England Football Online
Goalkeepers Index Page Last Updated
17 March 2024
 
 
Albemarle Swepstone Pilgrims FC & Corinthians FC

6 appearances, 18 goals against
two clean sheets

P 6 W 2 D 0 L 4 F 22: A 18
33% successful
1880-83

captain:
none
minutes played:
540
Timeline
Pic courtesy of SFA museum Harry Albemarle Swepstone
Birth Friday, 14 January 1859 in Dean Colet House [below left], White Horse Street, Stepney, Middlesex. This house adjoined the Workhouse
registered in Stepney January-March 1859 Stepney was in the Middlesex Registration County up until 1889.
"SWEPSTONE.―Jan. 14, at Dean Colet House, Stepney, the wife of W. H. Swepstone, Esq., of a son."- Bell's Weekly Messenger, Monday, 24 January 1859.
"He is twenty-five years of age on the 14th of January next..." - The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, Saturday, 6 October 1883.
Baptism 5 February 1862 in St. Dunstan and All Saints Church, Stepney, along with his sister, Edith Mary
Dean Colet House, birthplace of Albemarle Swepstone Education: Chigwell Grammar School
According to the 1861 census, the young Harry is the only son of William Henry and Mary (née Turner Monk). Along with two servants, they live at 1 Colot Place in Stepney.
According to the 1871 census, Harry is missing, but his parents live at Northumberland Houses at King Edward Road in Hackney.
There are no Swepstone's on the 1881 census.
Marriage to Emma Hough, on 23 March 1887, at Trinity Congregational Church, Walthamstow
registered in West Ham January-March 1897
"SWEPSTONE―HOUGH.―On March 23rd, at Trinity Congregational Church, Orford-road, Walthamstow, Harry Albemarle Swepstone, of Upper Clapton, to Emmie, youngest daughter of E. J. Hough, of Clevelands, Walthamstow. No cards." - Chelmsford Chronicle, Friday, 8 April 1887.
Children Albemarle and Emmie Swepstone had three children together. Eileen Mary (b.1888), Doris Winifred (b.1890 and Harry Eve (b.1893).
According to the 1891 census, Harry A. is a Solicitor and married to Emmie, with two daughters, Eileen and Doris, living at Huntingdon House in Seldon Road, Leyton, with two servants.
(His father died on 9 December 1894 in Hackney)
(His daughter, Doris, died in 1900 as a ten year-old)
According to the 1901 census, Harry A. is still a Solicitor and still married to Emmie, with now a son, Harry Eve, living at Highclere House, Lewisham, with two servants.
In a 1903 deed based at Surrey History Centre Archives, Harry Albemarle is living at 31 Great St Helens, London.
Death Tuesday, 7 May 1907, at 5 Raymond Buildings, Grays Inn, Holborn, London.
aged 48 years 113 days registered in Holborn April-June 1907
Funeral Friday, 11 May 1907 at Lewisham (now called Ladywell & Brockley) Cemetery with his daughter, Doris, who had died seven years previously.
Probate "SWEPSTONE Harry Albemarle Esq. of 5 Raymond-buildings Grays Inn Middlesex
        died 7 May 1907 Probate
London 30 May to Emmie Swepstone widow.

Effects £2274 12s." [2019 equivalent: £275,614].
  Emmie Swepstone died in early 1933 and is buried with her late husband and daughter
Source Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &
Playing Career

