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Alf
Shelton |
Notts County FC
6 appearances, 0 goals
P 6 W 5 D
1 L 0 F 20: A 6
92% successful
1889-92
captain: none
minutes played: 540 |
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 |
|
Timeline |
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Alfred Shelton |
|
Birth |
Tuesday, 12 September 1865 in Sneinton,
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire |
|
|
registered in Nottingham October-December 1865 |
|
Baptism |
Sunday, 10 November 1872 at St.
Nicholas' Church,
Nottingham, alongside his brother Charles. |
|
|
According to the
1871 census, Charles, and his young brother, Alfred, are the two youngest
sons of four sons to Robert and Hannah (née Boultby). His father is a greengrocer and
they live at 11 Orchard Street in the Castle area of Nottingham. His older
brother, Cecil, is blind in one eye following an accident. |
|
|
According to the
1881 census, the family of six, including Charles and Alfred, and one
servant, live at 4 Castle Street in the Sneinton area of Nottingham. His
father is a shopkeeper and all of the sons work with him.
(His mother
died in early 1887) |
|
|
According to the 1891
census, Alfred, now a professional football player, remains at home with
his widowed father at 25 Castle Street. His
father is a provision dealer. They have one lodger, James Attenborough, a
gardener.
(His father died in later 1892) |
|
Marriage |
to Ada Calvert Farmer
in 1892 in Nottingham. |
|
|
registered in Nottingham July-September 1892 |
|
Children |
Alf and Ada Shelton had two children
together. Ethel Elsie (b.1894), another died in their
youth. |
|
|
According to the 1901
census, Alfred is married to Ada and they have one daughter, Ethel.
He is a licensed victualler living at The Craven Arms, 108 Woodborough
Road in Nottingham with one servant.
Shelton took the tenancy on 24
June 1892. |
|
|
According to the 1911
census, Alfred remains married to Ada, and they still have one daughter.
They have lost another child during childhood. He is still a licensed
victualler at The General Gordon on London Road, Nottingham. |
"ALF
FAILS AS A PUBLICAN
"Alfred Shelton, the old
Notts and international footballer,
came up for his public examination at the Nottingham Bankruptcy Court
today, before the Registrar (Mr R.H. Beaumont). Replying
to Mr. E. Wynne Humphreys, the Official Receiver, debtor stated that his
liabilities were £351, and his assets only
£15. Up to 1906 he
was a professional footballer. He earned £160 or
£170 a year
during some portion of his career, and latterly
£120 or
£130.
He never earned as much as £5 per week. After giving up football, he
started in business at Craven Arms Inn, Woodborough Road, his capital
being £150 or
£160. He was there about ten years and lost
money during the last two. He next went to the Crescent Inn, Ryeland
Crescent, and subsequently to the Rifleman, Kirke White Street, where he
incurred the majority of his debts. He was next temporary manager of the
General Gordon, London Road, and he had latterly managed the Park Tavern,
Elliott Street, Radford. None of his ventures in the public house
business were successful. He admitted that he had continued in business
after realising that he was insolvent. Asked to what he attributed his
failure, Shelton said his wife had been ill off and on, for three months."
- The Nottingham Evening Post, Friday, 9 August 1912.
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|
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According to the 1921
census, Alfred, a crane driver for Cammell Laird, remains married, and
with one daughter, Ethel they live at 5 Bridge Grove in West Bridgford. |
"PROLONGED
UNCONSCIOUSNESS―SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO A NOTTS. INTERNATIONAL.
"Alfred Shelton, the old
Notts. County international football
player, met with a serious accident on Saturday. He has been working at
Cammell Laird's for some time as a crane driver, and was following his
occupation on Saturday morning when he is supposed to have turned dizzy.
