Alf Shelton

Alf Shelton was one of three brothers – Harry and Charlie Shelton the others – who did so much for Nottingham football. Alf was educated at St. Nicholas School, which he left to join Notts Rangers. He signed in 1884. When the club collapsed in 1888 he, along with other members, threw in their lot with "The Magpies", the nickname for Notts County. He signed in August 1888. A wing half with exceptional stamina, he was a difficult player to get past. He also excelled in heading, often getting his head in the way of goal-bound shots. NOTE: The Dykes book claims that Alf Shelton left Notts Rangers and signed for Notts County because Notts Rangers collapsed. Wikipedia and Football Club History Database show that Notts Rangers played in the 1888–89 and 1889–90 FA Cup competitions and took part in the first season, 1889–90, of the Midland League.

Ilkeston Town folded in 1900 and it is assumed that is when Shelton retired as a player. In the same year he returned to Notts County as a Director on the Club' Board. He was on the County Board until 1910. He died in tragic circumstances on 24 July 1923. It is not recorded whether he worked at the Royal Ordnance Factory, but he was on site and was killed when a crane collapsed onto him. In one source the factory is described as a Cammell Laird factory. The factory was opened by H. M. Government in 1916 as a Royal Ordnance Factory to manufacture shells for the Western Front. Cammell Laird built the factory and managed it on behalf of HM Government. In the year Shelton met his fatal accident the site had been bought outright by Cammell Laird and the site was used to make railway goods wagons.