Club(s)
"In 1876-7 he was a prominent member of the Ramblers' Football Club, which was an off-shoot of the older established 'Pilgrims F.C.' At that time he usually played forward, where his dash and strength made him particularly unpleasant to opposing backs. On January 8th, 1879, he made his debut in an important match, keeping goals for Essex against Berkshire, when the latter were defeated by two goals to one.
"The dissolution of the 'Ramblers' necessitated a change of colours on the part of Mr. Swepstone, and in 1879-80 we find him playing for the Pilgrims, with which club he is still associated, having acted as its captain during the past year. On November 15, 1879, he made his first appearance for London against the Birmingham eleven. He also played for the South v. North on March 6, 1880, no goal being scored on either side.
"The next year saw him assisting London in its victories over Sheffield and Birmingham respectively, only twice allowing the the ball to pass him in the two matches.
1881-2 still found the 'Pilgrim' with plenty of employment. He played for London v. Birmingham, and v. Oxford and Cambridge, both matches resulting in drawn games. He was on the victorious side when the South beat the North by three goals to one. Last season he represented the Metropolitan Association in three matches―Sheffield, Edinburgh and Glasgow."
- The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, Saturday, 6 October 1883.
Also represented Swifts FC in 1887-90. His final appearance in goal was for the Swifts against Wednesday FC at Olive Grove
, in a FA Cup tie on 20 January 1890.
Corinthians 1882-86 (Founder member of the Corinthians FC) "It was this nimble-footed, nimble-handed goalkeeper who first christened an afterwards famous club 'The Corinthians."
Club honours None
Individual honours Essex FA (1879 vs. Berkshire FA),
London FA
(1879-82, seven appearances).
Height/Weight not known
Source Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].
England Career
Player number One of five who became the seventieth players (70) to appear for England.
Position(s) Goalkeeper; eleventh goalkeeper to appear for England
First match No. 10, 13 March 1880, Scotland 5 England 4, a friendly match at Hampden Park, Hampden Terrace, Glasgow, aged 21 years 59 days;
Last match No. 19, 10 March 1883, England 2 Scotland 3, a friendly match at Yorkshire County Cricket Ground, Bramall Lane, Highfield, Sheffield, aged 24 years 55 days;
Individual honours The Stripes (two appearances, 4ᵍᵃ, February 1879);
The South (five appearances, 2ᵍᵃ, March 1880-January 1886);
England trial (one appearance, 4ᵍᵃ, March 1881);
The Probables (one appearance, 4ᵍᵃ, March 1882);
The Gentlemen (one appearance, 2ᵍᵃ, March 1886, withdrew, January 1886);
Distinctions Between 1882 and 1887, Swepstone was England's most appearanced goalkeeper. Thus becoming the longest serving goalkeeper, 2 years 362 days, until equalled by Bob Roberts in March 1890, and broken by Billy Rose a year later.
Became just the second goalkeeper, playing a full match, to keep a clean sheet, in March 1883.
Beyond England
A solicitor by profession, admitted in 1881, he first practised at Bethnal Green from 1881-92, and then Bishopsgate. Served on the FA Committee 1883-84. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.241/2.


The Numbers
parties Appearances minutes Goals
Against
GA ave.min clean sheets clean sheet ave. captain
7 6 540 18 30 min 2 33% 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 2 0 4 22 18 +4 0 2 3.667 3 33.3 -2
All of his matches were friendly matches

Match Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 3 2 0 1 14 3 +11 0 2 4.667 1.00 66.7 +1
Away 3 0 0 3 8 15 -7 0 0 2.667 5.00 00.0 -3

Match History
 
 Club: Pilgrims F.C. - one full appearance (90 min) 5ᵍᵃ F.A. Committee - six full appearances (540 min) 18ᵍᵃx

Age 20 trial  
two appearances - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 19 & 26 February 1879;

Age 21    
one appearance - The South vs. The North, 6 March 1880;

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

1 10 13 March 1880 - Scotland 5 England 4
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Fr AL 5ᵍᵃ
cs: 36min
gk
    

one of five who became the seventieth (70) players to appear for England
the only Pilgrim to represent England
the eleventh goalkeeper to play for England

 Clubs: Pilgrims F.C. & Corinthians F.C. - five full appearances (450 min) 13ᵍᵃ  

Age 22 trial  
two appearances - The North vs. The South, 19 February 1881; Birmingham & District vs. England, 5 March 1881;

13 12 March 1881 - England 1 Scotland 6, The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington Fr HL reserve
   

Age 23 trial  
two appearances - The South vs. The North, 28 January 1882; The Improbables vs. The Probables, 4 March 1882.

2 15 11 March 1882 - Scotland 5 England 1
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Fr AL 5ᵍᵃ gk

the fourth Corinthian to represent England
the eleventh goalkeeper to play for England - youngest since 1872
the first goalkeeper to concede eight, nine, then ten goals for England

MST GK APS 13 March 1882 - Wales 5 England 3
The Racecourse, Wrexham
Fr AL 5ᵍᵃ
cs: 43min
gk
3 16

the first goalkeeper to make three England appearances
the first goalkeeper to concede eleven to fifteen goals for England

Age 24 trial  
one appearance - The North vs. The South, 15 January 1883.

4 17 3 February 1883 - England 5 Wales 0
The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington
Fr HW   gk

the first goalkeeper to make four England appearances
created a new clean sheet record of 91 minutes

5 18 24 February 1883 - England 7 Ireland 0
Liverpool Cricket Ground, Liverpool
Fr HW   gk

the first goalkeeper to make five England appearances
extended his clean sheet record to 181 minutes

6 19 10 March 1883 - England 2 Scotland 3
Yorkshire Cricket Ground, Sheffield
Fr HL 3ᵍᵃ
cs: 203min
gk
    

the first goalkeeper to make six England appearances
the first goalkeeper to concede sixteen to eighteen goals for England
extended his clean sheet record to 203 minutes
will hold the most goalkeeper appearance record until 1887
will hold the clean sheet records (2 matches & 203 minutes) also until 1887

Age 27 trial  
withdrew - The Players vs. The Gentlemen, 16 January 1886;
two appearances - The South vs. The North, 30 January 1886;
The Gentlemen vs. The Players, 20 March 1886.

  

 
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