On this day in 1946 Alf Common sadly passed. The former Sunderland forward played on Wearside between 1900 and 1901, then again between 1904 and 1905. He would go on to play for Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, Woolwich Arsenal and Preston North End as well as represent England at senior level.
The first £1,000 player, Alf was born in Millfield in 1880 and spent the majority of his career in the North East, making 38 appearances for the Lads and 168 for Boro. He loved the North East and had many business interests up here over the years. He managed 3 caps for England along the way, and in 1914 he retired from football at the age of 34. The former FA Cup winner with Sheffield United went on to run Pubs in Darlington and sadly died in 1946, aged 65.
Common left Wearside for the steel city in 1901 and would help Sheffield United top FA Cup glory in 1902, but would return to Sunderland in 1904 after deciding not to stay in Yorkshire for another season. He was signed by Middlesbrough in 1905 for a transfer record of £1,000 in an attempt for Boro to stay in the First Division, Common's goals would do just that and steer the Teessiders clear of the drop.
Rest in Peace, Alf Common, who was selected as one of the 100 football league legends in 1998, his legacy as a proud Mackem lives on...
