Albert Sturgess

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Personal information
Albert Sturgess
Full name	Albert Sturgess
Date of birth	October 21, 1882
Place of birth	Etruria, England
Date of death	July 16, 1957
Playing position	Wing-Half
Youth clubs
	Tunstall Cresswells
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1902-1907 1908-1922 1923-1924	Stoke City Sheffield United Norwich City Total	124 (3) 353 (5) 47 (0) 524 (8)
National team
1911-1914	England	2 (0)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

Albert Sturgess (born October 21, 1882, in Etruria, Staffordshire, England; died July 16, 1957) was a footballer who played for Sheffield United and England.

Sturgess started his career with amateur side Tunstall Cresswells before joining Stoke City in 1902, and made 124 appearances, scoring 3 times for the Staffordshire club. He was signed by Sheffield United from Stoke City in 1908, along with George Gallimore, for the maximum transfer fee at the time of £350. He was a tall wiry defender and was nicknamed hairpin because of his build. He played primarily at wing-half or half-back in his time with Sheffield United, forging a formidable partnership with George Utley and Bill Brelsford.

Sturgess was the type of professional footballer that all football clubs yearn for. He played with skill and determination in all positions, and, whether as a forward, half-back, full-back, or emergency goalkeeper, Sturgess never gave less than 100%, and well deserved his reputation as the one man football team. He made his debut for the Blades in a Division One match at Bury on September 1, 1908, replacing Ernest Needham at left-half. While with United he won 2 England caps - versus Northern Ireland at the Baseball Ground on February 11, 1911, and versus Scotland at Hampden Park on April 14, 1914.

Sturgess was also part of the victorious Sheffield United FA Cup Final winning team of 1915, when United beat Chelsea 3-1 at Old Trafford, on April 24, 1915. He went on to make 353 appearances and 5 goals for the Blades, between 1908 and 1922. In 1923, he joined Norwich City at the age of 39, where he would spend one season and making 47 appearances for the Canaries helping them to (what was) their best league finish so far, 11th in Division Three South. He Retired in 1925.

[edit] References

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.