He fell off a ladder on to the crane, and sustained injuries to the head
and shoulders. He was removed in an unconscious condition to the General
Hospital, and no change in his condition had taken place up to this
morning"
- The Nottingham Evening Post, Monday,
23 July 1923. |
|
Death |
Tuesday afternoon, 24 July 1923 in Nottingham General Hospital,
King Charles Street, Park Row, Nottingham, Nottinghamsire |
|
aged
57 years 317 days |
registered in Nottingham July-September 1923 |
|
Obituary |
"DEATH
OF AN OLD INTERNATIONAL
"The death occurred on Tuesday afternoon at Nottingham General Hospital of
Mr Alfred Shelton, a former notable Association football player and for
many years a leading member of the Notts County Football Club team. He
played for England in seven international matches, being one of the
cleverest left half backs in the country. He was a member of the Notts XI.
in 1894, when at Fallowfield, they beat Bolton Wanderers by four goals to
one in the final for the Cup."
-
The Daily Mail, Wednesday, 25 July 1923 .
"A
FORMER NOTTS. FOOTBALLER'S DEATH IN HOSPITAL
"Alfred Shelton, a former Notts. County footballer, who met with an
accident whilst following his employment as a crane driver at Messrs.
Cammell, Lairds works, Nottingham, on Saturday, died as the result of his
injuries in the General Hospital yesterday afternoon. He never regained
consciousness. Though little known to those who now take an interest in
football, Alf. Shelton in his day enjoyed great popularity. He was
undoubtedly a brilliant half wing-back, and rendered splendid service to
Notts. His judgment was seldom at fault, he tackled fearlessly, and fed
his forwards with admirable skill. In defence he was a tower of strength,
his head work especially being fine, and he prevented many a goal being
scored against his side. He and his two brothers, who also played
football, originally belonged to the old Notts. Rangers' Club. Alfred
joined Notts. County in the later '80's, and was a member for a long
number of years. He was in the County side which won the Association Cup
in 1894, defeating Bolton Wanderers at Goodison Park, In international
games he played against Ireland in 1889, Wales 1889-90-91, and Scotland
1890-91-92. He also figured in the trial match between North and South in
1891."
- The Nottingham Evening Post, Wednesday, 25 July 1923 . |
Funeral
Friday, 27 July 1923
Nottingham Church
Cemetery |
|
"There was a large attendance at the funeral
at the Nottingham Church Cemetery to-day of Mr. Alfred Shelton, for many
years a member of the Notts. County Football Club,
being one of the side to win the Cup in 1894, and also an international,
who died on Tuesday as the result of injuries sustained in an accident
while at work. The chief family mourners were the widow and daughter.
Among those present at the graveside, where the ceremony was conducted by
the Rev. E. E. B. Jupp (Vicar of Christ Church, Radford)." -
The Nottingham Evening Post, Friday, 27 July 1923 . |
| |
His older brother Charlie Shelton died
18 September 1955 |
|
Source |
 Douglas Lammings' An
English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & |
|
Playing Career |
Club(s) |
"Alfred, the youngest of the
[four brothers],
commenced playing football very young, and when only twelve years of age
held the proud position of captain of a junior team. He quickly developed
into a healthy strong lad, and joined the old South Notts. Club. Charles
and Alfred played together with this club, but the object of this notice
was then a dashing left wing forward. Castle Rovers, another strong team,
next welcomed the coming champion to their ranks, and with this club
Shelton remained till he went to the once famous Notts. Rangers. Shelton's
introduction into the team was a curious one. The Rangers had to play
Chesterfield Spital at Chesterfield on a muddy water-covered field.
Rangers, who on the game commencing, were a man short. Alf had accompanied
the team for the purpose of witnessing the game, but seeing Rangers in
difficulty, he took the field just as he was, without football kit, but
though he got his suit of clothes spoiled in mind, his play was such a
character that he was at once invited to join the Rangers. He played
forward for some time, and then a vacancy requiring to be filled at
half-back, he took the position, and performed so well that he has never
since changed his position. He was with the Rangers about six years.
