Albert Horace Colclough (3 November 1888 – 25 May 1976) was an English international footballer, who played as a

left back In the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield position whose primary role is to stop attacks during the game and prevent the opposition from scoring. Centre-backs are usually positioned in pairs, with one full-back on either s ...

. He played his club football for Crewe Alexandra and Crystal Palace in the years immediately prior to World War I. His playing career was ended by injuries received during the war after which he became a trainer for Dutch side

Heracles Almelo Heracles Almelo is a Dutch professional football club based in Almelo, founded in 1903. The club has won the Dutch national title twice, in 1927 and 1941. Heracles won the Eerste Divisie title during the 2004–05 season, gaining promotion to th ...

Playing career

Colclough started his playing career at Crewe Alexandra, then playing in the Birmingham & District League, signing professional papers in August 1910. After two "impressive" seasons at Crewe, he moved south to join Crystal Palace of the Southern League in 1912. The 1912–13 club handbook said of him: "''This back is new to the Palace, coming from Crewe Alexandra, through whose ranks many good footballers have passed. He plays right or left back.''"Crystal Palace handbook: 1912–13 The following year, the handbook added: "''very few, if any, better backs have been associated with Crewe Alexandra, and he rendered yeoman service. His strong kicking and accurately-timed rushes serve him well.''" He quickly became an established member of the side and earned three call-ups in inter-League matches as well as being selected for the Home Championship match against Wales on 16 March 1914. The match finished 2–0 to England. He was Crystal Palace's first player to be selected for England international honours.

Later career

Colclough's professional playing career finished at the end of the 1914–15 season, when league football was ended by the First World War. During the war he suffered a leg injury that prevented him resurrecting his career after the cessation of hostilities. Sources vary as to the cause of his injury; Graham Betts, in his "''England, Player by Player''" says that he was injured playing football for the Army, whereas Dutch sources claim that he suffered a gunshot wound to his leg. In August 1920, he was appointed first-team coach at Dutch club

where he remained until 1932. During his time at the club, Colclough was known as "''d'n trainer met 'n poot ''" ("''the trainer with the leg''") because of his war-wound. He improved the club's professional outlook and introduced weekly discussions on tactics.

References

External links

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Club career details
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History of Heracles Almelo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Colclough, Horace 1888 births People from Tunstall, Staffordshire 1976 deaths English footballers England international footballers Crystal Palace F.C. players English Football League players Crewe Alexandra F.C. players Southern Football League players Heracles Almelo managers Association football defenders English football managers English expatriate football managers British Army personnel of World War I English expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands Expatriate football managers in the Netherlands