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Players Index Page Last Updated
12 August 2025
 
 

Bert Freeman

Everton FC, Burnley FC

 5 appearances, 3 goals
 one goal on his debut

P 5 W 4 D 1 L 0 F 13: A 2
90% successful
1909-13

captain: none
minutes played: 450

Timeline
  Bertram Clewley Freeman
Birth Tuesday 13 October 1885 in Handsworth, Staffordshire
  registered in West Bromwich October-December 1885
Education Attended Gower Street School, Aston.
 

According to the 1891 census, Bertram is the ninth of ten children to Thomas Holte and Sarah Jane (née Clewley), and they live at 274 Wheeler Street in Aston. His father is a jeweller, his mother a fancy draper. They have one servant.
 

According to the 1901 census, tool maker Bertram is just the fifth eldest of six children still living with their parents at 274 Wheeler Street. With one servant, his parents are drapers.
 

His mother died some time during 1911.
According to the 1911 census, Bertram Clewley is a footballer boarding with Sarah Annie Hallam, a widow, and her two sons, living at 53 Oxton Street in Walton, Liverpool. His fellow boarder is PC George Callow, of Liverpool police.
The Midlands Electoral Registers confirm the Freeman's lived at 32 Crompton Road in Handsworth, since at least 1920, until at least 1936, but also had a property at 42 Spencer Road in West Birmingham.
Marriage to Margaret Elizabeth Whitehead, on Wednesday, 4 June 1919 at Angle Street Baptist Chapel in Burnley, Lancashire
  registered in Burnley April-June 1919
Children Bert and Margaret Freeman have two children together. Bertram Edwin (b.23 July 1922) and Margaret
  According to the 1921 census, Bertram C, an electro-plate manufacturer, is now married to Margaret and living at 32 Crompton Road in Handsworth.
Kelly's Directory of Birmingham confirm Freeman at 32 Crompton Road until at least 1936.
His father died in 1936.
  According to the 1939 register, Bertram C., still an electric plate manufacturer, and Margaret E. remain married and are living at 268 Perrywood Road in Birmingham, with their son, Bertram E.
Death Thursday, 11 August 1955 at 268 Perry Wood Road, Birmingham, Warwickshire
aged 69 years 302 days registered in Birmingham July-September 1955
Obituary
 
Funeral August 1955 at Perry Barr Crematorium, Walsall Road, Birmingham
Probate "FREEMAN Bertram Clewley of 268 Perry Wood-road Birmingham 22a died 11 August 1955 Probate Birmingham 5 September to Margaret Elizabeth Freeman widow. Effects £408 3s. 7d." [2025 equivalent: £9,298].
Source

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

Playing Career

Club(s)		 Played schoolboy football in Birmingham and turned out for Gower Street Old Boys FC, based in Aston. Where he also played for Aston Manor FC, during which he assisted the local league reserve side, that of Aston Villa FC. He was offered a professional contract in April 1904. Without playing a first team match, Woolwich Arsenal FC signed him in November 1905. Everton FC then signed Freeman in March 1908. Burnley FC bought Freeman, along with Harry Mountford for a £800 transfer fee on 13 April 1911. Freeman turned out for Birmingham FC as a guest during WW1. Following Burnley's Championship winning season, Freeman announced his intention to leave Turf Moor on 30 April 1921. He signed for Wigan Borough AFC on 27 September 1921 on a free transfer and was released by them in May 1922. Freeman played 'a few games' for Kettering Town FC in the 1923-24 season, retiring at the end of that season.

League honours
321 appearances, 200 goals		 Woolwich Arsenal FC 1905-08 44 appearances, 21 goals
debut: 25 November 1905 Nottingham Forest FC 3 Woolwich Arsenal FC 1.
Everton FC 1908-11 86 appearances, 63 goals
debut: 17 April 1908 Liverpool FC 0 Everton FC 0.
Burnley FC 1911-21 166 appearances, 103 goals
debut (division two): 15 April 1911 Burnley FC 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 1.
Wigan Borough AFC 1921-22 25 appearances, thirteen goals
debut (division three north): 1 October 1921 Grimsby Town FC 1 Wigan Borough AFC 1.
last (division three north): 15 April 1922 Wigan Borough FC 1 Barrow FC 2.

