Alf West

66dd · February 7, 2014

Sorry to intrude on your forum. I am not a Notts County supporter - I support Reading for my pains. I'm researching a former Reading FC player called Alf West who played one season for Reading in 1909 -10 between two spells with Liverpool. He left Liverpool and joined the Magpies in 1911and he was still a player with you on the outbreak of WW1. I am trying to find information on his military career (particularly the regiment and battalion in which he served) - but with such a common name it is not straightforward. So to cut a few corners I was just wondering whether any of the Notts County faithful might have some information that they would be willing to share with me.

Many thanks in advance.

PS I have been to Meadow Lane (in 2011) on the way to completing the 92

**Chris** · February 7, 2014

Firstly a warm welcome! You don't have to be a Notts fan, we like our 'resident fans' here. We have a fair few who drop by from time to time, they include teams from the Premiership to League Two.

With regards to Alf West, sadly I am not aware of him but I will try and find out.

It might be an idea to contact our media department (official), they might be able to help you and are pretty helpful with things like this. You can contact them on this e-mail address [email protected] hopefully they might have records on him as a player. I will ask around also, good luck with project.

liampie · February 7, 2014

hello welcome to the community, i hope somebody will be able to help you. please dont be a stranger, it would be nice to see your views on general matters.

4everapie · February 7, 2014

Can only find playing career.

66dd · February 7, 2014

Thank you for your welcome and for your help. I shall contact your media department.

Unfortunately the CWGC won't be able to help - he survived WW1 and lived on into his 60s (but thanks for the suggestion).

GrannyPie · February 8, 2014

Good luck with your search @66dd,sorry I can't help you.Please let us know how you get on.

**cheeky~k8** · February 8, 2014

Welcome to the site. Sorry i don't know anything about that player.

Enjoy the site.

66dd · February 9, 2014

Just to let you know that I have discovered that Alf West became a private in the 17th Middlesex Battalion (the First Footballers Battalion) with a service number F851, which means that he joined up sometime between 2nd February and 4th March 1915. He represented the Footballers Battalion in a match against Southampton at The Dell on 30th October 1915 (Southampton won 4-2).

There is a Liverpool Echo report from 30th September 1916 indicating that he had been wounded in action.

**super_ram** · February 9, 2014

Welcome to our site and good luck with your search @66dd. I.m sorry I can't help you but what I read about Alf West on Wiki,etc makes very interesting reading.