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23 September 2021
 
 

Alec Morten

Crystal Palace (amateur) FC

1 appearance, 2 goals against

P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 F 4: A 2

100% successful

1872-73

captain: one
minutes played:
90

Timeline

  Alexander Morten
Birth 1831 or 1832 in Paddington, Middlesex or possibly, Brighton, Sussex
  registered before registration laws Paddington was in the Middlesex Registration County up until 1889.
Some authors offer 15 November 1831 - but there is no evidence for this date.
  His date of birth is disputed; it is generally given as 1831 but some authorities suggest 1832 - census records are lacking and it is not certain whether the Morten known from church registers to have been born in 1831 was the same man as the footballer of the 1870s. What is certain - Morten was 23 years old on 17 March 1855, the day of his marriage.
  Thanks to Andy Mitchell's fantastic research, we know that Alexander had a sister, Emmeline, who was also born in Brighton in 1833/34. Their father was called Alexander, his mother, Frances.
 

Alexander's younger brother, William, is Baptism on 24 March 1840 at Holy Trinity in Guildford.
According to the 1841 census, a ten year old Alexander Morten is a pupil at Amersham Grammar School near Beaconsfield.(notes:- pupils ages were rounded-up or down)

 

According to the 1851 census, the only possible/probable Alexander on this census is the 'clerk to a stockbroker', lodging at 31 Tonbridge Place in St. Pancras. His housekeeper is Sarah King. This Alexander, though, is the one stated as being born in Brighton, Sussex.

On 22 March 1854, Morten is accepted to the Stock Exchange, his address is stated as 'Sydenham', and his bankers 'Messrs. Masterman & Co.' Over the coming years, Morten applied for re-election, and in 1857, his address is stated as being Elgin Crescent in Notting Hill.
  Both Alexander and Emmeline applied for their passports in 1854, Alec was on 16 September {#17163), Emmeline earlier on 25 March (#10398)
Marriage to Flora Hedger, on 17 March 1855, at St Peter's Church, Petersham, Surrey
"On the 17th inst., at St. Peter's Church, Petersham, Alexander Morten, Esq., of Teddington, Middlesex, to Flora, fourth daughter of George Hedger, Esq., of Petersham, Surrey." - London Evening Standard/Evening Mail, Monday, 19 March 1855.
  registered in Richmond January-March 1855
Children Alec and Flora Morten had six children together, all baptised at St. John the Evangelist Church, on Ladbroke Grove in Notting Hill, Florence (b.27 June 1856), Frances Emily (bd.17 April 1858 stillborn), Fanny Georgiana (b.27 February 1859), Alexander George (b.2 June 1860), Frederick William (b.1861) and Emily Standing (b.16 January 1863).
 

By 1858-59, they are living at 1 Elgin Crescent in Notting Hill. The 1860 London Royal Book also states that Alexander is living at this same address.
According to the 1861 census, Alexander is now married to Flora, living at 1 Elgin Crescent, Notting Hill. He has three children, Florence, Fanny and Alexander. They have three servants living with them and Alexander is a member of the stock exchange.
By March 1864, his Stock Exchange Membership application stated he is now living in Langdown Crescent in Notting Hill.

 

According to the 1871 census, Alexander now has a fourth child, Emily. They live at 43 St. Julian's Road in Willesden with three domestic servants. Alexander is a stockbroker.
The London Electoral Rolls show that Alexander lives at 43 St. Julian's Road from 1871 until 1873. From 1876, he is at 48 Portsdown Road in Paddington.

Morten's Grave in Kensal Green Cemetery

According to the 1881 census, Flora is head of the household at the time of the census, she is the 'architects wife', and with all four surviving children, they live at 17 St. Oswald Street in Fulham, with a cook. Where is Alexander?
By 1885, the London Electoral Rolls reveal that Alexander George has taken over the tenancy at 17 St. Oswald Street, until at least 1892. An Alexander Morten is residing at 9 Pancras Street in Endsleigh from 1884 to 1889.

According to the 1891 census, Alexander is now living on his own means, with his wife and two daughters. Incidentally, his eldest daughter has married, has a son, Raymond, and has moved back home after her husband died, she is now a Peck. They're still living at 17 St. Oswald Street with a housemaid and a cook.
The London Electoral Rolls again reveal the address of Alexander, and he is living at 21 Hogarth Road from 1895 until his death.

Death Saturday, 24 February 1900 at 21 Hogarth Road in Earl's Court, London
aged 68 years nk days registered in Kensington January-March 1900
Funeral Thursday, 1 March 1900 in Kensal Green cemetery (left, courtesy of Andy Mitchell) in London.
  Flora Morten died on 9 December 1900 at Granville Mansions.
source Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990], Andy Mitchell &

Playing Career

Club(s) No Names of Kilburn between 1863-66, Morten turned out for Wanderers FC, the most celebrated team of the day, between 1865 and 1874. He also played for Crystal Palace FC - another leading amateur side, and one that was in existence as early as 1861, though it has no connection to the current Football League club of the same name. He was rated as perhaps the best goalkeeper in the world during the early 1870s; according to the Football Annual for 1873, "Toujours prêt is his motto when between the posts, in which position he is without a rival, never losing his head, even under the most trying circumstances."
Club honours None
Individual honours Middlesex FA
Height/Weight not known
Source

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

England Career

Player number One of nine who became the twelfth players (12) to appear for England.
Position(s) Goalkeeper; Third goalkeeper to appear.
Only match No. 2, 8 March 1873, England 4 Scotland 2, a friendly match at The Surrey Cricket Ground, The Oval, Kennington, London, aged 41/42 years nk days.c
Individual honours The South (one appearance, 1870).
Distinctions The oldest goalkeeper to play for England, and the first to concede a goal, after circa. ten minutes.

Beyond England

Served on the FA Committee in 1874. Also a Stockbroker. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.181.


The Numbers
parties Appearances withdrew minutes Goals Against GA ave.min clean sheets captain
2 1 one 90 2 45 none one
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 1 0 0 4 2 +2 0 0 4 2 100 +1
His only match was a friendly match, at a home venue and as Captain

Match History
 
 Club: Crystal Palace F.C. - one full appearance (90 min) 1ᶜ 2ᵍᵃ F.A. Committee - one full appearance (90 min) 1ᶜ 2ᵍᵃx

Age 39/40 trial  
one appearance - The South vs. The North, December 1870

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 41/42
1 30 November 1872 - Scotland 0 England 0, The West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Partick Fr AD withdrew injured
1 2 8 March 1873 - England 4 Scotland 2
The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington
Fr HW 2ᵍᵃ
cs: 10min
cs rec: 69min
ᶜgk
ᵍᵃkicked & put in
  

one of nine who became the twelfth (twelve) player to appear for England
the oldest player & goalkeeper for England - oldest debutant
the second player from Crystal Palace FC to represent England
The third goalkeeper to appear for England - the first to concede one (then two) goals
the second player to captain England - and the oldest

Age 42/43
3 7 March 1874 - Scotland 2 England 1, The West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Partick Fr Umpire
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