Alf Common on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
Alfred Common (25 May 1880 in Millfield, Tyne and Wear, Millfield (Sunderland) – 3 April 1946 in Darlington) was an English footballer who played at inside forward or Forward (association football)#Centre-forward, centre forward. He is most famous for being the first player to be transferred for a fee of pounds sterling, £1,000 on his transfer to Middlesbrough from Sunderland in 1905.
__TOC__
At the age of 30, Common moved to Arsenal F.C., Woolwich Arsenal in 1910. He made his debut on 1 September 1910 against Manchester United F.C., Manchester United. After starting out at inside forward, he took on a more attacking role in his second season and was the club's top goalscorer with 17 goals in 1911-12 in English football, 1911–12, missing just two league games. However, he didn't score a single goal in the first half of the Gunners' 1912-13 in English football, 1912–13 season, before he was sold to Preston North End F.C., Preston North End in December 1912 for £250. Altogether he played 80 times and scored a sum of 23 goals for Arsenal.
At Preston, he helped the club to win the Football League Second Division, Division Two title that season, although they were relegated the following 1913-14 in English football, 1913–14 season.
Common retired from football in 1914, and went on to run public house, pubs in Darlington until 1943. He died in 1946 aged 65.
In 1998, he was selected as one of the Football League's 100 Football League Legends. His keepsakes, England caps and cup winners medals etc. were auctioned by Graham Budd Auctions in London in November 2011.
Club career
Common played for South Hylton and Jarrow in North East England before joining Sunderland A.F.C., Sunderland in 1900. Sunderland finished Football League First Division, Division One runners-up in 1900-01 in English football, 1900–01, after which Common transferred to Sheffield United F.C., Sheffield United in October 1901 for pounds sterling, £325. Neither Sunderland nor Sheffield United had cause to regret the deal in the sense that Sunderland finished as Football League First Division, Division One Champions in 1901-02 in English football, 1901–02, and Common scored the first goal in United's FA Cup Final 1902, 1902 FA Cup Final win over Southampton F.C., Southampton. Common became a regular member of Sheffield United teams, and won the first of his three Cap (sport), international caps in 1904, but in May of that year he refused to re-sign for Sheffield United F.C., United because he wished to return to Sunderland where he was reported to have 'business interests'.A Sensational Transfer. ''Sheffield United matchday programme''. 21 September 1985. Sheffield United F.C., United failed to persuade Common to change his mind and in the summer of 1904, he returned to Sunderland. The deal also took United's reserve goalkeeper Albert Lewis in return for a new record fee of around pounds sterling, £520. In February 1905, little more than six months after this move, he broke the transfer record again by moving to Middlesbrough F.C., Middlesbrough for £1,000. Middlesbrough had purchased Common in an attempt to avoid relegation to the Football League Second Division, Second Division. His first game for Middlesbrough was on 25 February 1905, away to his former club Sheffield United. Middlesbrough won 1–0, with Common scoring from a Penalty kick (association football), penalty after 50 minutes, it was their first away win for nearly two years. Consequently, the team, who had so far been battling against relegation that season, survived the drop. He played 168 english football league system, league games for Middlesbrough F.C., Boro and scored 58 goals.
At the age of 30, Common moved to Arsenal F.C., Woolwich Arsenal in 1910. He made his debut on 1 September 1910 against Manchester United F.C., Manchester United. After starting out at inside forward, he took on a more attacking role in his second season and was the club's top goalscorer with 17 goals in 1911-12 in English football, 1911–12, missing just two league games. However, he didn't score a single goal in the first half of the Gunners' 1912-13 in English football, 1912–13 season, before he was sold to Preston North End F.C., Preston North End in December 1912 for £250. Altogether he played 80 times and scored a sum of 23 goals for Arsenal.
At Preston, he helped the club to win the Football League Second Division, Division Two title that season, although they were relegated the following 1913-14 in English football, 1913–14 season.
Common retired from football in 1914, and went on to run public house, pubs in Darlington until 1943. He died in 1946 aged 65.
In 1998, he was selected as one of the Football League's 100 Football League Legends. His keepsakes, England caps and cup winners medals etc. were auctioned by Graham Budd Auctions in London in November 2011.
International career
Common won his first England national football team, England cap against Wales national football team, Wales on 29 February 1904. In all he won three caps, scoring two goals.Career statistics
Honours
;Sunderland A.F.C., Sunderland *Football League First Division, Football League Division One Runners Up Medal: 1900-01 in English football, 1900–01 ;Sheffield United F.C., Sheffield United *FA Cup: FA Cup Final 1902, 1902 ;Preston North End *Football League Second Division, Second Division: 1912-13 Football League Second Division, 1913References and notes
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Common, Alf 1880 births 1946 deaths Footballers from Sunderland English footballers Association football forwards Sunderland A.F.C. players Sheffield United F.C. players Middlesbrough F.C. players Arsenal F.C. players Preston North End F.C. players English Football League players English Football League representative players England international footballers FA Cup Final players