Bert Ralphs

Bertram Victor Ralphs (27 August 1896 – 14 November 1942) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Blackburn Rovers, Chesterfield, Crewe Alexandra and Stoke.[1][4]

Bert Ralphs

Personal information
Full name	Bertram Victor Ralphs[1]
Date of birth	27 August 1896[2]
Place of birth	Handsworth, England[1]
Date of death	14 November 1942 (aged 46)[2]
Place of death	Birmingham, England[2]
Height	5 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1.74 m)[3]
Position(s)	Outside forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1913	Dennison's
1914	Reading
1919	Nuneaton
1919–1921	Blackburn Rovers	40	(6)
1922–1925	Stoke	92	(6)
1926–1927	Chesterfield	32	(7)
1927–1929	Crewe Alexandra	61	(4)
1929	Stafford Rangers
1930	Colwyn Bay
1931	Northwich Victoria
Total		224	(23)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Ralphs had an interesting career as a 'fast and enterprising winger' who occasionally played as in inside-forward.[1] He began playing football just before World War I with his works team Dennison's before he turned out for Reading and Nuneaton.[1] After the end of the conflict Ralphs turned professional and signed for Blackburn Rovers.[1] He played in 40 league matches scoring six goals for Rovers before being signed by Stoke in 1922.[1] His first season with the "Potters" ended in disappointment as the club suffered relegation from the First Division.[1] He spent the next season as back up to Tommy Broad before establishing himself as first choice right winger and was an ever-present during the 1924–25 season.[1] He spent one more season with Stoke before leaving for Chesterfield in 1926.[1] He later went on to play for Crewe Alexandra and Stafford Rangers.[1]

Personal life

Ralphs served as a private in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the First World War.[5]

Career statistics

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Blackburn Rovers	1920–21[6]	First Division	16	2	0	0	16	2
	1921–22[6]		24	4	1	0	25	4
	Total		40	6	1	0	41	6
Stoke	1922–23[1]	First Division	22	1	1	0	23	1
	1923–24[1]	Second Division	12	0	0	0	12	0
	1924–25[1]		42	2	1	0	43	2
	1925–26[1]		16	3	2	0	18	3
	Total		92	6	4	0	96	6
Chesterfield	1926–27[7]	Third Division North	32	7	3	1	35	8
Crewe Alexandra	1927–28[6]	Third Division North	42	4	5	1	47	5
	1928–29[6]		15	0	1	0	16	1
	Total		61	4	6	1	67	5
Career Total			225	23	14	2	239	25

References

1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
2. "Chesterfield FC: Player-based information – 1921–2018". Retrieved 16 December 2018.
3. Quiz (22 August 1921). "First Division prospects. Blackburn Rovers". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
4. Joyce, Michael (16 October 2012). Football League Players' Records 1888-1939 (3rd Revised ed.). Tony Brown. p. 239. ISBN 9781905891610.
5. "Bertram Victor Ralphs | Service Record | Football and the First World War". Retrieved 16 December 2018.
6. Bert Ralphs at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
7. "Sky is Blue – The Chesterfield FC history resource – Line-ups – 1926–27". Retrieved 16 December 2018.