| Alfred Sellman | |
| Fullname: | Alfred William Sellman |
| Position: | Centre half |
| Birth Date: | 1880 |
| Birth Place: | Chadsmoor, England |
| Death Place: | Coventry, England |
| Clubs1: | Bridgtown Amateurs |
| Years2: | 190?–1906 |
| Caps2: | 1 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 1906–1907 |
| Clubs3: | Leyton |
| Years4: | 1907–190? |
| Clubs4: | Workington |
| Years5: | 1908–19?? |
| Clubs5: | Rugeley |
Alfred William Sellman (1880–1935) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Small Heath.[1] He also played Southern League football for Leyton and appeared in the Lancashire Combination for Workington.
Sellman was born in Chadsmoor, Staffordshire, in 1880.[2] He played local football for Bridgford Amateurs before joining First Division club Small Heath in the 1903–04 season.[3] His performances for the reserve team earned him selection for a trial, in which he scored the opening goal,[4] and thence for the Birmingham & District Football Association team to represent England in a junior international match against Scotland Juniors at Aston Lower Grounds, Birmingham, in April 1904. England won 2–1, and Sellman's Small Heath team-mate Charlie Tickle scored both goals.[5]
He made his first-team debut on 29 April 1905, the last day of the season,[6] and the club's last match before it was renamed Birmingham. He came into the side in place of Walter Wigmore, the regular centre half,[7] and the Birmingham Gazette & Express 'Spectator' thought that Sellman was effectively on trial, as he had had little opportunity thus far to prove himself. Despite the 1–0 defeat, he "created a very favourable impression in the centre-half position. Though somewhat ungainly, he was untiring in his efforts, and prevented the opposing forwards adopting united methods."[8] He remained with the club until 1906,[9] but made no more competitive appearances for the first team.[2]
He and Birmingham team-mate Bill Bidmead signed for Leyton, newly promoted to the Southern League First Division for the 1906–07 season.[10] Sellman joined Lancashire Combination club Workington in August 1907.[11] He had remained on Birmingham's transfer list, and his fee was reduced to £20 in the 1908 close season.[12] There were no takers, and in late 1908, after some time away from the game, he returned to local football in his home county with Walsall League club Rugeley: on his debut, the Lichfield Mercury reported that "the man most anxiously watched was the new centre-half, Sellman, an old first division player, and it is not going too far to say he justified expectations. He is a little stiff after his long rest, but he showed some good football, and is very useful with his head."[13]
He had a trial with Kent County Cricket Club as a wicketkeeper.[3]
Sellman died in Coventry in 1935.[2]