A Stan Matthews Understudy: Albert Hobson 1925 - 2017
Albert Hobson was born at Glossop on 7 April 1925. After junior football at outside right with Glossop Juniors, he was given a trail by Blackpool in the pre-season of 1945/46. And he made his initial appearance as a second half substitute for the Whites against the Tangerines in the first pre-season public practice game on 18 August 1945. His side lost 4-3 but he was said to have 'showed promise'.
He was signed by Blackpool from Nomads (Hollingworth) AFC on 25 August 1945 'on the usual terms for a player in the services' [£1 per week when he joined the Army in June 1946 until April 1948] after having impressed in the pre-season practice games. Nomads asked the club for a donation for the transfer and were told, 'try again next year and if he is successful, it will be okay'. He was employed in an engineering works in Manchester prior to his entering the Army and had played a couple of games on trial for Manchester City.
He made his first Blackpool appearance for the Central League side against Everton reserves on 25 August 1945 when Blackpool won 2-1 and assistant-manager Sam Jones was impressed with his performance.
He made his first wartime League appearance for Blackpool against Bury on 1 September 1945 when Ewan Fenton’s hat-trick gave Blackpool a 3-0 victory. He later said that he realised that he was an understudy to Stan Matthews who had played in Blackpool’s two opening games of the 1945/46 season. Matthews was recalled by Stoke City for their game on 1 September and Albert recalled that his pals at the engineering works suggested that he would be playing in the first team as he had done well on his first appearance for the club. Albert did not believe it but manager Joe Smith telephoned the engineering works and told him that he would be in the side for the League game.
Playing for the Central League side against Stoke City reserves on 9 March 1946 the view was, 'Given a partner who would supply him with forward passes into open spaces Hobson may yet be a good outside right'. Blackpool lost the game 2-1. His work and service commitments prevented his regular appearances in the wartime 1945/46 season but he did appear in 16 of the wartime League games.
As he was classed as on 'essential work' when the 1946/47 season commenced and he did not appear in any games for the club during that season. He went on to make his first official appearance for the club in the Central League side against Derby County reserves on 26 December 1947 when Blackpool won 2-1. He was still in the forces and he played for the Army against Reading on 4 February 1948. After that game, it was said that a Cheshire League side were interested in signing him but Blackpool, who held his registration, were not interested in any deal as the club stated that he had shown 'much promise' in wartime football.
He made his League debut against Derby County in a 1-0 defeat on 29 March 1948 when one critic wrote, 'This little outside right who fears no man, who all afternoon on Easter Monday was hurling himself pell-mell at the big Derby full backs and half backs, and, in the end, eluding them once or twice, will be out of the Army in a fortnight and may make professional football his career.' He made two League appearances and three Central League appearances, scoring one goal, for Blackpool in the 1947/48 season. His appearances were restricted due to his national service.
He started the 1948/49 season as a regular in the Central League side, playing in the first five games and eight of the first 10 games. He returned to League action for the game against Everton on 5 March 1949 when Blackpool lost 5-0. As a Stan Matthews understudy, he replaced the injured Matthews for three further games and in the 1948/49 season he played in four League games and 22 Central League games, scoring two goals.
Once again he started the 1949/50 season as a regular in the Central League side, playing in 18 of the opening 20 games. Understudying Matthews quite naturally restricted his League appearances but he did return to the first team for the FA Cup replay against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 14 February 1950 when Blackpool won 1-0. And he was back in League action the following Saturday, playing against Fulham on 18 February 1950 when Blackpool lost 1-0.
He was an integral part of the Central League side that won the Central League Championship in the 1949/50 season when he played 31 Central League games, scoring five goals; he also appeared in eight League games and two FA Cup ties.
But injury restricted his appearances in the 1950/51 season it was said that he had to watch no fewer than 20 games because he was on the casualty list. He did however play in three League games and 21 Central League games, scoring two goals, during the season.
