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(1942-11-14) (aged 46)[2]
Place of death Birmingham, England[2]
Height 5 ft 8+12 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)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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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

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

Career statistics

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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

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. ^ a b c "Chesterfield FC: Player-based information – 1921–2018". Archived from the original on 7 December 2020. 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. ^ a b c d 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.