Ralphs Bert Image 1 Blackburn Rovers 1921

Description

Handsworth, Birmingham born outside right Bert Ralphs played for his works team Dennison’s prior to joining Southern League club Reading in 1914, however the onset of the First World War soon forced the suspension of peacetime football and Ralphs served in The Royal Army Medical Corps during the conflict. After the War he joined Nuneaton Town in 1919 from where he was signed by First Division club Blackburn Rovers in 1920, making his Football League debut at Huddersfield Town in February 1921. Ralphs held his place through to the season end and the following season played in most of Rovers’ matches through to early March, but having lost his place he was transferred to Stoke in the 1922 close season after 6 goals in 41 appearances for Blackburn.

He suffered relegation in his first season at The Victoria Ground, and spent three more seasons with The Potters in the Second Division, being an ever present during their 1923-24 campaign. However after their relegation from the Second Division in 1925, Ralphs joined Chesterfield after 6 goals in 95 appearances for Stoke, and had a single season at Saltergate, scoring 8 goals in 35 appearances for The Spireites.

In the summer of 1927 Ralphs joined Crewe Alexandra and he was was an ever present during their 1927-28 campaign but he lost his place in December 1928 and joined non league Stafford Rangers in 1929 after 5 goals in 63 appearances for The Railwaymen. He subsequently played for Colwyn Bay in 1930 and joined Northwich Victoria in 1931, his final club before his eventual retirement.