He started the 1951/52 season fit again. But the comment was 'to be Stanley Matthews’ understudy is an unenviable task at the best of times without Madam Fortune frowning so often on you. He never complains, content to wait for first team games then he gives a competent, efficient display. Such good clubmen are worth a lot.' Albert once told the story of how he had changed into the number seven shirt at an away game when Stan Matthews entered the changing room and announced to manager Joe Smith that he was fit again. Joe told Albert to change into his civilian clothes and go and sit in the stand! 'I spent more time watching from the stands than any other Blackpool player,' said the perennial reserve for the first team.
Having started the season in the Central League side, he was selected for the third League game of the 1951/52 season as Matthews was injured. Blackpool beat Huddersfield Town 3 1 on 25 August 1951 and the headline read 'Young Hobson the Danger Man'. He was soon back in the Central League side but he returned to League action for the game against Bolton Wanderers on 17 November 1951 when Blackpool won 1-0. This game began a successful spell of 13 League games, broken when Matthews once again returned to the side. And he scored his only League goal of the season in a 4-2 victory over Stoke City on 24 November 1951.
'Wingers Perry and Hobson were fast, direct and dangerous' and 'Hobson, particularly, was prominent with his quick, accurate centres' was the comment as Blackpool lost 2-1 to Chelsea on 15 December 1951. One national newspaper reported, 'Bert Hobson, as deputy for Matthews, did enough to suggest the former Oxford City amateur [sic - the Oxford City connection was another Matthews' understudy, Rex Adams] could become the Wizard’s successor … Hobson’s beautifully placed centres were the main worry to Chelsea’s defence, and only the alertness of Bill Robertson prevented the Blackpool attack using them to greater advantage.'
Matthews was injured again and he returned to the League side for the game against Middlesbrough on 15 May 1952 when Blackpool lost 1-0. He saw out the remainder of the season at outside right. This resulted in his most productive League season with Blackpool as he played in 23 League games, scoring one goal, and 18 Central League games, scoring two goals, in the 1951/52 season.
Injury to Matthews once again gave him his first chance in the League in the 1952/53 season when he appeared in a 4-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on 18 October 1952. He retained his place for nine League games. He scored his first goal of the 1952/53 season in a 2-2 draw with Cardiff City on 1 November 1952 and he played in 17 League games, scoring two goals, and 23 Central League games, scoring four goals, in the that season.
He made his first League appearance of the 1953/54 season against Aston Villa on 12 September 1953 when Blackpool lost 2-1 and what turned out to be his final League game for Blackpool was a 2-1 defeat by Newcastle United on 1 January 1954. He was placed on the transfer list in February 1954 and his final game for the Seasiders was in the Central League against Bury reserves on 16 April 1954 when Blackpool won 3-1. He had played in five League games and 26 Central League games, scoring two goals, in the 1953/54 season and overall he played 62 League games, scoring three goals, two FA Cup ties and 144 Central League games, scoring 18 goals, for Blackpool.
He was transferred to Huddersfield Town in July 1954 in exchange for Johnny McKenna. Albert Hobson apparently heard of his transfer on the radio whilst on holiday!
He had spent nine years at Blackpool but he had played in only two FA Cup Ties, the famous fifth round replay at Wolves on 14 February 1950 when Blackpool won 1-0 and the following sixth round game against Liverpool where Blackpool lost 1-0. He was said to have played none too well in the latter game, and he never played in the FA Cup for the club again, not getting a chance because Matthews never missed a Cup game from that time until Albert went to Huddersfield. He was back at Anfield, 'my hoodoo ground' as he called it, in the FA Cup fifth round with Huddersfield Town in 1955 and he scored the first goal in a 2 0 triumph for his side. He played nine League games for Huddersfield Town.
Huddersfield transferred him to York City in March 1956 after he had just played inside right for Huddersfield Town reserves against the side from Boothferry Park. He went on to play 22 League games, scoring one goal, and one FA Cup tie for York City in a two-season stay at the club.
He joined Stalybridge Celtic in June 1957 and he remained at the club for two seasons. He was later persuaded to make a comeback with Glossop North End, despite the fact that he was carrying an Achilles injury and he remained one season with Glossop before retiring from the game.
