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 [once thought to have been called only Alfred] |
Birth |
Tuesday, 4 August 1863
in Walsall, Staffordshire [registered in Walsall, September 1863] |
Birth notes |
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). |
|
According to the 1871 census,
Albert was the second of three children, the only son, to John and Lydia
Dorothy, living at 68 Lantarra Street in Walsall. His father was a buckle
tongue maker. |
|
According to the 1881 census,
Albert was the eldest of just two children still living with their
parents, now at 71 Lantarra Street. His father is still a buckle tongue
maker, Albert himself was a harness maker. |
Marriage |
to
Emily Shelley, on Sunday, 5 August 1888 at St. John's Church in Walsall [registered in Walsall,
September 1888]. |
|
According
to
the 1891 census, Albert and his wife Emily are living at 322 Summers Lane
in Walsall. He is a licensed victualler. |
Death |
Monday, 22 June 1891
at The Barrel Inn, 322 Summers Lane, Birmingham,
aged only 27 years 322 days, due to poor health [registered in Birmingham, 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.' |
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 |
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; |
Beyond England |
Died at the very young age of 27. -
An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming
(1990). Hatton Press, p.9. |