Club honours		 Football League Division One runners-up 1908-09 (37ᵃ 38ᵍ), 1919-20 (28ᵃ 12ᵍ), Champions 1920-21 (3ᵃ); Division Two third place 1911-12 (33ᵃ 32ᵍ), runners-up 1912-13 (37ᵃ 31ᵍ);
FA Cup winners 1913-14 (8ᵃ 3ᵍ);
Individual honours Football League (four appearances);
Goalscoring records Football League Top Goalscorer 1908-09 (38), 1911-12 (32), 1912-13 (31);
Distinctions His tally of 38 league goals in 1908-09 was a new record. It was not equalled until 1920-21 (Joe Smith, Bolton Wanderers), and not surpassed until 1924-25 (Ted Harper's 43, Blackburn Rovers);
Height/Weight 5' 9½", 11st. 12lbs [1909].
Source

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

England Career
Player number One of three who became the 338th players (339) to appear for England.
Position(s) Centre-forward
First match No. 100, 15 March 1909, England 2 Wales 0, a British Championship match at the City Ground, Pavilion Road, Nottingham, aged 23 years 153 days.
Last match No. 113, 23 March 1912, Scotland 1 England 1, a British Championship match at Hampden Park, Mount Florida, Glasgow, aged 26 years 162 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1908-09, 1911-12;
Team honours British Championship winners 1908-09, shared 1911-12;
Individual honours None
Distinctions None

Beyond England
Had the controlling interest in a cutlery business. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.102.


The Numbers
parties Apps comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain
9 5 5 450 3 150 min 3 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.

Bert Freeman - Match Record - All Matches - By Type of Match
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 2 2 0 0 4 0 +4 0 2 2.00 0.00 100.0 +2
Away 3 2 1 0 9 2 +7 0 1 3.00 0.667 83.3 +2
All - British Championship 5 4 1 0 13 2 +11 0 3 2.60 0.40 90.0 +4

Bert Freeman - Match Record - Tournament Matches
British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1908-09 2 2 0 0 4 0 +4 0 2 2.00 0.00 100.0 +2
BC 1911-12 3 2 1 0 9 2 +7 0 1 3.00 0.667 83.3 +2
BC All 5 4 1 0 13 2 +11 0 3 2.60 0.40 90.0 +4
All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 5 4 1 0 13 2 +11 0 3 2.60 0.40 90.0 +4
All 5 4 1 0 13 2 +11 0 3 2.60 0.40 90.0 +4

Bert Freeman - Match History
 Club: Everton F.C. - 2 full appearances

F.A. International Select Committee - 5 full capsx

Age 23
1 100 15 March 1909 - England 2 Wales 0, City Ground, Nottingham BC HW   42 cf
2 101 3 April 1909 - England 2 Scotland 0, Sports Arena, Crystal Palace HW   cf
- 102 29 May 1909 - Hungary 2 England 4, Millenáris Sportpálya, Buda-Pesth tour AW withdrew
- 103 31 May 1909 - Hungary 2 England 8, Millenáris Sportpálya, Buda-Pesth AW
- 104 1 June 1909 - Austria 1 England 8, Hohe Warte Stadion, Wien AW
 Club: Burnley F.C. - 3 full appearances  
Age 26
3 111 10 February 1912 - Ireland 1 England 6, Dalymount Park, Dublin BC AW   50 cf
4 112 11 March 1912 - Wales 0 England 2, The Racecourse, Wrexham AW   41 cf
5 113 23 March 1912 - Scotland 1 England 1, Hampden Park, Glasgow AD   cf
Age 27
- 115 17 March 1913 - England 4 Wales 3, Ashton Gate. Bedminster BC HW replacement reserve