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Players Index Page Last Updated
22 March 2020
 
 

Albert Fletcher

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC

 2 appearances, 0 goals

P 2 W 2 D 0 L 0 F 7: A 2
100% successful
1889-90

captain: none
minutes played: 180

Timeline
  Albert Thomas Fletcher
Birth Sunday, 1 April 1866 in Lichfield Road, New Invention, Willenhall, Staffordshire [registered in Wolverhampton, June 1866]. Birthdate confirmed by the 1939 register.
Attended Holy Trinity School and Short Heath in Willenhall
 

According to the 1871 census, Albert is the fifth of five children to Abraham and Emma (née Winford), and they live at 32 Wolverhampton Road in New Invention in Willenhall.
 

According to the 1881 census, Albert is just one of two children with their parents in Wolverhampton Road. He is a lock maker. His father is a lock manufacturer.
Marriage to Mary Williams [registered in Wolverhampton, September 1886].
 

According to the 1891 census, Albert is now married to Mary with two children, Nellie and Harriet, and they live at Bloxwich Road in New Invention with Albert's mother.
However, Albert, still a lock maker, is visiting John and Mary Jane Lewis, at 29 Deanery Row.
 

According to the 1901 census, Albert now a football trainer, still married, and with four more children, Lottie, Albert, Wilfred and Richard. They all live at 8 Mitre Fold in Wolverhampton.

 

According to the 1911 census, Albert is still a football trainer and still married to Mary, and they have four more children. Mary, Alice, Winifred and Olive. They all live at 12 Edward Street in Wolverhampton. The census reveals that of their ten children, one had died. This one was their eldest, Nellie Winifred, who, as a five-year old, died in 1895.

  According to the 1939 register, Albert is a football trainer still married to Mary and they are still living at 12 Edward Street.
Death Sunday, 22 December 1940 at his home at 12 Edward Street, Wolverhampton, aged 74 years 265 days [registered in Wolverhampton, December 1940].

Obituary
"FORMER WOLVES' TRAINER
 "The death took place on Sunday, at 12, Edward Street, of Mr. Albert Thomas Fletcher, who for several years was a prominent player for Wolverhampton Wanderers' Football Club was the club's first team trainer for 24 years, and played twice for England. He was associated with the club, which he joined in 1886, for 34 years." - Staffordshire Advertiser, Saturday, 28 December 1940.

Source

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

Playing Career
Club(s) Began his career with New Invention Excelsior FC and also played with Lane Head White Star FC, before he joined Willenhall Pickwick FC. During which he was turning out for Bloxwich Town FC and Walsall Swifts FC. When he was with Pickwick, he was approached by Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in 1885 after he played against them in a six-a-side match. He signed on for 10s. per match. He retired because of a knee injury. He had been playing for Wolves against Aston Villa FC in February 1892, when Villa's centre-forward McKnight tumbled across his leg, dislocating his knee. It was at least twelve months before Fletcher could even think about playing again. He did, once again, for the Wolves' reserves, against Wednesday FC, and after he was maliciously taken out again, he never played again.
League History
59 appearances, one goal		 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 1888-92 59 appearances, one goal.
debut: 9 September 1888 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 1 Aston Villa FC 1.
last: 11 March 1893 The Wednesday FC 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 1.
Club honours Wednesbury Charity Cup winners 1888-89; Birmingham Senior Cup winners 1888-89; Staffordshire Senior Cup winners 1888-89;
FA Cup runners-up 1888-89 (six apps, one goal), winners 1892-93 (trainer, no apps);
Football League third place 1888-89 (sixteen appearances, one goal).
Individual honours Albert Fletcher received a benefit match on 28 December 1920, between the reserve teams of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and West Bromwich Albion FC. Albion won 3-1 in front of a 10,000 gate.
Height/Weight 5' 10½", 12st. 1lbs [1889].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & Obituary.

England Career
Player number One of five who became the 152nd player (152) to appear for England.
Position(s) Right-half
First match No. 35, 23 February 1889, England 4 Wales 1, a British Championship match at Victoria Ground, Boothen, Stoke-upon-Trent, aged 22 years 328 days.
Last match No. 39, 15 March 1890, Wales 1 England 3, a British Championship match at The Racecourse, Mold Road, Wrexham, aged 23 years 348 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1888-89;
Team honours None
Distinctions "Fletcher's ability to train and handle a team has been recognised outside his club. He has had charge of the English League that met the Scottish League for two seasons, and twice he has had charge of England's team against Wales [before WWI]." - Sports Argus, December 1916

Beyond England
After he retired because of injury, Fletcher remained with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC as their reserve team trainer, stepping up to first team trainer in 1907, a post he held until the end of the 1919-20 season. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.97.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes captain
2 2 2 180 0 none
minutes are approximation, due to the fact that many matches rarely stuck to exactly ninety minutes long, allowing time for injuries and errors.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts % W/L
2 2 0 0 7 2 +5 0 0 3.50 1.00 100.0 +2

Match Record

Venue & Competition P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts % W/L
Home British Championship 1 1 0 0 4 1 +3 0 0 4.00 1.00 100.0 +1
Away 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 0 0 3.00 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 1888-89 1 1 0 0 4 1 +3 0 0 4.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC 1889-90 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 0 0 3.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC All 2 2 0 0 7 2 +5 0 0 3.50 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 7 2 +5 0 0 3.50 1.00 100.0 +2
2 2 0 0 7 2 +5 0 0 3.50 1.00 100.0 +2

Match History

 Club: Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. - two full appearances (180 min)

F.A. International Select Committee - two full appearances (180 min)x
Age 22
1 35 23 February 1889 - England 4 Wales 1, Victoria Ground, Stoke-upon-Trent BC HW Start rh
  

Age 23
2 39 15 March 1890 - Wales 1 England 3, The Racecourse, Wrexham BC AW Start rh
  

Notes

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CG