Alfred Chalkley Explained

Alfred Chalkley
Fullname:Alfred George Chalkley[1]
Birth Date:16 August 1904[2]
Birth Place:Plaistow, Essex, England
Death Place:Tasburgh, Norfolk
Position:Full-back
Years1:1931–1937
Clubs1:West Ham United
Caps1:188
Goals1:1
Nationalyears1:1917
Nationalteam1:England Boys
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0

Alfred George Chalkley (16 August 1904 – 11 June 1971) was an English footballer who played as a full-back for West Ham United.[3]

Chalkley, brother of West Ham centre-half George and Dartford left-back Charlie, was born in Plaistow. He played schoolboy football as an outside-left, and was capped for England Boys against Scotland in 1917, although he served with the Army during World War I and later became a steel erector.[3]

Chalkley signed professional forms with West Ham in 1931 after impressing in a trial game and played 29 games of the 1931–32 season. His Division One debut came in the first game of the season, a 1–0 away loss against Bolton Wanderers on 29 August 1931, in front of 15,740 people. Two days later, he experienced a home crowd of 28,338, and a 3–1 win against Chelsea. His only goal came against Manchester City on 2 March 1932,[4] a clearance from his own penalty area that somehow managed to clear City 'keeper Len Langford.[3]

He went on to make 202 League and FA Cup appearances for the Irons,[5] and was an ever-present during the 1934–35 season.[6] Chalkley's final appearance for the West Ham first team was against Fulham on 7 November 1936. After that, he featured regularly for the London Combination side up until January 1944.[2]

During World War II, he made 34 appearances in the Football League South, 18 in the London League, 2 in the League South Cup, 11 in the London War Cup and 5 in the Football League War Cup.[4]

Chalkley represented the London FA in a game against Diables Rouges of Belgium, and also played for the London Combination three times.[3]

He retired from football after leaving West Ham.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Joyce, Michael. Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. 2012. 2002. SoccerData. Nottingham. 978-1-905891-61-0. 55.
  2. Web site: Alfred CHALKLEY ... (1931–1937). Marsh. Steve. theyflysohigh.co.uk. 30 December 2017.
  3. Book: Hogg, Tony . Who's Who of West Ham United . 2005 . Profile Sports Media. 1-903135-50-8 . 46.
  4. Web site: Alfred Chalkley. westhamstats.info. 25 January 2009.
  5. Book: Northcutt . John . Marsh . Steve . West Ham United: The Complete Record. 2015. 978-1-909245-27-3. 496–497. Decoubertin Books .
  6. Web site: 2nd Division 1934–35. westhamstats.info. 23 October 2017.