December 29, 1971
Albert Shelley, Liverpool’s former first team trainer and a popular figure at Anfield for 34 years, died last night. He was 73.
He was a member of the staff at Anfield up to his death assisting in many of the vital jobs behind the scenes.
Mr. Shelley, joined the Anfield staff in 1937 from Southampton as player-coach to the “A” team. Two years later he succeeded Charles Hewitt as first team trainer and held the post for 19 years before he went into semi-retirement and Bob Paisley took over.
He followed former Liverpool manager George Kay to Anfield, for Mr. Kay had also been at Southampton.
Mr. Shelley, a Romsey (Hampshire) man, learned his football as a teenager in his battalion team during the First World War while he was serving in France and the Middle East.
England cap.
After the war he joined Southampton as a wing half and was with them when they entered the Football League in 1920. He played more than 400 games for the saints, including 370 consecutive matches.
He was capped by England and also toured South Africa with an FA party.
He was a member of the Southampton side, alongside Tom Parker and Fred Titmuss, who fought several great battles against Liverpool between the wars.
Shortly before he joined Liverpool he was coach to Southampton juniors and helped to produce such stars as Ted Drake, Mike Keeping and Jack Arnold.
(Source: Liverpool Echo: December 29, 1971)
Liverpool Echo: December 30, 1971
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