Alf Bishop (footballer born 1906)
Encyclopedia
Alfred "Alf" Bishop was an English footballer who played as an inside-forward in the 1920s and 1930s.
Bishop joined the RAF as a 16 year old cadet in 1919. He was originally spotted by scouts from Southampton
in 1923 while playing representative football for the Royal Air Force
and was given a trial, although he was not then offered a contract because of his RAF service commitments. After spending a year with St Albans City
of the Isthmian League
, he left the RAF and signed for Southampton in August 1926.
In the summer of 1926, the "Saints" manager Arthur Chadwick
had signed several new players, including Dick Rowley
and Sammy Taylor, both of whom could play in either of the inside-forward positions. After trying first Rowley and then Bishop at inside-left (for four games), Chadwick recalled Frank Matthews
for three games in September, moving Bishop over to the right for a further three games, before Rowley returned at inside-right. The form of Rowley and Taylor prevented Bishop regaining his place in the first-team, and he spent the remainder of his Saints' career in the reserves, where he made 23 appearances before his contract was cancelled in January 1927.
After a period in non-league football
, he briefly resurrected his League career with a season in the Third Division North with Barrow
. He then returned to the lower leagues with Cradley Heath
of the semi-professional Birmingham & District League, before spells with Wellington Town, where he scored 36 goals in the 1929-30 season, Leamington Town, Stafford Rangers and Bromsgrove Rovers (1931). He ended his playing career as an amateur for BSA (Birmingham)(1932) and Billesley Estates (1936).
Bishop later worked at the British Small Arms (BSA) factories in Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent. He rejoined the RAF at the outbreak of World War II
, serving as an aircraft gunner in France. He died of TB in 1944, aged 41.
Bishop joined the RAF as a 16 year old cadet in 1919. He was originally spotted by scouts from Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in 1923 while playing representative football for the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and was given a trial, although he was not then offered a contract because of his RAF service commitments. After spending a year with St Albans City
St Albans City F.C.
St Albans City Football Club is a football club based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. It was founded in 1908 and plays its home matches at Clarence Park, about 800 yards from the city centre. The club is in the Premier Division of the Southern League...
of the Isthmian League
Isthmian League
The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. It is sponsored by Ryman, and therefore officially known as the Ryman League. It was founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area...
, he left the RAF and signed for Southampton in August 1926.
In the summer of 1926, the "Saints" manager Arthur Chadwick
Arthur Chadwick
Arthur Chadwick was a professional footballer whose playing career included spells at Portsmouth and Southampton, before going on to be manager at Exeter City, Reading and Southampton...
had signed several new players, including Dick Rowley
Dick Rowley
Richard William Morris "Dick" Rowley was an Irish football Inside right who played for Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Preston North End, as well as representing the Irish national team.- Biography :...
and Sammy Taylor, both of whom could play in either of the inside-forward positions. After trying first Rowley and then Bishop at inside-left (for four games), Chadwick recalled Frank Matthews
Frank Matthews
Frank Matthews was an English footballer who played at inside-forward for various clubs in the 1920s.-Football career:...
for three games in September, moving Bishop over to the right for a further three games, before Rowley returned at inside-right. The form of Rowley and Taylor prevented Bishop regaining his place in the first-team, and he spent the remainder of his Saints' career in the reserves, where he made 23 appearances before his contract was cancelled in January 1927.
After a period in non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
, he briefly resurrected his League career with a season in the Third Division North with Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
. He then returned to the lower leagues with Cradley Heath
Cradley Heath F.C.
Cradley Heath F.C. was an English association football club based in Cradley Heath in the Black Country. The club competed in the Birmingham & District League, one of the country's strongest semi-professional leagues, between 1922 and 1961 and won the league championship in the 1925–26,...
of the semi-professional Birmingham & District League, before spells with Wellington Town, where he scored 36 goals in the 1929-30 season, Leamington Town, Stafford Rangers and Bromsgrove Rovers (1931). He ended his playing career as an amateur for BSA (Birmingham)(1932) and Billesley Estates (1936).
Bishop later worked at the British Small Arms (BSA) factories in Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent. He rejoined the RAF at the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, serving as an aircraft gunner in France. He died of TB in 1944, aged 41.