Alf Ringstead
Encyclopedia
Alfred Ringsteadson of jockey Charlie Ringstead was a professional footballer
who played in the position of outside right for Sheffield United
between 1950 and 1959.
As a 14 year-old Ringstead played his football for Everton
junior teams where he received a wage of just three shilling
s and sixpence. The Merseyside
club showed little interest in keeping him and he returned home without any encouragement. After serving in the Army
in India
, Alf returned to play for Ellesmere Port Town
while working as an upholsterer.
In 1950, Alf joined non-league
Northwich Victoria
in the Cheshire League, and after little more than a handful of games, he had scored eleven goals, and it was while he was with them that he was spotted by Sheffield United. He was watched by United
in a match at Buxton
and, agreed to sign a few hours after the match had finished.
He was signed by Sheffield United manager Teddy Davison
in November 1950, in a double transfer along with fellow winger Derek Hawksworth
, for a total outlay of £15,000, with Hawksworth
joining two weeks later.
After two appearances in the Central League
side, Ringstead made his first team league debut against Coventry City
at Bramall Lane
on December 2, 1950, scoring with a flying header and, scored in the following two games in Division Two
. He was fast, penetrative, determined, eager to take on an opponent, and shared these characteristics with the ability to shoot and centre with power and accuracy with both feet.
He was a good header of the ball, but it was his sense of anticipation for being in the right place at the right time, that brought him so many goals.
He made his debut for the Republic of Ireland
against Argentina
at Dalymount Park
, Dublin, on May 13, 1951, and had such a good game that he won a regular place in the side, building up to a total of 20 international caps
.
Ringstead played a significant part in Sheffield United's 7-3 defeat of Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby
at Bramall Lane on September 8, 1951, scoring two of the goals in the famous victory. In total, he played 247 league
matches for the Blades and scoring 101 goals, in his eight years at Bramall Lane.
Soon after scoring his 101st League goal for Sheffield United, Alf was transferred to Mansfield Town
in July 1959. He played 27 matches scoring three goals for the Stags
.
He ended his career by joining non-league Frickley Colliery
.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played in the position of outside right for Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
between 1950 and 1959.
As a 14 year-old Ringstead played his football for Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
junior teams where he received a wage of just three shilling
Shilling
The shilling is a unit of currency used in some current and former British Commonwealth countries. The word shilling comes from scilling, an accounting term that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times where it was deemed to be the value of a cow in Kent or a sheep elsewhere. The word is thought to derive...
s and sixpence. The Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
club showed little interest in keeping him and he returned home without any encouragement. After serving in the Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Alf returned to play for Ellesmere Port Town
Ellesmere Port Town F.C.
Ellesmere Port Town F.C. were an English football club from the town of Ellesmere Port, The Wirral.-History:The club was originally formed in 1924 as Ellesmere Port F.C. and joined the Cheshire County League. After three season, in which they finished bottom twice, the club folded. They reformed as...
while working as an upholsterer.
In 1950, Alf joined non-league
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...
Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
in the Cheshire League, and after little more than a handful of games, he had scored eleven goals, and it was while he was with them that he was spotted by Sheffield United. He was watched by United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
in a match at Buxton
Buxton
Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire, England. It has the highest elevation of any market town in England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south, Buxton is described as "the gateway to the Peak District National Park"...
and, agreed to sign a few hours after the match had finished.
He was signed by Sheffield United manager Teddy Davison
Teddy Davison
Teddy Davison was an English footballer and manager who had a long and successful association with the football clubs of Sheffield, playing for Sheffield Wednesday for 18 years and later managing Sheffield United for 20 years. His fairness and diplomacy earned him the nicknames of "The George...
in November 1950, in a double transfer along with fellow winger Derek Hawksworth
Derek Hawksworth
Derek Marshall Hawksworth was a footballer who played in the position of winger for Sheffield United.-Football career:...
, for a total outlay of £15,000, with Hawksworth
Derek Hawksworth
Derek Marshall Hawksworth was a footballer who played in the position of winger for Sheffield United.-Football career:...
joining two weeks later.
After two appearances in the Central League
Central League (football)
The Central League , is a football league in England for reserve teams primarily of Football League clubs in the Midlands and North of England....
side, Ringstead made his first team league debut against Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
on December 2, 1950, scoring with a flying header and, scored in the following two games in Division Two
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. He was fast, penetrative, determined, eager to take on an opponent, and shared these characteristics with the ability to shoot and centre with power and accuracy with both feet.
He was a good header of the ball, but it was his sense of anticipation for being in the right place at the right time, that brought him so many goals.
He made his debut for the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
against Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
at Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
, Dublin, on May 13, 1951, and had such a good game that he won a regular place in the side, building up to a total of 20 international caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
.
Ringstead played a significant part in Sheffield United's 7-3 defeat of Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby
Steel City derby
The Steel City Derby is a local derby that takes place between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday, the two professional football league teams based in the city of Sheffield, England...
at Bramall Lane on September 8, 1951, scoring two of the goals in the famous victory. In total, he played 247 league
English football league system
The English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for association football clubs in England, with six teams from Wales also competing...
matches for the Blades and scoring 101 goals, in his eight years at Bramall Lane.
Soon after scoring his 101st League goal for Sheffield United, Alf was transferred to Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in July 1959. He played 27 matches scoring three goals for the Stags
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
.
He ended his career by joining non-league Frickley Colliery
Frickley Athletic F.C.
Frickley Athletic F.C. are a football club based in South Elmsall, in West Yorkshire, England. They were established in 1910 as Frickley Colliery F.C., and changed to their present name in 1974.-History:...
.