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Players Index Page Last Updated
9 July 2023
 
 

Alf Shelton

Notts County FC

6 appearances, 0 goals

P 6 W 5 D 1 L 0 F 20: A 6
92% successful

1889-92

captain: none
minutes played:
540

Timeline

  Alfred Shelton
Birth Tuesday, 12 September 1865 in Sneinton, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
  registered in Nottingham October-December 1865
Baptism Sunday, 10 November 1872 at St. Nicholas' Church, Nottingham, alongside his brother Charles.

 

According to the 1871 census, Charles, and his young brother, Alfred, are the two youngest sons of four sons to Robert and Hannah (née Boultby). His father is a greengrocer and they live at 11 Orchard Street in the Castle area of Nottingham. His older brother, Cecil, is blind in one eye following an accident.

 

According to the 1881 census, the family of six, including Charles and Alfred, and one servant, live at 4 Castle Street in the Sneinton area of Nottingham. His father is a shopkeeper and all of the sons work with him.
(His mother died in early 1887)

 

According to the 1891 census, Alfred, now a professional football player, remains at home with his widowed father at 25 Castle Street. His father is a provision dealer. They have one lodger, James Attenborough, a gardener.
(His father died in later 1892)

Marriage to Ada Calvert Farmer in 1892 in Nottingham.
  registered in Nottingham July-September 1892
Children Alf and Ada Shelton had two children together. Ethel Elsie (b.1894), another died in their youth.
 

According to the 1901 census, Alfred is married to Ada and they have one daughter, Ethel. He is a licensed victualler living at The Craven Arms, 108 Woodborough Road in Nottingham with one servant.
Shelton took the tenancy on 24 June 1892.

According to the 1911 census, Alfred remains married to Ada, and they still have one daughter. They have lost another child during childhood. He is still a licensed victualler at The General Gordon on London Road, Nottingham.

"ALF FAILS AS A PUBLICAN
"Alfred Shelton, the old
Notts and international footballer, came up for his public examination at the Nottingham Bankruptcy Court today, before the Registrar (Mr R.H. Beaumont). Replying to Mr. E. Wynne Humphreys, the Official Receiver, debtor stated that his liabilities were £351, and his assets only £15. Up to 1906 he was a professional footballer. He earned £160 or £170 a year during some portion of his career, and latterly £120 or £130. He never earned as much as £5 per week. After giving up football, he started in business at Craven Arms Inn, Woodborough Road, his capital being £150 or £160. He was there about ten years and lost money during the last two. He next went to the Crescent Inn, Ryeland Crescent, and subsequently to the Rifleman, Kirke White Street, where he incurred the majority of his debts. He was next temporary manager of the General Gordon, London Road, and he had latterly managed the Park Tavern, Elliott Street, Radford.  None of his ventures in the public house business were successful. He admitted that he had continued in business after realising that he was insolvent. Asked to what he attributed his failure, Shelton said his wife had been ill off and on, for three months." - The Nottingham Evening Post, Friday, 9 August 1912.
  

According to the 1921 census, Alfred, a crane driver for Cammell Laird, remains married, and with one daughter, Ethel they live at 5 Bridge Grove in West Bridgford.

"PROLONGED UNCONSCIOUSNESS―SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO A NOTTS. INTERNATIONAL.
"Alfred Shelton, the old
Notts. County international football player, met with a serious accident on Saturday. He has been working at Cammell Laird's for some time as a crane driver, and was following his occupation on Saturday morning when he is supposed to have turned dizzy. He fell off a ladder on to the crane, and sustained injuries to the head and shoulders. He was removed in an unconscious condition to the General Hospital, and no change in his condition had taken place up to this morning" - The Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 23 July 1923.
Death Tuesday afternoon, 24 July 1923 in Nottingham General Hospital, King Charles Street, Park Row, Nottingham, Nottinghamsire
aged 57 years 317 days  registered in Nottingham July-September 1923

