*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Albert Foan
Appearances: 177 Goals: 29
Date / Year of birth: 30th October 1923
Position: Striker / Midfielder
Season of first appearance: 1956/57
Season of last appearance: 1960/61
Also played for: Norwich City (18,4), West Ham United (60,9), Lowestoft Town and Great Yarmouth Town
Talented player born in Rotherhithe who played the first football of his senior career whilst serving with the British Army of the Rhine in Germany at the end of World War II. Albert had enlisted aged 18.
After returning to England Albert joined Norwich in April 1947 and spent three years at Carrow Road before moving to West Ham in July 1950. One of the highlights of his time with the Canaries had been scoring the only goal of the game as Norwich beat local rivals Ipswich 1-0 to win the Norfolk Jubilee Cup in front of 9,300 at Carrow Road on 14.5.49.
Albert went on to spend over six years at West Ham, then in the 2nd Division, and made a total of 60 appearances in all competitions, scoring nine goals including a hat-trick in an FA Cup tie against Preston North End during 1955/56. In February 1957 he signed for Margate aged 33 - a major coup for the club.
Albert made his debut in a 2-0 defeat at Faversham on 9.2.57 and his hard work and clever passing quickly endeared him to the Margate supporters. A press report for a 1-0 win over Folkestone on 19.4.57 said that Albert "must have run the studs off his boots trying to stir up some action". He made a total of 17 appearances before the end of the 1956/57 season, scoring twice. His first goal for Margate was a header in a 5-2 defeat against Gillingham Reserves at Priestfield on 14.4.57.
Albert became club captain for the 1957/58 campaign and he was Margate's outstanding creative player. He broke his nose early in the season and scored eight goals from 46 appearances although his main role was as a provider. On 16.11.57 he played as Margate lost 3-2 to visitors Crystal Palace in the FA Cup 1st Round. The local press reveled in Albert's performances and variously described him as "a genius", "a maestro", "the master of deft footwork" and "a joy to watch". P>Albert retained the captaincy for the 1958/59 campaign and enjoyed another good season, scoring 13 times in 49 appearances to take his tally for the club past 100. On 15.11.58 he was in the side that lost 3-2 at Headington in the FA Cup 1st Round. Once again Albert regularly won praise from the local papers and was sometimes referred to as "General Foan", a reflection of his importance to the side. He also displayed versatility during the season, sometimes playing as a winger or in midfield.
Albert added a further 47 appearances to his tally during the 1959/60 campaign and scored five times. On 14.11.59 he played in a 1-1 draw at Kettering in the FA Cup 1st Round and he also featured in the replay at Hartsdown Park on 19.11.59 that Margate won 3-2. Albert was then in the side that drew 0-0 with visitors Crystal Palace in the 2nd Round on 5.12.59 and took part in the replay at Selhurst Park on 9.12.59 that the Eagles won 3-0. In its end of season review the East Kent Times wrote "Despite his smallness of stature, Foan had a great season. He never stopped grafting and he was always the man who infused the rhythm into the front line".
However the 1960/61 season saw Albert lose the captaincy to Davie Laing and he also lost his first team place for much of the campaign, only featuring 18 times in total and scoring just once. He turned 37 in October 1960 and spent most of the season playing for the reserves, making 25 appearances and scoring three goals for them. When he did make the senior side Albert mostly found himself playing on the wing, not his favoured position.
The highlight of his season came when he played in a charity match for a West Ham 'old boys' side in April 1961 and Albert described the game as being "the one bright spot in a very disappointing year." At the end of the season he was released by Margate and the Isle of Thanet Gazette paid tribute to the silky skills he'd displayed for the club. The paper also said that Albert's quick "cockney wit" would be sadly missed at Hartsdown.
Following his departure from Hartsdown Albert went to live in Norwich and he joined Lowestoft Town. The Thanet local press reported that he was in sparkling form for Lowestoft during the 1962/63 campaign but Albert had a lucky escape in March 1963 when he was involved in a car crash in which the vehicle turned over three times. Remarkably he walked away with just minor scratches. Over the next few years Lowestoft dominated the Eastern Counties League as a semi-pro club.
The highlight of Albert's 'Indian summer' came when Lowestoft won through to the 1st Round Proper of the FA Cup during the 1966/67 season. A notable win over Kettering landed Lowestoft a tie at Orient and for Albert it was a return to his native East End. He played on the left wing as Lowestoft lost 2-1 after they'd missed a penalty. Albert was 43 years old at the time.
After scoring 26 goals in a total of 181 appearances for Lowestoft Albert left the club later in the 1966/67 campaign. He joined Great Yarmouth where he played the last competitive games of his career.
He later turned out in some charity matches and also played a few local amateur games with his son Andrew.
During the late 1960's and early 1970's he did some coaching at Norwich City, working with the Canaries 'A' team.
In 2006 Albert was still living in the Norwich area as a sprightly 82 year-old. At that time his son Andrew said that Albert was "still going strong...but he has lost that lightning speed over ten yards !"
Albert died on 14.8.09 aged 85 and an article in a West Ham programme included a tribute to him from former Hammer Ken Brown. Brown said "He had this magic left foot and he used to do this same trick all the time and everybody used to fall for it. Albert was a great character. He was only of slim build, there was nothing of him, but he was very elusive. I just remember him as being such a nice fellow. His main job was making goals, providing the passes. He was very much a creative player rather than a goalscorer. He was one of the senior players when I first started out. You always remember people that led the way for you. There was him and Ken Tucker and little Tommy Southern. He (Albert) was a gentleman in the side and I feel a bit down that I didn't see him in later life. Albert was a great man and a friend to many."
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1956/57 (MFC) |
17 (47) |
N/A |
2 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (8TH OF 17) |
2R |
1R |
SF |
SF |
|
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1957/58 (MFC) |
46 (48) |
N/A |
8 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (2ND OF 18) |
1R |
SF |
RU |
SF |
|
|
Played in FA Cup 1st Round
(16.11.57 - lost 3-2 to Crystal Palace at
home). Played in Kent League Cup Final (10.05.58 - lost 3-0 to Deal Town). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
TMC |
|
1958/59 (MFC) |
49 (51) |
N/A |
13 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (5TH OF 18) |
1R |
3R |
RU |
1R |
GR |
|
Played in FA Cup 1st Round
(15.11.58 - lost 3-2 at Headington United). Played in Kent League Cup Final (07.05.59 - lost 3-2 to Sittingbourne). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
SLC |
KSC |
KSS |
|
|
1959/60 (MFC) |
47 (57) |
N/A |
5 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (7TH OF 22) |
2R |
1R |
RU |
SF |
|
|
Played in FA Cup 1st Round
(14.11.59 - drew 1-1 at Kettering). Played in FA Cup 1st Round replay (19.11.59 - beat Kettering 3-2 at home). Played in FA Cup 2nd Round (05.12.59 - drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace at home). Played in FA Cup 2nd Round replay (09.12.59 - lost 3-0 at Crystal Palace). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
SLC |
KSC |
KSS |
|
|
1960/61 (MFC) |
18 (50) |
N/A |
1 |
SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (15TH OF 21) |
4QR |
2R |
2R |
1R |
|