| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gilbert Arthur Alsop | ||
| Date of birth | 22 September 1908 | ||
| Place of birth | Frampton Cotterell, England | ||
| Date of death | 16 April 1992 (aged 83) | ||
| Place of death | Walsall, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[1] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| ?–1927 | Latteridge | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1927–1929 | Bath City | ||
| 1929–1931 | Coventry City | 16 | (4) |
| 1931–1935 | Walsall | 160 | (126) |
| 1935–1937 | West Bromwich Albion | 1 | (0) |
| 1937–1938 | Ipswich Town | 39 | (30) |
| 1938–1948 | Walsall | 106 | (68) |
| Total | 322 | (228) | |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Gilbert Arthur Alsop (22 September 1908 – 16 April 1992) was anEnglish professionalfootballer who played as aforward in theFootball League forCoventry City,Walsall,West Bromwich Albion andIpswich Town.[2]
Alsop was born inFrampton Cotterell,Gloucestershire to Arthur George Alsop, a coal miner, and Florence Caroline Alsop (née Thornell). He had three older siblings; Frederick, Hilda and Arthur.
After leaving school, he signed for local amateur side Latteridge for a time, before signing forSouthern LeagueBath City in August 1927.
In December 1929 he moved toFootball League Third Division South sideCoventry City on professional terms. He spent two seasons with theSky Blues but failed to gain a regular starting place, making only 16 league appearances and scoring four times.
He started the first of two very successful spells atWalsall in September 1931, scoring on his debut in a 2–0 win overDoncaster Rovers. He went on to score 15 times in his first season with theSaddlers.[3] In January 1933 he scored the opening goal in Walsall's 2–0 win overHerbert Chapman'sArsenal in theFA Cup. A result still regarded as one of the greatest FA Cup upsets of all-time.[4]
After a remarkable scoring return of 40 goals in all competitions in 1933–34 and 48 goals in all competitions in 1934–35,[5] Alsop attracted the attention of clubs further up the league and moved toFirst DivisionWest Bromwich Albion in November 1935. However, Alsop found his first team opportunities were severely limited by the form ofW. G. Richardson andHarry Jones, managing only one league appearance for the club in his two seasons atThe Hawthorns.[6]
Alsop signed forIpswich Town in May 1937 and scored 30 goals in 39 senior matches in theSouthern League and theThird Division South.[5] He scored in Ipswich's first ever match in theFootball League – a 4–2 victory overSouthend United in August 1938.[7]
He returned to Walsall in October 1938 and, despite the outbreak of war, made a further 106 appearances and continued his prolific goalscoring form for the Midlands side. He played his last full season atFellows Park as player-coach to Walsall's third team in 1947–48, before eventually retiring in May 1948.[3] In all competitions, Alsop played 324 times for Walsall and scored 226 goals.[5]
Alsop worked behind the scenes atFellows Park for a further 20 years or so after retiring and later became groundsman of the playing fields adjoining Walsall Arboretum. He was still attending home games atBescot Stadium, right up to his death in April 1992 at the age of 83.[3]