Several times Notts. and Forest had to be faced, generally to the
discomfiture of the Rangers, but in the latter end of the 1887-8 season,
the Rangers succeeded in beating Notts. by 8 goals to 0, and Shelton being
particularly conspicuous, he was invited to join the premier club. He did
so next season." - Nottingham Daily Express, Wednesday, 20
December 1893
On 4 May 1892, Shelton had agreed to captain
Liverpool FC for £250 per year for the next three years. However, his
directors refused to sanction the transfer. Instead, Notts got Shelton the
business he wanted, and he re-signed the following month, Joined Loughborough
AFC
on 8
December 1896 and Heanor Town FC in 1897. He
was reinstated as an amateur a year later. |
League History
210 appearances, 6 goals |
Notts County FC
1888-96 195 appearances, five goals.
debut: 15 September 1888 Everton FC 2 Notts County FC 1.
Loughborough FC 1896-97 fifteen appearances,
one goal.
debut (second division): 12 December 1896 Loughborough FC 8
Woolwich Arsenal FC 0.
last (second division): 19 April 1897 Burton
Wanderers FC 0 Loughborough FC 1. |
|
Club honours |
FA Cup
runners-up 1890-91, winners
1893-94;
Football
League Division Two
runners-up 1894-95; |
|
Individual honours |
North vs. South (1891);
Alf Shelton's benefit match was played on Thursday, 21
December 1893, between Notts County FC and Everton FC, it ended scoreless.
Johnny Goodall refereed. |
|
Height/Weight |
5' 8½", 11st, 10lb [1890],
5'
8", 11st. 7lbs [1891] |
|
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An English
Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & ENFA. |
|
England Career |
|
Player number |
One
of nine who became the 157th players
(161)
to appear for England. |
|
Position(s) |
Left-half |
|
First match |
No. 36, 2 March 1889, England 6 Ireland 1, a
British Championship match at Anfield Road, Anfield, Liverpool, aged 23 years
171 days. |
Last match
3 years 31 days |
No. 46, 2 April 1892, Scotland 1 England 4, a
British Championship match at Ibrox Park, Copland Road, Glasgow, aged
26 years 203 days. |
|
Major tournaments |
British Championship 1888-89, 1889-90, 1890-91, 1891-92; |
|
Team honours |
British Championship shared 1889-90, winners 1890-91,
1891-92; |
|
Individual honours |
The
Whites (two appearances, March 1890-March 1891)
The North
(one appearance, January 1891) |
|
Distinctions |
Youngest
brother of Charlie Shelton |
|
Beyond England |
|
Appointed a Notts County FC director
in January 1900. Preston North End's trainer from 8 August 1912, for only a couple of weeks
until he resigned on 5 September 1912. Latterly employed at Cammell
Laird's works in Nottingham -
An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who.
Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.222. |
|
The Numbers |
|
parties |
Appearances |
comp. apps |
minutes |
 |
captain |
|
8 |
6 |
6 |
540 |
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 |
|
6 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
20 |
6 |
+14 |
0 |
0 |
3.333 |
1 |
91.7 |
+5 |
|
All of his matches were played in the British Championship
competition |
Venue Record
|
Venue |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS
|
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
Home |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
3 |
+9 |
0 |
0 |
4.00 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+3 |
|
Away |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
3 |
+5 |
0 |
0 |
2.667 |
1.00 |
83.3 |
+2 |
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 |
6 |
1 |
+5 |
0 |
0 |
6.00 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
|
BC 1889-90 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
+2 |
0 |
0 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
75.0 |
+1 |
|
BC 1890-91 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
+4 |
0 |
0 |
3.00 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+2 |
|
BC 1891-92 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
+3 |
0 |
0 |
4.00 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
|
BC All |
6 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
20 |
6 |
+14 |
0 |
0 |
3.333 |
1.00 |
91.7 |
+5 |
|
All Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
BC |
6 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
20 |
6 |
+14 |
0 |
0 |
3.333 |
1.00 |
91.7 |
+5 |
|
6 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
20 |
6 |
+14 |
0 |
0 |
3.333 |
1 |
91.7 |
+5 |
Match History
|
apps |
match |
match details |
comp |
res. |
rundown |
pos |
|
|
England
Football Online