Albert James Aldridge (4 August 1863 – 22 June 1891) was an English

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...

who played as a full back. He was born in Walsall, won the FA Cup in

1888 In Germany, 1888 is known as the Year of the Three Emperors. Currently, it is the year that, when written in Roman numerals, has the most digits (13). The next year that also has 13 digits is the year 2388. The record will be surpassed as late ...

and played twice for the England national team.

Career

Aldridge started his career as a youth player at hometown club Walsall Swifts, where he spent six seasons (five as a youth player and one as a senior player). He played in nine FA Cup ties and scored one goal, in a third round win over Mitchell St George's in January 1885. In March 1886 Aldridge moved to West Bromwich Albion where he earned his first cap for England in a

British Home Championship The British Home Championship * sco, Hame Internaitional Kemp * gd, Farpais lìg eadar-nàiseanta * cy, Pencampwriaeth y Pedair Gwlad, name=lang (historically known as the British International Championship or simply the International Champio ...

match against Ireland in Belfast. He had great success in the FA Cup while at West Bromwich Albion, helping them reach the final in 1887, and to win the trophy in

by beating the much-fancied

Preston North End Preston North End Football Club, commonly referred to as Preston, North End or PNE, is a professional football club in Preston, Lancashire, England, who currently play in the EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football league syste ...

in the final. Despite his cup heroics, Aldridge moved back to the newly merged

Walsall Town Swifts Walsall Football Club is a professional association football club based in the town of Walsall, West Midlands, England. The team competes in , the fourth tier of the English football league system. The club's nickname, "The Saddlers", reflects ...

during that summer. He played in 13 matches in the Midland Association for the "Saddlers" in 1888–89 and earned his second, and final, England cap in a match against Ireland in the British Home Championship at Anfield. Aldridge was the second player to play for England while at Walsall, after Alf Jones who appeared for the national side while playing for Walsall Swifts in 1882.

Season 1889–90

In August 1889 Aldridge joined

Aston Villa Aston Villa Football Club is a professional football club based in Aston, Birmingham, England. The club competes in the , the top tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1874, they have played at their home ground, Villa Park ...

, where he made 17 appearances in the

Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in the world. It was the top-level football league in Engla ...

as Villa finished eighth. His club and League debut was on 7 September 1889 at Wellington Road, Perry Barr, when Burnley were the visitors. The ''Cricket and Football Field'' of 7 September reported on the match. It was 1–1 at half-time and 2–2 at full-time. Aldridge played at left-back. Aldridge got a couple of mentions as he did some good defensive work. His last match was on 28 December 1889 when Villa travelled to the County Ground, Derby. Aldridge played in a less familiar position, right-back. Aston Villa lost 5-0. The "poor health" referred to in Matthews' book meant he missed the rest of the season. Villa kept Aldridge on the books until April 1891, a few months before he died.

Death

Aldridge died on 22 June 1891 at his home in Walsall, due to poor health. He was only 27 years old.

Honours

West Bromwich Albion * FA Cup winner:

* FA Cup runner-up:

1887 Events January–March * January 11 – Louis Pasteur's anti-rabies treatment is defended in the Académie Nationale de Médecine, by Dr. Joseph Grancher. * January 20 ** The United States Senate allows the Navy to lease Pearl Har ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Aldridge, Albert 1863 births 1891 deaths Footballers from Walsall English men's footballers England men's international footballers Men's association football fullbacks Walsall F.C. players Aston Villa F.C. players West Bromwich Albion F.C. players English Football League players