|
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 April-June 1866 |
|
Education |
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.
(His father died early 1884) |
|
Marriage |
to Mary
Kendrick, on 10 March 1886 in Ettingshall, Stafford |
|
|
registered in Wolverhampton July-September 1886 |
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Children |
Albert and Mary Fletcher had eleven
children together. Eleanor (b.8 May 1889)
Harriet Mary (b.30 April 1890), Lottie Florence
(b.1892), Albert William (b.1895), Wilfred
(b.4 April 1897), Richard Henry (b.1899), Mary Ellen
(b.1902), Alice (b.1905), Winifred May
(b.1906), Olive (b.1910) and Violet |
|
|
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.
(His eldest,
Eleanor Fletcher died in 1891, as a two year old) |
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|
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.
(His mother died mid-1905) |
|
|
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.
(His son, Olive Fletcher died in
1914, as a four year old) |
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|
According to the 1921
census, Albert is now a slab maker for H. White & Sons. He is still married, and
they have one more daughter, Violet. They
all still live at 12 Edward Street in Wolverhampton. |
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|
According to the 1939 register, Albert is back as 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,
Staffordshire. |
|
aged 74 years 265 days |
registered in Wolverhampton October-December 1940 |
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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. |
|
|
Mary Fletcher died in early 1959 |
|
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 (6ᵃ 1ᵍ), winners
1892-93 (as trainer);
Football League third place 1888-89 (16ᵃ 1ᵍ). |
| 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. |
