Albert Sturgess

English footballer (1882–1957)

Albert Sturgess
Personal information
Full name Albert Sturgess[1]
Date of birth (1882-10-21)21 October 1882
Place of birth Etruria, England[1]
Date of death 16 July 1957(1957-07-16) (aged 74)[1]
Place of death Sheffield, England[2]
Height 5 ft 11+1⁄2 in (1.82 m)[3]
Position(s) Wing half
Youth career
Tunstall Cresswells
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1902–1907 Stoke 124 (3)
1908–1922 Sheffield United 353 (5)
1923–1925 Norwich City 47 (0)
Total 524 (8)
International career
1911–1914 England 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Albert Sturgess (21 October 1882 – 16 July 1957) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Norwich City, Sheffield United and Stoke, and the England national team.[1]

Early and personal life

Albert Sturgess was born on 21 October 1882 in Basford Hollow, Etruria, Staffordshire.[2] The eldest of five children to Thomas and Martha Jane, his father was a potter's printer.[2] He worked in the pottery industry and joined the North Staffordshire Regiment in April 1891.[2] He married Amelia Harrison in 1902 and went on to have three children: Albert, Cyril Richmond and Amelia Lily.[2] After retiring from football, he worked as a steel roller and later opened a china shop in Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.[4][2] He died on 16 July 1957, aged 74.[2]

Club career

Sturgess started his career with amateur side Tunstall Cresswells before joining Stoke in 1902. He broke into the first team in 1905–06 thanks to the departure of James Bradley to Liverpool.[1] Stoke, who had survived several relegation battles in the early 1900s, were relegated in 1906–07[1] and financial difficulties led to the club falling out of the Football League in 1907–08. To raise funds, Sturgess was sold to Sheffield United in 1908.[1]

Arriving at Sheffield United alongside George Gallimore, for the maximum transfer fee at the time of £350, Sturgess played primarily at wing-half or half-back, forging a formidable partnership with George Utley and Bill Brelsford. He made his début for the Blades in a Division One match at Bury on 1 September 1908, replacing Ernest Needham at left-half.

Part of the victorious Sheffield United FA Cup winning team of 1915, when United beat Chelsea 3–1 at Old Trafford, on 24 April 1915, he went on to make 353 league appearances for the Blades, scoring five goals, between 1908 and 1922.

After the First World War, he played mainly as a full-back but was utilised in most positions in the team. In 1923, he joined Norwich City where he made 47 appearances, helping them to what was then their best-ever league finish, 11th in Division Three South. He retired from football in 1925, aged 42.

Playing style

Sturgess, although not as naturally gifted as some of his contemporaries, was noted for his determination and willingness to graft; he was a tall, wiry defender, nicknamed hairpin because of his build. He was renowned for his skill in tackling and long, accurate kicking, and was almost ever-present in the Sheffield United team until his late thirties.

International career

While with Sheffield United, Sturgess won 2 England caps – versus Northern Ireland at the Baseball Ground on 11 February 1911, and versus Scotland at Hampden Park on 14 April 1914.

Career statistics

Club

Source:[5]

Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Stoke 1902–03 First Division 1 0 0 0 1 0
1903–04 First Division 3 0 0 0 3 0
1904–05 First Division 9 0 0 0 9 0
1905–06 First Division 37 0 2 1 39 1
1906–07 First Division 37 2 3 0 40 2
1907–08 Second Division 37 1 6 0 43 1
Total 124 3 11 1 135 4
Sheffield United 1908–09 First Division 29 0 1 0 30 0
1909–10 First Division 38 1 1 0 39 1
1910–11 First Division 32 0 1 0 33 0
1911–12 First Division 32 3 1 0 33 3
1912–13 First Division 29 0 0 0 29 0
1913–14 First Division 28 0 7 0 35 0
1914–15 First Division 36 1 7 0 43 1
1919–20 First Division 42 0 2 0 44 0
1920–21 First Division 31 0 0 0 31 0
1921–22 First Division 36 0 1 0 37 0
1922–23 First Division 20 0 1 0 21 0
Total 353 5 22 0 375 5
Norwich City 1923–24 Third Division South 32 0 3 0 35 0
1924–25 Third Division South 15 0 2 0 17 0
Total 47 0 5 0 52 0
Career Total 524 8 38 1 562 9

International

Source:[6]

National team Year Apps Goals
England 1911 1 0
1914 1 0
Total 2 0

Honours

Sheffield United

England

References

Specific

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "England Players - Albert Sturgess". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  3. ^ Nemo (22 August 1921). "First Division prospects. Sheffield United". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 6.
  4. ^ Clarebrough, Denis. Down Memory Lane, Sheffield United Match Day Programme, 14 December 1985.
  5. ^ Albert Sturgess at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  6. ^ Sturgess, Albert at National-Football-Teams.com

General

  • Clarebrough, Denis (1989). Sheffield United F.C., The First 100 years. Sheffield United Football Club. ISBN 0-9508588-1-1.
  • Young, Percy A. (1962). Football in Sheffield. Stanley Paul & Co. Ltd ISBN 0-9506272-4-0.

External links

  • Albert Sturgess at Englandstats.com Edit this at Wikidata
  • Albert Sturgess at England Football Online Edit this at Wikidata