England Football Online
Players Index Page Last Updated
17 March 2024
 
 
Alf Lyttelton Cambridge University AFC & Old Etonians AFC

1 appearance, 1 goal on debut

P 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 F 1: A 3
0% successful

1877

captain: none
minutes played:
90

Timeline

  Right Honourable Alfred Lyttelton KC/QC, MA (Cantab), MP.
Birth Saturday, 7 February 1857 at St. James' Square in Westminster, Middlesex
  registered unnamed in St James January-March 1857
"London―On the 7th inst., in St. James'-square, Lady LYTTELTON, of a son." - Leeds Intelligencer, Saturday, 14 February 1857.
Hagley Hall, the family home of the Lyttelton's "DEATH OF LADY LYTTELTON.―Lady Lyttelton died at an early hour on Tuesday morning, at Hagley Hall, Worcestershire. The deceased lady was second daughter of the late Sir Stephen Glynne, Bart., and sister to the present Baronet and Mrs. W. E. Gladstone. She was married to Lord Lyttelton in 1839, and leaves issue twelve sons and daughters." - Bath Chronicle & Weekly Gazette, Thursday, 20 August 1857.
According to the 1861 census, Alfred is the youngest of nine children to George W. and the deceased Mary (née Glynne). They have ten servants. His father is the Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire. They live at Hagley Hall (left), but in this return, they are at 80 Marine Parade in Brighton.
According to the 1871 census, Edward has a new stepmother, Sybella Harriet, and a new half-sister, Sarah R. They all still live at Hagley Hall in Hagley, Bromsgrove, with fifteen servants. His father is a Peer. Alfred is a student at Eton College.
(His father died 19 April 1876)
According to the 1881 census, is a student of the inner temple, Hon. Alfred is visiting Eton College.
First marriage to Laura Mary Octavia Tennant, on 21 May 1885, at St. George's Church, Hanover Square
  registered in St George Hanove Square April-June 1885
St. George's Church in Hanover Square"The marriage of the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, youngest son of the late Lord Lyttelton, with Laura, fourth daughter of Mr. Chas. Tennant, M.P. for Peebles-shire, took place yesterday in St. George's Church, Hanover-square. The bridegroom was attended by his brother, the Hon. and Rev. Edward Lyttelton, as best man; [there were] eight bridesmaids. The bride arrived shortly after half-past eleven, with her father, her conducted her to the altar, and subsequently gave her away. The Rev. Henry Scott Holland officiated, assisted by the Hon. and Rev. Arthur Lyttelton, Master of Selwyn College, Cambridge. On leaving the church the wedding party proceeded to Mr. and Mrs. Tennant's residence in Grosvenor-square, where breakfast was served to a party of more than 300 guests. Mr. Gladstone, accompanied by Mrs. Gladstone, arrived from Downing-street at half past one o'clock, when the whole of the company had assembled. The Prime Minister availed himself of the opportunity of proposing the only toast drunk―'The Happiness of the young Married Couple,' which he did in a few eloquent sentences which elicited cordial applause. At ten minutes past two the Hon. Alfred and Mrs. Lyttelton took their departure for Melchet Court, Louisa Lady Ashburton's place near Romsey, Hants." - London Evening Standard, Friday, 22 May 1885.
Children Alfred and Laura Lyttelton had one son together. Alfred Christopher (b.17 April 1886)
"BIRTHS


"DEATHS
...LYTTELTON.―On Saturday, April 17, at 4, Upper Brook-street, the Hon. Mrs Alfred Lyttelton, of a son." - Worcestershire Chronicle, Saturday, 24 April 1886.
  
...At 2 Upper Brook-Street, London, on 24th inst., LAURA, wife of the Honourable ALFRED LYTTELTON, and daughter of Sir CHARLES TENNANT, Bart., M.P., of the Glen, Peeblesshire." - The Scotsman, Tuesday, 27 April 1886.
   