After football he worked for Gallahers and received a certificate for more than 22 years service when he finally retired to spend his remaining days in Hyde.
He died on 23 December 2017, aged 92.
He was signed by Blackpool from Nomads (Hollingworth) AFC on 25 August 1945 'on the usual terms for a player in the services' [£1 per week when he joined the Army in June 1946 until April 1948] after having impressed in the pre-season practice games. Nomads asked the club for a donation for the transfer and were told, 'try again next year and if he is successful, it will be okay'. He was employed in an engineering works in Manchester prior to his entering the Army and had played a couple of games on trial for Manchester City.
He made his first Blackpool appearance for the Central League side against Everton reserves on 25 August 1945 when Blackpool won 2-1 and assistant-manager Sam Jones was impressed with his performance.
He made his first wartime League appearance for Blackpool against Bury on 1 September 1945 when Ewan Fenton’s hat-trick gave Blackpool a 3-0 victory. He later said that he realised that he was an understudy to Stan Matthews who had played in Blackpool’s two opening games of the 1945/46 season. Matthews was recalled by Stoke City for their game on 1 September and Albert recalled that his pals at the engineering works suggested that he would be playing in the first team as he had done well on his first appearance for the club. Albert did not believe it but manager Joe Smith telephoned the engineering works and told him that he would be in the side for the League game.
Playing for the Central League side against Stoke City reserves on 9 March 1946 the view was, 'Given a partner who would supply him with forward passes into open spaces Hobson may yet be a good outside right'. Blackpool lost the game 2-1. His work and service commitments prevented his regular appearances in the wartime 1945/46 season but he did appear in 16 of the wartime League games.
As he was classed as on 'essential work' when the 1946/47 season commenced and he did not appear in any games for the club during that season. He went on to make his first official appearance for the club in the Central League side against Derby County reserves on 26 December 1947 when Blackpool won 2-1. He was still in the forces and he played for the Army against Reading on 4 February 1948. After that game, it was said that a Cheshire League side were interested in signing him but Blackpool, who held his registration, were not interested in any deal as the club stated that he had shown 'much promise' in wartime football.
He made his League debut against Derby County in a 1-0 defeat on 29 March 1948 when one critic wrote, 'This little outside right who fears no man, who all afternoon on Easter Monday was hurling himself pell-mell at the big Derby full backs and half backs, and, in the end, eluding them once or twice, will be out of the Army in a fortnight and may make professional football his career.' He made two League appearances and three Central League appearances, scoring one goal, for Blackpool in the 1947/48 season. His appearances were restricted due to his national service.
He started the 1948/49 season as a regular in the Central League side, playing in the first five games and eight of the first 10 games. He returned to League action for the game against Everton on 5 March 1949 when Blackpool lost 5-0. As a Stan Matthews understudy, he replaced the injured Matthews for three further games and in the 1948/49 season he played in four League games and 22 Central League games, scoring two goals.
Once again he started the 1949/50 season as a regular in the Central League side, playing in 18 of the opening 20 games. Understudying Matthews quite naturally restricted his League appearances but he did return to the first team for the FA Cup replay against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 14 February 1950 when Blackpool won 1-0. And he was back in League action the following Saturday, playing against Fulham on 18 February 1950 when Blackpool lost 1-0.
He was an integral part of the Central League side that won the Central League Championship in the 1949/50 season when he played 31 Central League games, scoring five goals; he also appeared in eight League games and two FA Cup ties.
But injury restricted his appearances in the 1950/51 season it was said that he had to watch no fewer than 20 games because he was on the casualty list. He did however play in three League games and 21 Central League games, scoring two goals, during the season.
He started the 1951/52 season fit again. But the comment was 'to be Stanley Matthews’ understudy is an unenviable task at the best of times without Madam Fortune frowning so often on you. He never complains, content to wait for first team games then he gives a competent, efficient display. Such good clubmen are worth a lot.' Albert once told the story of how he had changed into the number seven shirt at an away game when Stan Matthews entered the changing room and announced to manager Joe Smith that he was fit again. Joe told Albert to change into his civilian clothes and go and sit in the stand! 'I spent more time watching from the stands than any other Blackpool player,' said the perennial reserve for the first team.
