Bert Shelley
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Frederick Albert Shelley | ||
| Date of birth | 11 August 1899 | ||
| Place of birth | Romsey, England | ||
| Date of death | 29 December 1971 (aged 72) | ||
| Place of death | Anfield, Liverpool, England | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Playing position | Half back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Romsey Comrades | |||
| 1915–1919 | Military football | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1919 | Eastleigh Athletic | ||
| 1919–1932 | Southampton | 410 | (9) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Frederick Albert "Bert" Shelley (11 August 1899 – 29 December 1971) was an English footballer, who played as a half back for Southampton, for whom he made nearly 450 appearances, before becoming a coach at Southampton. His total of 448 appearances remained a club record until passed by Tommy Traynor in the mid-1960s.
Shelley was born in Romsey, Hampshire and after starting in local football, had a distinguished career in military football whilst serving in India and Egypt during the First World War. In India, he served with the 2nd/5th Hampshire Territorials and was a member of the Battalion side which reached the semi-finals of the Calcutta Cup tournament in 1915. By 1918, he was in Egypt with the 1st/4th Wiltshires with whom he won the Divisional Cup.
Following his demobilisation, he signed for Eastleigh Athletic in November 1919, but within weeks had signed for Southampton who were trying to rebuild their side in readiness for their entry into the newly formed Football League Third Division South at the end of the season. After spending a few months in the reserves, Shelley was given his big chance in the first team when Arthur Andrews broke his leg in an FA Cup tie at West Ham in January 1920. In the absence of a recognised right-half, the directors were pondering buying a replacement but they were persuaded by the club trainer, former England right-half Bert Lee, to "give the young Shelley a chance".
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