Albert Hutchinson

Albert Hutchinson

Personal information
Date of birth	30 September 1910
Place of birth	Sheffield, England
Date of death	May 1974 (aged 63)
Place of death	Sheffield, England
Playing position	Inside forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1929–1930	Luton Town	5	(1)
1930–1940	Torquay United	317	(80)
1945–1947	Buxton
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (goals)

Albert Edward Hutchinson (30 September 1910 – May 1974) was an English professional footballer. Born in Sheffield, he is notable for being one of Torquay United's all-time leading appearance makers.

Career

Having scored an extraordinary 255 goals in three seasons for amateur Sheffield sides All Saints Old Boys and Atlas & Norfolk, Hutchinson was lured south to play for Third Division South side Luton Town in 1929. After impressing in the Luton Reserve side, he was elevated to the first team but only managed five senior appearances and one goal for the Hatters.^[1]

Hutchinson was then signed by Luton's Third Division South rivals Torquay United before the beginning of the 1930–31 season. Making his debut away to Newport County on 30 August 1930, he had to give up his favoured centre forward position to Jimmy Trotter. However, he immediately established himself as an inside forward and was an ever-present over the next two seasons. Hutchinson was eventually made United's captain and was the club's leading scorer for both the 1934–35 and 1935–36 seasons.^[2] He proved his versatility by playing at every position on the pitch during his Torquay career, even filling in for injured goalkeeper Percy Maggs during a home game against Brighton & Hove Albion where he managed to save a penalty.^[3] By the end of the 1938–39 season, Hutchinson had made a record 338 appearances for Torquay before his career was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II.^[2]

He continued to play for Torquay United during the 1939–40 Wartime League before joining Buxton of the Cheshire League for two seasons after the war.^[3]

Hutchinson eventually returned to Sheffield to work in the steel industry before his death from lung cancer in May 1974.^[1]

Career statistics

Club	Season	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Luton Town	1929–30	5	1	0	0	0	0	5	1
Torquay United	1930–31	42	11	4	0	0	0	46	11
	1931–32	42	10	1	0	0	0	43	10
	1932–33	34	15	4	2	0	0	38	17
	1933–34	32	7	0	0	3	1	35	8
	1934–35	32	18	2	0	0	0	34	18
	1935–36	28	10	1	0	0	0	29	10
	1936–37	33	6	1	0	1	1	35	7
	1937–38	36	1	0	0	0	0	36	1
	1938–39	38	2	2	0	2	0	42	2
	Total	317	80	15	2	6	2	338	84
Career total		322	81	15	2	6	2	343	85

References

1. Riddle, Andy (2009). Torquay United, 50 Golden Greats. Desert Island Books. ISBN 978-1-905328-63-5
2. Edwards, Leigh (1997). The Definitive Torquay United F.C.. The Association of Football Statisticians. ISBN 1-899468-09-9.
3. TFF History Room: Albert Hutchinson