John Alderson (1912/13 to 1918/19)

John Alderson is one of numerous goalkeepers in our history that only played a single game for the senior side, featuring in a victory over Woolwich in the 1912/13 season.

After a time at Middlesbrough, where he did not make an appearance, he moved to North-Eastern League side Shildon Athletic. A regular for the amateurs, his "keeping" was favourably commented upon on several occasions and he had been in excellent form for the Durham combination in recent times.

Owing to both Lawrence and Blake being on the injured list the Newcastle authorities found that the signing of a new custodian was imperative. So the twenty-one-year old was signed with United having to secure his release from both Middlesbrough and Shildon.

A native of Crook, Alderson was both tall and well-built (with one report saying he was fourteen stone) and when he signed it was said that the great point in his goalkeeping was his accurate fielding.

A couple of days later he was playing on a muddy, slippery pitch at St James’. Although he had very little to do, John was - according to one report - palpably nervous.

John was sound in his fielding, but uncertain in his clearances. He seemed prone to stotting the ball off the ground - a very difficult feat on a muddy pitch - and the goal had a couple of narrow escapes due to this fact. And his occasional tendency to footwork caused not a little alarm and an occasional thrill.

During the War he was based at Woolwich and guested for Crystal Palace in a number of games. And when it was over he joined the South Londoners permanently winning an England cap in 1923.