Albert Fairclough

Albert Fairclough (4 October 1891 – 5 November 1958), sometimes known as Fairy Fairclough, was an English professional footballer who played as a centre forward in the Football League for Bristol City, Derby County, Southend United, Gillingham and Manchester City.[1]

Albert Fairclough
Personal information
Full name Albert Fairclough[1]
Date of birth (1891-10-04)4 October 1891
Place of birth St Helens, England
Date of death 5 November 1958(1958-11-05) (aged 67)[2]
Place of death Stockport, England
Position(s) Centre forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1909–1910 Windle Villa
1910–1911 St Helens Town
1911–1912 St Helens Recreation
1912–1913 Eccles Borough
1913–1919 Manchester City 5 (1)
1920–1921 Southend United 24 (15)
1921–1924 Bristol City 91 (44)
1924–1927 Derby County 37 (26)
1927 Gillingham 11 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

A centre forward, Fairclough began his career in non-league football, before he and his brother Peter transferred to First Division club Manchester City in March 1913.[3] The First World War hampered Fairclough's career at Hyde Road, though he top-scored for the club's reserve team in the 1913–14, 1914–15 and 1919–20 seasons.[2] He made just five first team appearances for City, scoring one goal.[4] In May 1920, Fairclough dropped down to the Third Division to join Southend United and earned the distinction of scoring the club's first Football League goal.[3][5] He subsequently played in all three divisions of the Football League and scored 88 goals in 163 league appearances for Southend United, Bristol City, Derby County and Gillingham,[1] before retiring at the end of the 1926–27 season.[3]

Personal life

Fairclough was the older brother of footballer Peter Fairclough.[2] In October 1915, 14 months after the outbreak of the First World War, Fairclough enlisted in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.[6] He was later appointed a lance corporal and saw action on the Western Front, Salonika and Egypt.[6]

Honours
Bristol City

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester City 1913–14[4] First Division 2 1 0 0 2 1
1914–15[4] 1 0 0 0 1 0
1919–20[4] 2 0 0 0 2 0
Total 5 1 0 0 5 1
Southend United 1920–21[9] Third Division 24 15 2 0 26 15
Derby County 1924–25[10] Second Division 32 22 0 0 32 22
1925–26[10] 2 2 0 0 2 2
1926–27[10] First Division 3 2 0 0 3 2
Total 37 26 0 0 37 26
Gillingham 1926–27[11] Third Division South 11 3 — 11 3
Career total 77 45 2 0 79 45

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 95. ISBN 190589161X.
  2. Matthews, Tony (21 November 2013). Manchester City: Player by Player. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445617374.
  3. "Fairclough Albert Manchester City 1919". vintagefootballers.com. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  4. "Albert Fairclough - Manchester City Player Statistics - StatCity". www.statcity.co.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  5. "History – Southend United". www.southendunited.co.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  6. "Albert Fairclough | Service Record | Football and the First World War". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  7. Woods, David; Edwards, Leigh (1997). Bristol City Football Club: The First 100 Years. Redcliffe Press. ISBN 1-900178-26-5.
  8. Woods, David (1994). The Bristol Babe: The First 100 Years of Bristol City F.C. Yore Publications. ISBN 1-874427-95-X.
  9. "SUFCdb | Player Profile". www.sufcdb.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  10. "Albert Fairclough". 11v11.com. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  11. "Gillingham FC Career Details – Albert Fairclough". Retrieved 6 December 2017.


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