Albert Avery

For the rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s for New Zealand, and Auckland, see Bert Avery.

Albert Avery
Personal information
Full nameAlbert Edward Avery
Bornfirst ¼ 1883
Buckfastleigh, England
Died14 November 1914 (aged 31)
Oldham, England
Playing information
Height5 ft 10.5 in (1.791 m)
Weight14 st 4 lb (91 kg)
Rugby union
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1905–05 Plymouth and Devonport Albion
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1905–≤05 Devon
Rugby league
PositionCentre, Stand-off, Forward
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1905–14 Oldham 289 67 0 0 201
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≥1905–≤14 Lancashire ≥5
1910–11 England 5 1 0 0 3
1910–12 Great Britain 4 3 0 0 9
Source: [1][2][3]

Albert Edward "Bert" "Slosher" Avery (first ¼ 1883[4] – 14 November 1914[5]) was an English rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Devon, and at club level for Plymouth and Devonport Albion, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, England and Lancashire, and at club level for Oldham, as a centre, stand-off, or more usually as a forward.[1][6]

Background

Albert Avery was born in Buckfastleigh, Devon, and his death aged 31 was registered in Oldham, Lancashire, England, he died one-year after his brother had died in similar circumstances.[7]

Playing career

International honours

Avery played four trial matches for England (RU) while at Plymouth and Devonport Albion, and won caps for England (RL) while at Oldham in 1910 against Wales (2 matches), in 1911 against Wales, and Australia (2 matches).[2]

While at Oldham he was selected to go on the 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, and won caps for Great Britain against Australia, Australasia, and New Zealand,[8] and in 1911–12 against Australia (2 matches).[3]

County honours

Avery won 23-caps for Devon (RU) while at Plymouth and Devonport Albion, and won cap(s) for Lancashire (RL) while at Oldham.

Championship final appearances

Bert Avery played as a forward in Oldham's 3–7 defeat by Wigan in the Championship Final during the 1908–09 season at The Willows, Salford on Saturday 1 May 1909.[9]

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Bert Avery played as a forward in Oldham's 3–17 defeat by Warrington in the 1907 Challenge Cup Final during the 1906–07 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, Salford on Saturday 27 April 1907, in front of a crowd of 18,500, and played as a forward and was sent-off for "being impertinent to the referee" in the 5–8 defeat by Dewsbury in the 1912 Challenge Cup Final during the 1911–12 season at Headingley, Leeds on Saturday 27 April 1912, in front of a crowd of 15,271.[10][11]

County Cup Final appearances

Avery played as a forward in Oldham's 9–10 defeat by Wigan in the 1908 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1908–09 season at Wheater's Field, Broughton, Salford on Saturday 19 December 1908.[12]

Illness and death

Avery was taken ill during the summer of 1914, and a Testimonial match (in which Avery did not participate due to illness) between players from the 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand and Colonial players of the British Empire took place at Watersheddings, Oldham on 14 September 1914.[7] On 14 November 1914, Avery died at his home in Oldham.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". Rugby League Project. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Birth details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Death details at freebmd.org.uk". freebmd.org.uk. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Statistics at orl-heritagetrust.org.uk". orl-heritagetrust.org.uk. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  7. ^ a b Tom Mather (2010). "Best in the Northern Union". Pages 128-142. ISBN 978-1-903659-51-9
  8. ^ "Papers Past – Evening Post – 14 May 1910 – Football". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  9. ^ "1908–1909 Championship Final". cherryandwhite.co.uk. wigan.rlfans.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  10. ^ "Ray French selects his top 10 Challenge Cup final shocks. No 6: 1912, Dewsbury 8-5 Oldham". BBC. 27 February 2004. Retrieved 1 January 2005.
  11. ^ Hoole, Les (1998). The Rugby League Challenge Cup – An Illustrated History. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-094-3
  12. ^ "1908–1909 Lancashire Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  13. ^ "Oldham Footballer's Death". Manchester Evening News. 14 November 1914. p. 3.