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Players Index Page Last Updated
19 October 2022
 
 

Alf Harvey

Wednesbury Strollers FC

1 appearance, 0 goals

P 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 F 0: A 1
0% successful

1881

captain: none
minutes played:
90

Timeline

  Alfred Harvey
Birth Saturday, 5 July 1856 in Aston, Birmingham, Warwickshire
registered as Hervey in Aston July-September 1856
Baptism Sunday, 24 August 1856 at St. Peter's & Paul's Church, Aston, ceremony performed by the Vicar, George Peake
 

According to the 1861 census, Alfred is the third child of four to Joseph Charles and Mary (née Taylor). They live in Aston village, and his father is a gun barrel borer.

 

According to the 1871 census, Alfred is a gun barrel borer, the third of nine children, living in their parents in Aston village.

 

According to the 1881 census, Alfred is still a gun barrel borer. He now lives at The Clarenden Arms, at 54 Upper Webster Street in Aston with his parents and siblings.

Marriage to Margaret Jane Jenkins, on Thursday, 26 March 1891, at St. George's Parish Church in Birmingham. Their address was stated as 54 Mott Street.
registered in Birmingham January-March 1891
 

According to the 1891 census, Alf is still a gun barrel borer, and is now married to Margaret Jane. They are living on Coventry Road in Yardley.

 

According to the 1901 census, Alfred Harvey is still a gun barrel borer, and still married, now living at 6 Park Grove in Bordesley.

 

According to the 1911 census, 54 year-old Aston-born Alfred is boarding with the American's Addicott's in Coventry. Still married, now 'Tool Stores!'! His wife is a headteacher, living at Claydon Villas, in Newbold-on-Avon in Rugby, with a single servant.
(His father died toward the end of 1915)

 

According to the 1921 census, Alfred, now a retired gun barrel borer. His wife is still a headteacher, both are still living at Claydon Villas.

  According to the 1939 register, Alfred is a retired gun barrel borer, still married to Margaret, now a retired head teacher. They live at Avondene, on the Newbold Road in Newbold-on-Avon, Rugby.
  "VILLA STAR WED 50 YEARS
"An Aston Villa star of last century, Alf Harvey has just celebrated his golden wedding at Newbold, Rugby, where he is living in retirement.
" - Saturday, 5 April 1941, Evening Dispatch
Death Friday, 26 February 1943 at The Rugby Emergency Hospital, Barby Road, Rugby, Warwickshire
aged 87 years 236 days registered in Rugby January-March 1941

Obituary

"DEATH OF MR A. HARVEY―FORMER ASTON VILLA FOOTBALLER
"One of Aston Villa's finest utility footballers of yesteryear, who played for England against Wales, Mr. Alfred Harvey, of 'Avondene,' Newbold Road, Newbold, died at Rugby Emergency Hospital last Friday. He was 86.
"Mr. Harvey began his football career as a rugger player. Born in Birmingham, he took up Rugby football with the St. Mary's Sunday School team, Aston. When the Sunday School team broke up, Moseley Rugby Club invited 'Alf' Harvey to play for them, but it was too far away from his home, and, to use his words, he took the line of least resistance and joined the Wednesday Strollers' soccer club. Next he donned the famous colours of Aston Villa, for whom he played on the old Wellington Road ground. Being a 'two-foot' man, able to kick almost equally well with either foot, 'Alf' Harvey filled varied positions, including full-back and goalkeeper. Although he never played in an English Cup final, he was a member of the English XI, which met Wales at Blackburn in 1881. At that time he was a member of the Wednesbury Strollers F.C. In 1884
Mr. Harvey gave up first-class football, and afterwards occasionally played for the old Birmingham Excelsior Club. The last time he saw a first-class game was before the Great War. He gave away a large collection of medals and cups he had won, the only memento kept being a certificate presented to him by the then Mayor of Birmingham for his work in connection with football charities in Birmingham and district.
"Mr. and Mrs. Harvey were married in Birmingham in 1890. He worked at engineering and arms factories in Birmingham and Coventry, and for many years his wife was village schoolmistress at Newbold. Both were keen Conservatives, and Mrs. Harvey was secretary of the village Conservative Association for 25 years"
-
Friday, 5 March 1943, Rugby Advertiser
Funeral
Tuesday afternoon, 2 March 1943
St. Botolph's Church in Newbold
"The funeral took place at St. Botolph's Church in Newbold, on Tuesday afternoon, where a short service, conducted by the Rural Dean, Rev. W. H. Trickett, was held. The hymn, 'Abide with me' was sung." - Friday, 5 March 1943, Rugby Advertiser
Probate "HARVEY Alfred of Avondene Newbold-on-Avon Rugby died 26 February 1943 at The Emergency Hospital Rugby Probate Llandudno 26 March to Margaret Harvey widow.
Effects £227 7s. 10d." [2019 equivalent £10,428]"
  Margaret Harvey died towards the end of 1959 in Rugby


Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], Kevin Powell &

Playing Career


Club(s)
Began playing the rugby game at St. Mary's Sunday School, but began his football career with Aston Holte Wanderes FC from January 1876 alongside his brother, Walter. He also played with Birmingham FC during his time at the Wanderers. Next to be seen playing with Wednesbury Strollers FC in January 1878. Although he missed his debut, he helped the club reach the Birmingham Cup Final. He was playing for Aston Villa FC from March 1882, overlapping with his Strollers career, which ultimately led to his expulsion from Wednesbury. He remained in the Villa line-up until a serious knee injury on 5 February 1883. He returned later in the year in Holte Villa FC colours. He was back at Aston Villa FC as a goalkeeper from February 1884 until March 1885, when a professional goalkeeper usurped his place. Harvey is not heard of again until he was playing as a full-back with Birmingham Excelsior FC from October 1886 until October 1888. Although he did take over in goal in a match in 1887.
Club honours Birmingham Cup runners-up 1877-78, winners 1883-84, 1884-85; Lord Mayor of Birmingham's Charity Cup winners 1884, runners-up 1885;
Individual honours Birmingham FA (eleven appearances, 1879-82), Staffordshire FA (one appearance, 1880)
Distinctions None
Height/Weight not known

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & Kevin Powell.

England Career

Player number One of seven who became the 81st players (82) to appear for England.
Position(s) Full-back
Only match No. 12, 26 February 1881, England 0 Wales 1, a friendly match at East Lancashire Cricket Ground, Alexandra Meadows, Blackburn, aged 24 years 236 days.
Individual honours Birmingham & District (one appearance, March 1881)
Distinctions By far (six years), the last member of the 1881 team to die.
By living an extra six days, Harvey became the oldest ex-England player at the time of his death. Reginald Welch had set the record four years previously in 1939.

Beyond England

'A clever defender, apparently, who dodges well', Evidently a gun barrel borer throughout his entire career. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.123./FindMyPast.com/Kevin Powell


The Numbers
parties Appearances minutes captain
1 1 90 0 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
1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 1 0 0 1 0 -1
His only match was a friendly match played at a home venue

Match History

 Club: Wednesbury Strollers F.C. - one full appearance (90 min) font size="2" color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial"> F.A. Committee - one full appearance (90 min)x

apps match match details comp res rundown pos

Age 24
1 12 26 February 1881 - England 0 Wales 1
East Lancashire Cricket Ground, Blackburn
Fr HL   fb
   

one of seven who became the 81st (82) players to appear for England
the only player from Wednesbury Strollers to represent England

trial  
one appearance - Birmingham & District vs. England, 5 March 1881;

   

 
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