Jack Alderson

Early career

Jack Alderson began his footballing career as a junior with his local side Crook Juniors, beginning his senior career with Crook Town. He moved to Shildon Athletic, before joining Football League side Middlesbrough. While making guest appearances for West Auckland Wanderers during a set of friendlies against Barcelona in December 1912, club president Joan Gamper was impressed with his performances and signed him as player-coach. However, he never made his debut for Barcelona, as he was transferred to Newcastle United for £30. Despite not coaching the club, he remains Barcelona's youngest ever manager at the age of 21. On 25 January 1913, he made only appearance for Newcastle in a 3–1 win against Arsenal.

Crystal Palace

With the outbreak of World War I and with league football abandoned, Alderson served as a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery, whilst remaining on the books at Newcastle. Based at Woolwich, he played a number of wartime games for Crystal Palace as a guest player and at the end of the war, signed for Palace from Newcastle for a fee of £50. He was an ever-present in the first post-war season, 1919–20, as Palace finished third in the Southern League. At the end of the season, Palace, along with all the other Southern League clubs formed the new Football League Third Division, Alderson playing in their first ever Football League game, a 2–1 win away to Merthyr Town on 28 August 1920. He remained a constant in the Palace side as…