Alfred Thornton

Alfred Horace Thornton
Alfred Horace Thornton
Born	Template:Birth date; Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Died	March 31, 1906 (aged 53)
Occupation(s)	Amateur footballer, banker
Years active	1870s (football)
Known for	Represented England in the inaugural representative international football match against Scotland in 1870

Alfred Horace Thornton (27 January 1853 – 31 March 1906) was an English amateur footballer who represented England in the inaugural representative international match against Scotland in 1870. Outside of sports, he built a career in banking.

Family and education

Born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thornton was the son of Edward Parry Thornton C.B. and Louisa Chicheliana Plowden. His father, a grandson of Samuel Thornton, a former Governor of the Bank of England, held the position of Commissioner of Rawalpindi from 1849 to 1858 and subsequently served as Judicial Commissioner for the Punjab region between 1858 and 1862. He was awarded the C.B. honor in 1860 in recognition of his public service.

Alfred attended Harrow School from 1867 until 1869, playing for the school's football team during his final year.

His older siblings, Richard Chicheley Thornton and Robert Milnes Thornton, were also alumni of Harrow; Richard enlisted with the 77th (Middlesex) Regiment in 1867 and attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, while Robert served with the 5th Fusiliers. A younger brother, George Walter Thornton, studied at Harrow between 1869 and 1871 before passing away in Normandy in 1873.

Football career

Thornton was affiliated with the Wanderers football club, probably introduced through E. E. Bowen, a master at Harrow School.

In March 1870, he played alongside Bowen for an English XI assembled by C. W. Alcock in a match against Scotland. This game was part of a series leading up to the first officially recognized international fixture held in November 1872. The contest remained goalless until Scotland’s Robert Crawford scored following an advance by the English goalkeeper. England managed to equalize late in the game through Alfred Baker, resulting in a draw.

He also represented Harrow Chequers, featuring on 14 October 1871 in a goalless match against the Wanderers, with the Morning Post praising his "excellent play." Shortly thereafter, on 17 October, he played for the Wanderers in their narrow 1–0 victory over Civil Service.

Professional career

Following his education, Thornton embarked on a banking career and became manager of the Old Bank and Brewery located in Windsor, Berkshire. This establishment was owned by Nevile, Reid & Co., founded in 1780. In subsequent years, Barclays Bank acquired the bank in 1914, while the brewery changed hands to Noakes & Co. in 1918 before eventually becoming part of Courage Brewery.

The 1881 census records him as a banker residing at 51 Thames Street, Clewer, Berkshire. Additionally, he fulfilled duties as a Justice of the Peace within Berkshire. Alfred Horace Thornton passed away on 31 March 1906 at age 53.

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