Coleman Bert Image 2 Dulwich Hamlet 1921

Description

Hove, Sussex born goalkeeper Bert Coleman was an amateur footballer who began his football career with Croydon Amateurs and joined Isthmian League club Dulwich Hamlet in 1912. During the First World War he served in the Armed Forces, and after the War he played as Dulwich won its first Isthmian League title in 1919-20, winning the league on a better goal average than Nunhead. Coleman also played as they won the FA Amateur Cup, beating Tufnell Park 1-0 in the Final at The Den, Millwall.

Having represented Surrey in 1913, and London in 1913 and 1920, Coleman was first capped by England Amateurs in a 5-0 win over France in Rouen in April 1920, and won three further caps through to November 1921. In March 1921 Coleman played for the full England team, winning his only cap in a 0-0 draw with Wales at Ninian Park, Cardiff. He retired from football after Dulwich won The London Senior Cup in 1925, beating Clapton 2-0 in the Final. He was the first Dulwich player to represent England but not the only one, team mate Edgar Kail won three caps for England in 1929.

NB in the photograph he stands with Dulwich Hamlet team mate and future England international Edgar Kail.