 100.0 +2

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 2 2 0 0 11 2 +9 0 0 5.50 1.00 100.0 +2
2 2 0 0 11 2 +9 0 0 5.5 1 100 +2

Match History

 Club: West Bromwich Albion F.C. - one full appearance (90 min) F.A. International Selection Committee - two full appearances (180 min)x

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 24
1 34 7 April 1888 - Ireland 1 England 5
Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast		 BC AW   rb
  

one of five who became the 147th player (147) to appear for England
one of two who became the third players from West Bromwich Albion FC to represent England

 Club: Walsall Town Swifts F.C. - one full appearance (90 min)  

Age 25
2 36 2 March 1889 - England 6 Ireland 1
Anfield Road, Liverpool		 BC HW   lb
  

the second and final player from Walsall Town Swifts FC represent England

     

 
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