Obituary

"DEATH OF AN OLD INTERNATIONAL
"The death occurred on Tuesday afternoon at Nottingham General Hospital of Mr Alfred Shelton, a former notable Association football player and for many years a leading member of the Notts County Football Club team. He played for England in seven international matches, being one of the cleverest left half backs in the country. He was a member of the Notts XI. in 1894, when at Fallowfield, they beat Bolton Wanderers by four goals to one in the final for the Cup."
- The Daily Mail, Wednesday, 25 July 1923 .
"
A FORMER NOTTS. FOOTBALLER'S DEATH IN HOSPITAL
"Alfred Shelton, a former Notts. County footballer, who met with an accident whilst following his employment as a crane driver at Messrs. Cammell, Lairds works, Nottingham, on Saturday, died as the result of his injuries in the General Hospital yesterday afternoon. He never regained consciousness. Though little known to those who now take an interest in football, Alf. Shelton in his day enjoyed great popularity. He was undoubtedly a brilliant half wing-back, and rendered splendid service to Notts. His judgment was seldom at fault, he tackled fearlessly, and fed his forwards with admirable skill. In defence he was a tower of strength, his head work especially being fine, and he prevented many a goal being scored against his side. He and his two brothers, who also played football, originally belonged to the old Notts. Rangers' Club. Alfred joined Notts. County in the later '80's, and was a member for a long number of years. He was in the County side which won the Association Cup in 1894, defeating Bolton Wanderers at Goodison Park, In international games he played against Ireland in 1889, Wales 1889-90-91, and Scotland 1890-91-92. He also figured in the trial match between North and South in 1891."
- The Nottingham Evening Post, Wednesday, 25 July 1923 .
Funeral
 
Friday, 27 July 1923
Nottingham Church Cemetery
"There was a large attendance at the funeral at the Nottingham Church Cemetery to-day of Mr. Alfred Shelton, for many years a member of the Notts. County Football Club, being one of the side to win the Cup in 1894, and also an international, who died on Tuesday as the result of injuries sustained in an accident while at work. The chief family mourners were the widow and daughter. Among those present at the graveside, where the ceremony was conducted by the Rev. E. E. B. Jupp (Vicar of Christ Church, Radford)." - The Nottingham Evening Post, Friday, 27 July 1923 .
  His older brother Charlie Shelton died 18 September 1955

Source

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

Playing Career


Club(s)
"Alfred, the youngest of the [four brothers], commenced playing football very young, and when only twelve years of age held the proud position of captain of a junior team. He quickly developed into a healthy strong lad, and joined the old South Notts. Club. Charles and Alfred played together with this club, but the object of this notice was then a dashing left wing forward. Castle Rovers, another strong team, next welcomed the coming champion to their ranks, and with this club Shelton remained till he went to the once famous Notts. Rangers. Shelton's introduction into the team was a curious one. The Rangers had to play Chesterfield Spital at Chesterfield on a muddy water-covered field. Rangers, who on the game commencing, were a man short. Alf had accompanied the team for the purpose of witnessing the game, but seeing Rangers in difficulty, he took the field just as he was, without football kit, but though he got his suit of clothes spoiled in mind, his play was such a character that he was at once invited to join the Rangers. He played forward for some time, and then a vacancy requiring to be filled at half-back, he took the position, and performed so well that he has never since changed his position. He was with the Rangers about six years. Several times Notts. and Forest had to be faced, generally to the discomfiture of the Rangers, but in the latter end of the 1887-8 season, the Rangers succeeded in beating Notts. by 8 goals to 0, and Shelton being particularly conspicuous, he was invited to join the premier club. He did so next season." - Nottingham Daily Express, Wednesday, 20 December 1893
On 4 May 1892, Shelton had agreed to captain Liverpool FC for £250 per year for the next three years. However, his directors refused to sanction the transfer. Instead, Notts got Shelton the business he wanted, and he re-signed the following month, Joined Loughborough Town FC on 8 December 1896 and Heanor Town FC in 1897. He was reinstated as an amateur a year later.

League History
210 appearances, 6 goals
Notts County FC 1888-96 195 appearances, five goals.
debut: 15 September 1888 Everton FC 2 Notts County FC 1.

