Albert Milton

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Albert Milton
Personal information
Full name Albert Milton
Date of birth 1885
Place of birth Kimberworth, Sheffield, England
Date of death 11 October 1917 (aged 31)
Place of death Passchendaele salient, Belgium
Position(s) Full Back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
?–1907 South Kirkby[1]
1907–1908 Barnsley
1908–1914 Sunderland 123 (0)
1914–1915 Swindon Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Albert Milton MM (1885 – 11 October 1917)[2] was an English footballer who played for Sunderland as a full back. He fought in the First World War and was killed at Passchendaele while serving with the Royal Field Artillery in October 1917.[3]

Club career[edit]

Albert began his career at South Kirkby[4] before joining neighbours Barnsley for £50.[5] After just one season at Oakwell[5] Albert was sold by Barnsley to Sunderland in April 1908 for the then maximum transfer fee of £350,[6] Albert made his debut on 9 September 1908 in a 3–0 win against Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park.[7] Though Albert played for The Black Cats from 1908 to 1914, he never won a League Championship, as in the 1912–13 season he was injured and missed the majority of the title claim, as well as the 1913 FA Cup Final defeat to Aston Villa.[8] Overall for Sunderland, he made 123 league appearances without a goal.[9] In March 1914 Albert was given a benefit game by the Black Cats before he joined Swindon Town in May of the same year.[10] Despite the transfer fee paid by Swindon being "a very large one"[11] after just twelve months he left the club to return to the Sunderland area[4] with the onset of war.

Personal life[edit]

After retiring from football Milton returned to Sunderland, where he obtained work with MacColl and Pollock's Engine Works, where he remained for 18 months before moving on to manage the Colliery Tavern, in Monkwearmouth.[10] Alongside work Milton assisted local football teams, including Sunderland Rovers, as a coach.[10] Albert was the brother of Ernest Milton[12] and Alf Milton, both professional footballers. Another brother, Allan, was also a promising footballer who played for the family's local team Kimberworth Wesleyans.[13]

Military career and death[edit]

On the onset of the First World War, Milton worked in a munitions factory supplying shells to the Western Front. In 1917, Milton was conscripted into the Royal Field Artillery, and was sent to the Passchendaele salient. Bombardier Milton was killed on 11 October 1917, the day before the First Battle of Passchendaele.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "South Kirkby Colliery (Almost) Complete History". Matthew Thomas. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  2. ^ "CWGC - Casualty Details". www.cwgc.org. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  3. ^ "The Sunderland players who served in WWI". www.sunderlandecho.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Reported Death of Albert Milton". Newcastle Journal. 31 October 1917. p. 7.
  5. ^ a b "How Barnsley Kept Flag Flying by Transferring Star Players". Barnsley Chronicle. 24 September 1927. p. 1.
  6. ^ "Barnsley Back For Sunderland". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. 1 May 1908. p. 3.
  7. ^ "Middlesbrough 0-3 Sunderland". The Stat Cat. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2008.
  8. ^ "Albert Milton". A love Supreme. Retrieved 31 July 2008.
  9. ^ "Albert Milton". The Stat Cat. Retrieved 31 July 2008.
  10. ^ a b c "Albert Milton Killed in Action". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. 30 October 1917. p. 3.
  11. ^ "Milton For Swindon". Sheffield Independent. 7 May 1914. p. 8.
  12. ^ "Ex-Barnsley Back Killed". Star Green 'Un. 3 November 1917. p. 2.
  13. ^ "Personal". Barnsley Chronicle. 30 January 1909. p. 2.
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