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Players Index Page Last Updated
8 December 2022
 
 

Albert Shepherd

Bolton Wanderers FC, Newcastle United FC

2 appearances, 2 goals (1 on his debut)

P 2 W 1 D 0 L 1 F 3: A 3
50% successful

1906-11

captain: none
minutes played:
180

Timeline

  Albert Shepherd
Birth 10 December 1885 in Great Lever, Lancashire [registered in Bolton, December 1885].

According to the 1891 census, Albert is the youngest of three children to Thomas and Martha (née Sewell), and they live at 45 Rishton Lane in Great Lever, His father is a cotton spinner.

According to the 1901 census, Albert is still the youngest member of the family, and the five of them are now living at 21 Luton Street in Great Lever. His father is a cotton spinner operative.

Baptism 31 March 1902 at St. Mark's Church, Bolton-le-Moors, by G.E.Tamley. Occupation stated as card tenter, and living at 21 Luton Street
Marriage to Mary Ellen Harwood on 29 May 1906 at Holy Trinity Chuch, Bolton [registered in Bolton, June 1906]. Living at 1 Cunliffe Terrace.

According to the 1911 census, Albert is a professional footballer married to Mary Ellen, they have one daughter, Millicent Martha. They live at 29 Lavender Gardensin Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne. Another child had tragically died.

  "Albert Shepherd, the international, Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United, and Bradford City centre-forward, has expressed his intention of retiring from first-class football. He has made arrangements to become a licensed victualler at Bolton, his native town, and he may occasionally assist the Wanderers this season." - Thursday, 11 November 1915, Sheffield Independent

According to the 1921 census, Albert, now a licensee, is still married and with their daughter, one servant and his wife's sister and niece, now live at the Crown & Cushion at 12 Mealhouse Lane in Bolton.

Death Friday morning, 8 November 1929 at the Crown & Cushion Inn, 12 Mealhouse Lane, Bolton, aged 44 years 59 days [registered in Bolton, December 1929].

Obituary

"ALBERT SHEPHERD DEAD—FAMOUS CENTRE-FORWARD
"ALBERT SHEPHERD, the old Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United, and English international centre-forward, died at the Crown and Cushion Hotel, Bolton, of which he was the licensee, yesterday morning.
Shepherd joined Bolton Wanderers in 1904, and was transferred to Newcastle United in 1908. While with Newcastle he sustained a serious accident, and was out of the game for some time, but later joined Bradford City. He appeared for England against Scotland in 1905, scoring the only goal of the match, and against Ireland in 1911; and also for the English League v. Scottish League in 1906, when he scored four goals. Shepherd was 44 years of age, and had been ill for some time. Shepherd was still in his 'teens when he gained his first 'cap' against Scotland, and then only secured his place through the breakdown of Vivian Woodward. From being almost a rusher, Shepherd mellowed into a much more accomplished forward. He always got plenty of power into his drives, and kept his brilliant shooting powers to the end of his career". 
- Saturday, 9 November 1929, The Scotsman/Daily Herald
Funeral Interred 12 November at Christ Church, Blackburn Road, Walmsley. Attended by hundreds. Joe Smith, Bert Baverstock, Ted Vizard, Will Jennings, George Eccles and James Seddon acted as the bearers.
Probate Left £705 12s. 1d. to his widow, Mary Ellen. [2018 equivalent - £31,313]

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], lan-opc, Andrew Clark (great, great grandson) &

Playing Career

Club(s) Played schoolboy football for Bolton and played for Sunday School side, St. Mark's FC. Whilst he was playing with Bolton Temperance FC, he signed amateur forms with Blackburn Rovers FC but was allowed to leave after a season after not breaking into the first team. He then signed professional forms with Bolton Wanderers FC in 1902, and was allowed to assist Bolton St Luke's FC in the Lancashire Combination, until he made his first-class debut in November 1904. Signed for Newcastle United FC on 26 November 1908 for a £1650 transfer fee. He missed the 1911-12 season because of a ruptured muscle injury. After prolonged negotiations, Shepherd finally joined Bradford City AFC on 10 July 1914 for a £1750 fee. Shepherd retired from playing during WW1.
Club honours Football League Division Two runners-up 1904-05; Division One Champions 1908-09; FA Charity Shield winners 1909; FA Cup winners 1909-10, runners-up 1910-11 (missed the final because of injury);
Individual honours Football League (two appearances, scored four goals on his debut in 1906); Top Goalscorer Football League Division One (25 in 1910-11)
Distinctions Became the first player to score a penalty in the FA Cup Final
  "ALBERT SHEPHERD FINED.
"The Emergency Committee of the Football Association have fined Shepherd, Newcastle United, £5 for leaving the field without permission during the match against Woolwich Arsenal."
- Monday, 18 April 1910, Daily Telegraph
  "ALBERT SHEPHERD IN TROUBLE AT TOTTENHAM.
"The goalless game at Tottenham between Spurs and Bradford City was almost completely spoilt by an unusual incident twenty minutes from the start. For a heavy charge on Walden, McIlvenny was sent off the field. Albert Shepherd, the well-known Bolwon Wanderers and Newcastle United centre-forward, apparently resented the referee's action, and remonstrated excitedly with the referee, with the result that Mr. Gilroy (Sunderland), who was in charge of the game, sent him to keep McIlvenny company in the dressing-room. Thus the Valley Paraders were left with nine men, and in consequence, played with three forwards. Despite the fact that the were defencding for nearly the whole of the game, the City kept Tottenham from scoring." - Monday, 18 January 1915, Birmingham Gazette.
Height/Weight 12st. 7lbs [1908]. 5' 8", 12st. 6lbs [1910].

Source

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

England Career

Player number One of three who became the 318th players (319) to appear for England.
Position(s) Centre-forward
First match No. 88, 7 April 1906, Scotland 2 England 1, a British Championship match at Hampden Park, Mount Florida, Glasgow, aged 20 years 209 days. 81 min
Last match No. 108, 11 February 1911, England 2 Ireland 1, a British Championship match at Baseball Ground, Shaftesbury Crescent, Derby, aged 25 years 154 days. 20 min
Major tournaments British Championship 1905-06, 1910-11;
Team honours British Championship shared 1905-06, winners 1910-11;
Individual honours None
Distinctions Died eleven days after Bob Roberts

Beyond England

Appointed manager of the Royal Court Billiards Room in 1913. Latterly a licensee in Bolton, namely the Crown & Cushion Hotel. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.222.


The Numbers
Parties Appearances comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain
2 2 2 180 2 90 min 2 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 1 0 1 3 3 =0 0 0 1.50 1.50 50.0 =0

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 2 1 +1 0 0 2.00 1.00 100.0 +1
Away 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0 0 1.00 2.00 0.00 -1

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1905-06 1 0 0 1 1 2 -1 0 0 1.00 2.00 0.00 -1
BC 1910-11 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 0 0 2.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC All 2 1 0 1 3 3 =0 0 0 1.50 1.50 50.0 =0

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 2 1 0 1 3 3 =0 0 0 1.50 1.50 50.0 =0
2 1 0 1 3 3 =0 0 0 1.50 1.50 50.0 =0

Match History

 Club: Bolton Wanderers F.C. - one full appearance (90 min), one goal

F.A. International Select Committee - two full appearances (180 min)x

Age 20
1 88 7 April 1906 - Scotland 2 England 1, Hampden Park, Glasgow BC AL Start 81 cf
  

 Club: Newcastle United F.C. - one full appearance (90 min), one goal  

Age 25
2 108 11 February 1911 - England 2 Ireland 1, Baseball Ground, Derby BC HW Start 20 cf
  

Notes

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CG