"The body of the Hon. Mrs Alfred Lyttelton was removed from her residence in Upper Brook Street on Tuesday night, and conveyed by the night mail to Scotland, where the funeral took place on Wednesday shortly after noon in the churchyard of Taquair, near Peebles." - Western Daily Press, Friday, 30 April 1886.
(Laura died 24 April 1886 after giving birth to their only son, Alfred Christopher, then died on 19 May 1888, aged just two years)
Not on the 1891 census
, possibly visiting Russia.
In the February, Lyttelton is stated as living at 4 Green Street, Grosvenor Square, in receipt of £400.
"ENGAGEMENTS MR ALFRED LYTTELTON, who is the nephew by marriage of Mr Gladstone, is, it is stated, engaged to be married to Miss Balfour, sister of Mr Arthur Balfour, and niece of Lord Salisbury." - Edinburgh Evening News, Monday, 29 February 1892.
Second marriage to Edith Sophy Balfour, on 17 April 1892, at the British Consulate in San Remo, North-western Italy.
no registration found
"THE marriage of the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton to Miss Edith Balfour was celebrated at the British vice Consulate at San Remo yesterday. This is the first occasion on which a wedding has taken place at the British vice-Consulate at San Remo." - Aberdeen Evening Express, Monday, 18 April 1892/Cheltenham Chronicle, Saturday, 23 April 1892.
Children Alfred and Edith Lyttelton had three children together. Oliver (b.15 March 1893), Mary Frances (b.1 July 1895) and Anthony George (b.3 June 1900)
According to the 1901 census, Alfred is now married to Edith, and with her, he has three children, Oliver, Mary and Antony. He has nine servants, all living at 16 Great College Street. Alfred is part of the Kings Counsel and a member of parliament.
(Hisyoungest son, Anthony George, died 17 December 1901, aged eighteen months)
  According to the 1911 census, Alfred is still married, and still on the King's Counsel and part of the privy committee. With his daughter and nine servants, they remain at 16 Great College Street.
Death Saturday 2.40am, 5 July 1913 at 3 Devonshire Terrace, Marylebone, London
aged 56 years 148 days registered in Marylebone July-September 1913

Obituary

The Right. Honorable Alfred Lyttelton KC MP"DEATH OF HON. ALFRED LYTTELTON.―EX-COLONIAL SECRETARY―
"The death of the Right. Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, K.C., M.P., occurred at 2.40 this morning.
"Mr Lyttelton was suffering from a grave intimal complaint. He played cricket on Wednesday last for the first time for some years, and it is thought possible his condition was caused by a blow which he received from a ball, or by the unusual exertion. Mr Lyttelton made a long stay at the wicket, and scored 89 out of 237, the top score of the match. The other side only scored 82. It was at the Foreign Office dinner on the following evening that he was suddenly taken ill.
"The Hon. Alfred Lyttelton was the son of the fourth Baron Lyttelton, and was born in London in 1857. After Eton he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he had a highly successful career. He was called to the Bar in 1881, and went the Oxford Circuit, becoming Recorder of Hereford in 1893, Recorder of Oxford in the following year, a Bencher of his Inn (the Inner Temple) in 1899, and King's Counsel a year later. He was first elected as Liberal Unionist for the joint boroughs of Warwick and Leamington at a by-election in May, 1895, on Speaker Peel's resignation and elevation to the House of Lords, and his majority in 1900 was 831.
"In 1903 he was appointed Colonial Secretary in succession to Mr. Chamberlain. The conditions were all against him. He had to follow 'the greatest Colonial Secretary of all time,' the most popular man of the hour, the most potent personality in Parliament. He rose at one bound from a back unused, where he was seldom heard, to the position of a Secretary of State without that valuable front unused preparation which a subordinate office gives. He had never felt the weight of responsibility or the ordeal of criticism. And his first task was the defence of the most unpopular act of the session, the introduction of Chinese labour into the Transvaal.
"He might by his own act have postponed or negatived the decision of the Colonial Government. A weaker man, intent on his own popularity, might have been tempted to do so. A weak Government might have been inclined to shirk so much obloquay as they knew must follow on the course they pursued. Mr Lyttelton did not shrink from what seemed to him the path of duty, and boldly put his Parliamentary fortune to the touch.
"Mr Lyttelton was twice married ― his first wife having been a daughter of Sir Charles Tennant, and his second being a daughter of Mr Archibald Belfour. He presided over one of the small Commissions sent out by the Government to South Africa several years ago, and also took a prominent part in the Reid-Newfoundland arbitration. Mr Lyttelton was a cousin of Mr Herbert Gladstone, and by his second wife was connected with Mr Balfour's family. It may also interest some to know that in his younger days he was a great cricketer, having been captain of the Eton and Cambridge elevens, and played for England against Australia in more than one famous match."
 - The Aberdeen Daily Journal, Saturday, 5 July 1913.
 
