Maitland Alf Image 2 South Shields 1922

Description

Leith, Edinburgh born right back Alf Maitland played for junior clubs Leith in 1913 and Benwell Adelaide in 1914 prior to the intervention of the First World War, after which he joined Second Division South Shields in July 1919, making his Football League debut at Fulham the following month. Immediately a regular in the South Shields first eleven, he was an ever present between 1921 and 1923, and while with South Shields he played for Anglo Scots in an international trial against Home Scots, and was selected to represent The Football League in their match against The Irish League at Burnden Park, Bolton in October 1922, before being signed by First Division Middlesbrough for £4,000 in May 1923 after scoring 6 goals in 160 appearances for South Shields.

However he couldn’t help prevent Middlesbrough being relegated from the First Division in 1923-24, and after 26 appearances during his single season at Ayresome Park he joined Newcastle United for £1,000 in October 1924. Initially a fringe player, he broke into the first eleven with regularity in 1926 and played 36 League matches as Newcastle won the League Championship in 1926-27.

Maitland continued to play for Newcastle until March 1930, and in May the same year joined non league Jarrow after 163 appearances for The Toon. He joined Northfleet in November 1930, and became player-,manager of Salisbury City in 1933, playing for Shirley Town and Leamington Town in 1935 before his eventual retirement.