Alf Common, the first £1,000 footballer, died at his home in Coniscliffe Road. His first club was his native Sunderland, but he transferred to Sheffield United in 1901, won the FA Cup and then returned to Roker Park for a club record of £520.
But Middlesbrough were in terrible trouble near the foot of the First Division and, after two months of negotiation, paid £1,000 for the striker. The country considered it scandalous that such a huge fee should be paid for a mere footballer and questions were asked in the House of Commons. The Boro were accused of buying success.
Common’s debut, on 25 February 1905, was at Sheffield United, and he scored the game’s only goal – a penalty. It started a revival that enabled Middlesbrough to escape relegation.
However, Boro were a scandalously run club, accused of bribing opponents, making illegal payments and hovering on the verge of bankruptcy. In September 1907, Common, who won 3 England caps, was stripped of the captaincy and fined £10 for ‘drunkenness and violent behaviour’. In August 1910, after scoring 65 goals in 178 appearances, he was given a free transfer to Arsenal providing he didn’t claim the £250 Boro owed him in benefit money.
He retired to Darlington in 1919 and became well known as a pub landlord, first at the Cleaver in Skinnergate and then the Alma in Cockerton.
(‘Memories’, The Northern Echo, 1992)