Having started the season in the Central League side, he was selected for the third League game of the 1951/52 season as Matthews was injured. Blackpool beat Huddersfield Town 3 1 on 25 August 1951 and the headline read 'Young Hobson the Danger Man'. He was soon back in the Central League side but he returned to League action for the game against Bolton Wanderers on 17 November 1951 when Blackpool won 1-0. This game began a successful spell of 13 League games, broken when Matthews once again returned to the side. And he scored his only League goal of the season in a 4-2 victory over Stoke City on 24 November 1951.
'Wingers Perry and Hobson were fast, direct and dangerous' and 'Hobson, particularly, was prominent with his quick, accurate centres' was the comment as Blackpool lost 2-1 to Chelsea on 15 December 1951. One national newspaper reported, 'Bert Hobson, as deputy for Matthews, did enough to suggest the former Oxford City amateur [sic - the Oxford City connection was another Matthews' understudy, Rex Adams] could become the Wizard’s successor … Hobson’s beautifully placed centres were the main worry to Chelsea’s defence, and only the alertness of Bill Robertson prevented the Blackpool attack using them to greater advantage.'
Matthews was injured again and he returned to the League side for the game against Middlesbrough on 15 May 1952 when Blackpool lost 1-0. He saw out the remainder of the season at outside right. This resulted in his most productive League season with Blackpool as he played in 23 League games, scoring one goal, and 18 Central League games, scoring two goals, in the 1951/52 season.
Injury to Matthews once again gave him his first chance in the League in the 1952/53 season when he appeared in a 4-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on 18 October 1952. He retained his place for nine League games. He scored his first goal of the 1952/53 season in a 2-2 draw with Cardiff City on 1 November 1952 and he played in 17 League games, scoring two goals, and 23 Central League games, scoring four goals, in the that season.
He made his first League appearance of the 1953/54 season against Aston Villa on 12 September 1953 when Blackpool lost 2-1 and what turned out to be his final League game for Blackpool was a 2-1 defeat by Newcastle United on 1 January 1954. He was placed on the transfer list in February 1954 and his final game for the Seasiders was in the Central League against Bury reserves on 16 April 1954 when Blackpool won 3-1. He had played in five League games and 26 Central League games, scoring two goals, in the 1953/54 season and overall he played 62 League games, scoring three goals, two FA Cup ties and 144 Central League games, scoring 18 goals, for Blackpool.
He was transferred to Huddersfield Town in July 1954 in exchange for Johnny McKenna. Albert Hobson apparently heard of his transfer on the radio whilst on holiday!
He had spent nine years at Blackpool but he had played in only two FA Cup Ties, the famous fifth round replay at Wolves on 14 February 1950 when Blackpool won 1-0 and the following sixth round game against Liverpool where Blackpool lost 1-0. He was said to have played none too well in the latter game, and he never played in the FA Cup for the club again, not getting a chance because Matthews never missed a Cup game from that time until Albert went to Huddersfield. He was back at Anfield, 'my hoodoo ground' as he called it, in the FA Cup fifth round with Huddersfield Town in 1955 and he scored the first goal in a 2 0 triumph for his side. He played nine League games for Huddersfield Town.
Huddersfield transferred him to York City in March 1956 after he had just played inside right for Huddersfield Town reserves against the side from Boothferry Park. He went on to play 22 League games, scoring one goal, and one FA Cup tie for York City in a two-season stay at the club.
He joined Stalybridge Celtic in June 1957 and he remained at the club for two seasons. He was later persuaded to make a comeback with Glossop North End, despite the fact that he was carrying an Achilles injury and he remained one season with Glossop before retiring from the game.
After football he worked for Gallahers and received a certificate for more than 22 years service when he finally retired to spend his remaining days in Hyde.
He died on 23 December 2017, aged 92.
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