Gilbert Alsop

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gilbert Alsop (10 September 1908 - 16 April 1992) was an English professional footballer.

[edit] Biography

Alsop was born in born Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire. After leaving school, he signed for Latteridge F.C. for a time, before signing professionally for Bath City F.C. in August 1923. In December 1929 he moved to Coventry City for two seasons, making 16 appearances and scoring four times. In October 1931 he started the first of two spells at Walsall F.C., which lasted four years, and during which he made 160 appearances and scored 126 times.

After Walsall, he moved to West Bromwich Albion in November 1935 for two seasons, but his first team opportunities were severely limited by the form of W. G. Richardson and Harry 'Popeye' Jones. His only appearance for the club was against Huddersfield Town in a Division One match, in November 1935.^[1]

Alsop signed for Ipswich Town in June 1937 for 18 months, during which he made 11 appearances, and scored three times. He ended his career with a second spell at Walsall, from October 1938 to 1947, making 35 league appearances and scoring 25 times.

He is remembered perhaps most fondly by Walsall fans. He was a part of one of the greatest FA Cup upsets of all time, when The Saddlers defeated the mighty Arsenal 2-0 in January 1933. After retiring, Alsop stayed in the Walsall area, becoming groundsman and trainer at Fellows Park. A stand was named after him at Walsall's new Bescot Stadium; but little over 10 years later the name would disappear as the stand naming rights were sold first to Purple Loans and then, currently, Floors-to-Go.

Alsop died in Walsall on 16 April, 1992.

[edit] References

Persondata
NAME	Alsop, Gilbert
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH	10 September 1908
PLACE OF BIRTH	Frampton Cotterell, England
DATE OF DEATH	16 April 1992
PLACE OF DEATH	Walsall, England