Albert Beech

Albert Beech
Personal information
Full name Albert Beech[1]
Date of birth (1912-09-24)24 September 1912[1]
Place of birth Fenton, Staffordshire, England[1]
Date of death 20 June 1985(1985-06-20) (aged 72)[1]
Place of death Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Leek Alexandra
Stoke St.Peter's
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1930–1933 Port Vale 1 (0)
1933–1934 Altrincham 35 (14)
1934–1937 Huddersfield Town 22 (4)
1937–1938 Notts County 13 (0)
1938–1939 Northwich Victoria
Total 71 (17)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Albert Beech (24 September 1912 – 20 June 1985) was an English footballer who played as a defender for Port Vale, Altrincham, Huddersfield Town, Notts County, and Northwich Victoria. He played in the First Division with Huddersfield and won the Cheshire Senior Cup with Altrincham.

Early and personal life

Albert Beech was born on 24 September 1912 in Fenton, Staffordshire; he married and later died in Fenton.[3]

Career

Before joining Port Vale in November 1930, Beech played for Leek Alexandra and Stoke St. Peter's.[1] He turned professional in September 1931. He made his only appearance for the club in a 2–1 home defeat to Manchester United on 28 November 1931.[1] He left on a free transfer in May 1933 and moved on to Altrincham.[1] He was the club's top-scorer in the 1933–34 campaign, scoring 24 goals in 49 games, including a hat-trick against Crewe Alexandra Reserves in a 6–2 win on 2 December.[3] He won the Cheshire Senior Cup with the club, as Altrincham beat Congleton Town 1–0 in the final at Edgeley Park.[3] Having proven himself in the Cheshire County League, he was signed by First Division club Huddersfield Town in June 1934, alongside left-back James Taylor.[3] He played three matches in the 1934–35 campaign.[3] He scored four goals in sixteen games during the 1935–36 season, with his first goal in the Football League coming on 14 April in a 1–1 draw with Portsmouth.[3] He featured just three times in the 1936–37 season, his final appearance coming in a 5–0 defeat at Middlesbrough on 27 February.[3] He was sold on to Notts County for a £1,000 fee in June 1937.[3] He played thirteen Third Division South matches in the 1937–38 season.[3] He then returned to Fenton and played for Northwich Victoria before World War II ended his professional career at the age of 27.[3]

Career statistics

Source:[4][3]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Port Vale 1931–32 Second Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Altrincham 1933–34 Cheshire County League 35 14 8 4 6 6 49 24
Huddersfield Town 1934–35 First Division 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
1935–36 First Division 16 4 0 0 0 0 16 4
1936–37 First Division 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Total 22 4 0 0 0 0 22 4
Notts County 1937–38 Third Division South 13 0 0 0 1 0 14 0
Career total 71 18 8 4 7 6 83 28

Honours

Altrincham

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 22. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ Albert Beech's profile at Altrincham FC's Official Web Site
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Altrincham FC Legends". www.lusoweb.co.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  4. ^ Albert Beech at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)