Alf Ackerman
Alfred Arthur Eric Ackerman (5 January 1929 – 10 July 1988) was a South African professional footballer. Born in Pretoria, Ackerman spent the majority of his career in Scotland and England, playing with Clyde, Hull City, Norwich City, Derby County, Carlisle United and Millwall. He was selected to play for the Third Division North side against the South in April 1957. After retiring as a player in 1961, Ackerman became player-manager of Dartford, and later manager of Gravesend & Northfleet.[2] He died in Dunottan at the age of 59.[3]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alfred Arthur Eric Ackerman[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 5 January 1929[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Pretoria, South Africa | ||
| Date of death | 10 July 1988 (aged 59)[1] | ||
| Place of death | Dunnottan, South Africa | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Pretoria Municipals | |||
| 1947–1950 | Clyde | 33 | (20) |
| 1950–1951 | Hull City | 34 | (21) |
| 1951–1953 | Norwich City | 66 | (31) |
| 1953–1955 | Hull City | 58 | (29) |
| 1955–1956 | Derby County | 36 | (21) |
| 1956–1959 | Carlisle United | 97 | (61) |
| 1959–1961 | Millwall | 81 | (35) |
| 1961–1966 | Dartford | ||
| Total | 405 | (217) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1961–1966 | Dartford | ||
| 1969–1974 | Gravesend & Northfleet | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Ackerman finished as the top goal scorer in the Transvaal League in South Africa for two seasons in-a-row before signing for Clyde.[4]
He was one of three South African footballers to play for Hull City in the 1950s, the others being Norman Nielson and Neil Cubie.[5]
He scored 37 goals for Carlisle United in season 1957–58.[6]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | Division | League | National Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Clyde | 1947–48[7] | Scottish Division A | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 1948–49[8] | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 8 | ||
| 1949–50[9] | 21 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 28 | 14 | ||
| Total | 33 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 44 | 23 | ||
| Hull City | 1950–51[10] | English Division Two | 34 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 21 |
| 1953–54[10] | 29 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 20 | ||
| 1954–55[10] | 29 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 11 | ||
| Total | 82 | 50 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 91 | 52 | ||
| Career Total | 115 | 70 | 12 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 137 | 75 | ||
Honours
- Derby County
- Division Three South runners-up: 1956–57[11]
- Dartford
- Southern Division One promotion: 1962–63[12]
- Northfleet
- Southern Division One promotion: 1970–71[13]
- Individual
- Division Three South Top Scorer: 1957–58[14]
References
- Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2015). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2015. G2 Entertainment Ltd. ISBN 9781782811671.
- "1960s". Ebbsfleet United F.C. Retrieved 30 October 2008.
- "Alf Ackerman". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- "SOUTH AFRICA'S GOAL ACE IS CLYDE'S NEW CAPTURE". Sunday Post. 15 December 1946. Retrieved 28 March 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "Footballers Part One". African Stories in Hull & East Yorkshire.
- "Division Three (North) 1957-58". When Saturday Comes. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- "1947 – 1948 Fixtures". Clyde FC. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- "1948 – 1949 Fixtures". Clyde FC. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- "1949 – 1950 Fixtures". Clyde FC. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- "Player Profile: A Ackerman". Tiger Base. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- "Derby County centre-forward Alf Ackerman was the four-goal hero as Rams eased past promotion rivals". Derby Telegraph. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- "The Top Bosses (Part Two)". Southern Football League. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- "The ups and downs of promotione". Ebbsfleet United FC. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- "Football League Div 3 & 4 Leading Goalscorers 1947-92". RSSSF. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2022.