Poulton Alonzo “Jerry” Image 2 Bristol City 1922

Description

Wolverhampton, Staffordshire born inside forward Alonzo “Jerry” Poulton started his football career with Monmore Green and joined First Division club West Bromwich Albion from Priestfield Albion in 1912, spending time on loan at Worcester City in 1913 before making his Football League debut for The Baggies at Newcastle United in September 1914, scoring his first goal 10 days later in a 1-1 draw against Sheffield United.

His career was interrupted by the onset of the First World War which forced the suspension of peacetime football in May 1915 by when he had made 9 appearances for West Brom, and when peacetime football resumed he joined Southern League club Merthyr Town in 1919, before signing for First Division club Middlesbrough in March 1920.

Having made a limited impression on Teeside, he joined Bristol City in September 1921 after 5 goals in 19 appearances for ‘Boro, and after 9 goals in 28 matches for The Robins he was transferred to Reading in October 1922. His single season at Elm Park saw 3 goals in 26 appearances for The Royals before he joined non league Llanelly in 1923, his last known club before his retirement.

NB in the photograph taken for the Football Favourites magazine “Peeping Tom” series of club visits, Paulton in training gear sits on the bench along with team mate Harry Cockerill in the jacket, the man in the boater is Mr Charles Hancock, perhaps a club director, and the player holding the camera is team mate Bob Pullan.