Alf Jefferies (footballer, born 1922)

Alfred Jefferies (9 February 1922 – 9 February 1998) was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper in the Football League for Brentford and Torquay United.

Alf Jefferies
Jefferies in 1953
Personal information
Full name Alfred James Jefferies[1]
Date of birth 9 February 1922[1]
Place of birth Oxford, England
Date of death 9 February 1998(1998-02-09) (aged 76)[1]
Place of death Oxford, England[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1938–1947 Oxford City 169 (0)
1946Colchester United (guest) 1 (0)
1947–1954 Brentford 116 (0)
1954–1955 Torquay United 45 (0)
Banbury Spencer
Managerial career
Didcot Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Early years

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A goalkeeper, Jefferies began his career as an amateur with Arsenal, before signing for hometown Isthmian League club Oxford City and making an appearance in the club's final competitive match before the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939.[2][3] He made 169 appearances for the club between 1938 and 1947.[4] While stationed at Colchester Garrison in 1946, he made an appearance for the town's local Southern League club.[5]

Brentford

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Jefferies turned professional and joined Second Division club Brentford in September 1947 and finally made his debut in a 1–0 defeat to Southampton on 29 October 1949.[2][6] Jefferies went on to largely keep established goalkeepers Ted Gaskell and Reg Newton out of the team, but he finally lost his place to Newton during a disastrous 1953–54 season, in which Brentford were relegated to the Third Division South.[2] He departed Griffin Park in August 1954, after making 121 appearances during seven years with the Bees.[2]

Torquay United

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Jefferies signed for Third Division South club Torquay United in August 1954 and missed just one league game during the 1954–55 season.[2] He left the club at the end of the campaign.[2]

Non-League football

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Jefferies dropped into non-League football and returned home to Oxfordshire to sign for Birmingham & District League First Division club Banbury Spencer in 1955.[2] He later managed Metropolitan & District League club Didcot Town.[2]

Personal life

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Jefferies' brother Ray and son Alan were contracted to Brentford, but neither made a first team appearance.[2]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Colchester United (loan) 1945–46[5] Southern League 1 0 1 0
Brentford 1949–50[6] Second Division 26 0 1 0 27 0
1950–51[6] 35 0 1 0 36 0
1951–52[6] 17 0 0 0 17 0
1952–53[6] 35 0 3 0 38 0
1953–54[6] 3 0 0 0 3 0
Total 116 0 5 0 121 0
Career total 117 0 5 0 122 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Alf Jefferies". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006. Yore Publications. p. 87. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  3. ^ "Oxford City FC – History & Statistics". citystats.moonfruit.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  4. ^ "Players (Alphabetic)". docs.google.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Alf Jeffries – Players – Colchester United". www.coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e f White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 380–382. ISBN 0951526200.