Alf Shelton

Alfred Shelton (11 September 1865 – 24 July 1923) was an English international footballer, who played as a left half. His brother Charles was also a professional footballer.

Alf Shelton
Personal information
Date of birth (1865-09-11)11 September 1865
Place of birth Nottingham, England
Date of death 24 July 1923(1923-07-24) (aged 57)
Place of death Nottingham, England
Playing position(s) Left half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Notts Rangers
1888–1896 Notts County 195 (5)
1896–1897 Loughborough 15 (1)
1897–1900 Ilkeston Town
Total 210 (6)
National team
1889–1892 England 6 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Born in Nottingham, Shelton played for Notts Rangers, Notts County, Loughborough and Ilkeston Town,[1] and earned six caps for England between 1889 and 1892.[2]

Early career

Alf Shelton was one of three brothers – Harry and Charlie Shelton the others – who did so much for Nottingham football. Alf was educated at St. Nicholas School, which he left to join Notts Rangers. He signed in 1884. When the club collapsed in 1888 he, along with other members, threw in their lot with "The Magpies", the nickname for Notts County. He signed in August 1888. A wing half with exceptional stamina, he was a difficult player to get past. He also excelled in heading, often getting his head in the way of goal-bound shots. NOTE: The Dykes book claims that Alf Shelton left Notts Rangers and signed for Notts County because Notts Rangers collapsed. Wikipedia and Football Club History Database show that Notts Rangers played in the 1888–89 and 1889–90 FA Cup competitions and took part in the first season, 1889–90, of the Midland League.[3][4]

1888–89 season

Alf Shelton, playing at wing–half, made his Notts County & League debut on 8 September 1888 at Anfield, the then home of Everton. Notts County lost to the home team 2–1. Alf Shelton appeared in 21 of the 22 League matches played by Notts County in season 1888–89. 21 appearances was the record for a Notts County player in season 1888–89. As a wing–half (21 appearances ) he played in a Notts County midfield that achieved big (three–League–goals–in–a–match–or–more) wins on two separate occasions.[5]

1889 onwards

Alf Shelton appeared in both of Notts County' two FA Cup Finals and won six England caps, and in 1892 was offered the opportunity to captain the newly formed Liverpool club. Despite what constituted a most generous offer at the time (£250) per annum he was not tempted to leave the Magpies. He played for Notts County from 1888–1896 and then moved to League Division 2 club, Loughborough. He only stayed with Loughborough for the one season, 1896–1897. He signed for Ilkeston Town in July 1897. Ilkeston Town competed in the Midland League and the FA Cup. One of their two best cup runs was in 1897-1898 when they reached the 5th Qualifying Round. It is not known whether Shelton played in that Cup run but he was on their books as a player.[6][7]

End of career

Ilkeston Town folded in 1900 and it is assumed that is when Shelton retired as a player. In the same year he returned to Notts County as a Director on the Club' Board. He was on the County Board until 1910. He died in tragic circumstances on 24 July 1923. It is not recorded whether he worked at the Royal Ordnance Factory, but he was on site and was killed when a crane collapsed onto him. In one source the factory is described as a Cammell Laird factory. The factory was opened by H. M. Government in 1916 as a Royal Ordnance Factory to manufacture shells for the Western Front. Cammell Laird built the factory and managed it on behalf of HM Government. In the year Shelton met his fatal accident the site had been bought outright by Cammell Laird and the site was used to make railway goods wagons.[8]

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References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. SoccerData. p. 236. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
  2. Alf Shelton at Englandstats.com
  3. Dykes, Garth (2005). Meadow Lane Men The Complete Who's Who of Notts County. Yore Publications. p. 239. ISBN 0 9547830 6 9.
  4. "Football Club History Database". Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  5. "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 18 February 2018. (registration & fee required)
  6. "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 18 February 2018. (registration & fee required)
  7. Dykes, Garth (2005). Meadow Lane Men The Complete Who's Who of Notts County. Yore Publications. p. 239. ISBN 0 9547830 6 9.
  8. Dykes, Garth (2005). Meadow Lane Men The Complete Who's Who of Notts County. Yore Publications. p. 239. ISBN 0 9547830 6 9.

Alf Shelton at Englandstats.com

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