Loughborough FC 1896-97 fifteen appearances, one goal.
debut (second division): 12 December 1896 Loughborough FC 8 Woolwich Arsenal FC 0.
last (second division): 19 April 1897 Burton Wanderers FC 0 Loughborough FC 1.
Club honours FA Cup runners-up 1890-91, winners 1893-94;
Football League Division Two
runners-up 1894-95;
Individual honours North vs. South (1891);
Alf Shelton's benefit match was played on Thursday, 21 December 1893, between Notts County FC and Everton FC, it ended scoreless. Johnny Goodall refereed.
Height/Weight 5' 8½", 11st, 10lb [1890], 5' 8", 11st. 7lbs [1891]

Source

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

England Career

Player number One of nine who became the 157th players (161) to appear for England.
Position(s) Left-half
First match No. 36, 2 March 1889, England 6 Ireland 1, a British Championship match at Anfield Road, Anfield, Liverpool, aged 23 years 171 days.
Last match No. 46, 2 April 1892, Scotland 1 England 4, a British Championship match at Ibrox Park, Copland Road, Glasgow, aged 26 years 203 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1888-89, 1889-90, 1890-91, 1891-92;
Team honours British Championship shared 1889-90, winners 1890-91, 1891-92;
Individual honours The Whites (two appearances, March 1890-March 1891)
The North (one appearance, January 1891)
Distinctions Youngest brother of Charlie Shelton

Beyond England

Appointed a Notts County FC director in January 1900. Preston North End's trainer from 8 August 1912, for only a couple of weeks until he resigned on 5 September 1912. Latterly employed at Cammell Laird's works in Nottingham - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.222.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes captain
8 6 6 540 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
6 5 1 0 20 6 +14 0 0 3.333 1 91.7 +5
All of his matches were played in the British Championship competition

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 3 3 0 0 12 3 +9 0 0 4.00 1.00 100.0 +3
Away 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 0 0 2.667 1.00 83.3 +2

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1888-89 1 1 0 0 6 1 +5 0 0 6.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC 1889-90 2 1 1 0 4 2 +2 0 0 2.00 1.00 75.0 +1
BC 1890-91 2 2 0 0 6 2 +4 0 0 3.00 1.00 100.0 +2
BC 1891-92 1 1 0 0 4 1 +3 0 0 4.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC All 6 5 1 0 20 6 +14 0 0 3.333 1.00 91.7 +5

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 6 5 1 0 20 6 +14 0 0 3.333 1.00 91.7 +5
6 5 1 0 20 6 +14 0 0 3.333 1 91.7 +5

Match History

 Club: Notts County F.C. - six full appearances (540 min) F.A. International Select Committee - six full appearances (540 min)x

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 23
35 23 February 1889 - England 4 Wales 1, Victoria Ground, Stoke-upon-Trent BC HW withdrawn
1 36 2 March 1889 - England 6 Ireland 1
Anfield Road, Liverpool
BC HW   lh

one of nine who became the 157th player (161) to appear for England
one of two who became the eleventh player from Notts County FC to represent England
followed his brother Charlie in playing for England - the tenth set of brothers to do so

37 13 April 1889 - England 2 Scotland 3, The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington BC HL reserve

Age 24
2 39 15 March 1890 - Wales 1 England 3
The Racecourse, Wrexham
BC AW   lh

trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Blues, 24 March 1890; ~ originally selected for The Blues

3 40 5 April 1890 - Scotland 1 England 1
Hampden Park, Glasgow
BC AD   lh

Age 25 trial  
one appearance - The North vs. The South, 12 January 1891;

4 42 7 March 1891 - England 4 Wales 1
Newcastle Road, Sunderland
BC HW   lh

trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 24 March 1891;

5 43 4 April 1891 - England 2 Scotland 1
Ewood Park, Blackburn
BC HW   lh
  

Age 26
6 46 2 April 1892 - Scotland 1 England 4
Ibrox Park, Glasgow
BC AW   lh
  


     

 
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