Albert Valentine (footballer)

Football player infobox
playername = Albert Valentine


fullname = Albert Finch Valentine
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date |1907|6|3
dateofdeath = death date |1990|?|? | cityofbirth = High Ince
countryofbirth = England
position = Forward
years = ?
?-1929
1929-1931
?
?
1933-1934
1934-1937
1937
1938
1938
clubs = Wigan Athletic
Southport
Cardiff City
Crewe Alexandra
Chester
Macclesfield Town
Halifax Town
Stockport County
Accrington Stanley
Doncaster Rovers
caps(goals) = ?(?)
?(?)
016 0(3)
?(?)
?(?)
?(?)
114 (89)
?(?)
?(?)
?(?)
pcupdate = July 20, 2007

Albert Finch Valentine - was a footballer who played in England and Wales during the 1920s and 1930s.

Club record

Valentine was a prolific striker who still holds the club record for scoring the most league goals in a single season at Halifax Town and Macclesfield Town. His early professional career was unspectacular and in his mid twenties he had dropped into non league football. His record breaking started off in the Cheshire League with Macclesfield, where he scored and astonishing 83 goals in the 1933/1934 season. The following season he moved back into the football league joinng Halifax and during his first campaign he netted 34 goals in 37 games. His contribution helped the team to finish 2nd in Division Three North, just 2 points behind champions, Doncaster Rovers.

A good investment

He joined Halifax for a fee of £500 from Macclesfield Town. During that first season, success on the field helped the club to make a rare profit totaling £1100. The much needed funds paid off a chunk of their £3500 debts.

His scoring feats at Halifax

He scored on his league debut at Halifax on 25 August 1934 in the 2-1 victory over Mansfield Town at The Shay. The highpoint of his first season was on 9 March 1936 when bagged 5 goals in the 6-2 home victory over New Brighton. Over the next two seasons he scored 4 goals in a game on 2 occasions, against Oldham Athletic and Rotherham United, and a hatrick against Hartlepool United. In his time at The Shay he continued to prosper and his goals tally for 1935/1936 was 30 and 25 for 1936/1937.

Moving on

In view of his achievements it was somewhat of a surprise when Valentine was released from the club in 1937. He played his last game for Halifax on 1 May 1937 in their 4-1 thrasing of Crewe Alexandra and in true fashion he signed of with 2 goals. He went on to play for Stockport County, Accrington Stanley and Doncaster Rovers - all within 12 months of leaving The Shay.

References

*
* Thwaites, Tony (1988). "From Sandhall to the Shay - An Illustrated History of Halifax Town AFC 1911 - 1918"