"ROYAL MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY.
"The Hon. Mrs. Alfred Lyttelton has received messages of condolences from the King and Queen Alexandra. That from his Majesty is as follows:―
" 'The Queen and I are deeply grieved at the irreparable loss which has befallen you, and assure you of our true sympathy in your sorrow. I had a great respect for your husband, and always enjoyed meeting him.'
"Queen Alexandra wrote in the following terms:―
" 'My heart is very full of sympathy for you and your family in the terrible loss you have sustained. The whole country mourns the death of your distinguished husband. I pray that God may comfort you in your great sorrow.' "
- Gloucestershire Echo, Tuesday, 8 July 1913.
Funeral


on Tuesday, 8 July 1913 in Hagley, following a memorial service at St. Margaret's in Westminster.
"The funeral of the late Mr. Alfred Lyttelton took place on Tuesday, at Hagley, being attended by Mr. Balfour and a number of Members of Parliaments. At noon a memorial service was held at St. Margaret's Westminster being attended by a large and representative congregation, which included the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker, Lord Lansdowne, Sir Edward Grey. Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. T. P. O'Connor, a number of veteran cricketers, and the French Ambassador. The service was conducted by the Primate and the Bishop of London." - Gloucestershire Echo,
Tuesday, 8 July 1913,
Probate: "LYTTELTON the right honourable Alfred P.C. of 16 Great College-street Westminster died 5 July 1913 at 3 Devonshire-terrace Marylebone Middlesex Administration (with Will) Probate London 25 November to dame Mary Frances Crail widow.
Effects £6000" [2019 equivalent: £697,531] Former Grant P.R. 9 October 1913.
Edward Lyttelton died on 26 January 1942
Source Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &
Playing Career
Club(s) Began his education at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge University, where he graduated with a Masters of Arts. Then turning out for the Old Etonians AFC, also Hagley FC in Worcestershire.
Club honours FA Cup runners-up 1875-76;
Individual honours None
Distinctions Also played first-class cricket for Middlesex and Worcestershire.
Height/Weight not known
Source Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].
England Career
Player number One of seven who became the 43rd players (46) to appear for England.
Position(s) Forward
Only match No. 6, 3 March 1877, England 1 Scotland 3, a friendly match at The Surrey Cricket Ground, The Oval, Kennington, London, aged 20 years 24 days. 55
Individual honours England's Top Goalscorer (one 1877) and fifth player to score on his debut, and at the time, the youngest to score on his debut.
Distinctions The Youngest England goalscorer between 1877 and 1881.
Also played first-class cricket for England. Brother of Edward Lyttelton
Beyond England
Became a legal private secretary to the Attorney General. Became a member of parliament in 1895, before going to South Africa in 1900 as chairman of the planning committee reconstructing the country following the Boer War.  Eventually becoming Colonial Secretary. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.161.
Lyttelton was admitted to Inner Temple in 1881 entitled to practice as a barrister. He was invested as a King's Counsel. He held the office of Recorder of Hereford between 1893 and 1894. He held the office of Recorder of Oxford University between 1894 and 1903. He held the office of Member of Parliament for Warwick and Leamington between 1895 and 1906. He held the office of High Steward of Cambridge University. He was invested as a Queen's Counsel in 1899. He was awarded the honorary degree of Master of Arts by Oxford University. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor. He was Chancellor of Rochester Diocese in 1903. He held the office of Secretary of State for the Colonies between 1903 and 1905. He held the office of Member of Parliament for St. George's, Hanover Square between 1906 and 1913.
- ThePeerage.com


The Numbers
parties Appearances minutes Goals Goals ave.min captain
1 1 90 1 90 min 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 1 3 -2 0 0 1 3 0 -1
His only match was a friendly match and at a home venue

Match History
 
 Clubs: Cambridge University A.F.C. & Old Etonians A.F.C. - one full appearance (90 min) 1ᵍ F.A. Committee - one full appearance (90 min) 1ᵍx

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 20
1 6 3 March 1877 - England 1 Scotland 3
The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington
Fr HL 55 kicked for
    

one of seven who became the 43rd (46) players to appear for England
one of two players (3) from Cambridge University AFC to become the third to represent England
one of two players (5) who became the fourth Old Etonian to represent England
the fifth player to score on his England debut - youngest so far
England's top goalscorer for the season and calendar year - youngest until 1939

his brother Ed in played for England in 1878 - the fourth set of brothers to do so

  

 
cg