Potter, Albert
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Exeter-born Albert Potter served in the First World War and was twenty-six when he made his debut in 1924. After nearly ninety league appearances he moved to Wigan Borough. Eventually returning to live and work in Exeter he became an air warden during the Second World War and was killed on duty in 1942 aged forty-four.
He joined the 8th Devons when aged just 16 and was wounded in France in 1915 before serving in Mesopotamia where he was involved in the battle for the relief of Kut in 1916. Arriving back in Devon in May 1919, he was spotted playing for Pinhoe and signed for City in 1922. A left half, he made his League debut on 5 April 1924 and went on to make 89 League (3 goals) and 5 FA Cup appearances for the Grecians. Highlights included a goal in the Boxing Day 1924 win over Plymouth Argyle, scoring in a 6-1 win against Brentford and playing in the 5-1 friendly victory over Ajax in Amsterdam in 1925.
Moving to Wigan Borough in 1927 he made 67 league appearances as well as playing against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup in front of a record 30,443 Springfield Park crowd. He then played for Colwyn Bay before returning to Exeter to live and work. Serving as an air raid warden and living off Burnthouse Lane, he was killed during the Exeter blitz when he was hit whilst helping at a birth. Aged only forty-four, he was buried at All Saints, Whipton. He is also honoured on the Second World War Memorial in the Garden of Remembrance at St James Park.
For more about his death, and a rememberance service held by the Supporters' Trust on the 75th anniversary of his passing see hs entry in the Killed in action section of the archive.
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Pamela Anne Goodrich nee Potter
For completeness sake you might want to mention that Albett Potter left two daughters. June Doreen Wannel (died 3/6/2015) and Pammela Ann Goodrich (born 22/1/1935) who now lives in St.Albans.
Paul D Farley
DIED: 4th May 1942
Height and weight: 5 ft. 10 ins, 11st 4 lbs.
Devon born left half Albert started his professional career with his home town club, Exeter City in 1923 after being spotted playing for Non League outfit Pinhoe. He stayed at St James’ Park for almost three years and made 89 League appearances and scored 3 goals before arriving at Springfield Park on 3rd August 1927. He made his Wigan Boro League debut on 27th August 1927 in a home game against Hartlepools United that was lost 0-2.
He became a stalwart of the side during his two-year spell making 67 League appearances and scoring 3 goals before finishing his football career with Colwyn Bay United. Whilst at Wigan Boro he also made 4 appearances in both the Lancashire Senior Cup and the Manchester Senior Cup without scoring as well as playing in 3 FA Cup games including the one played in front of Springfield Park’s highest ever attendance (30,443). He left Springfiedl Park to sign for Colwyn Bay United in July 1929 and he was last heard of plying his trade at the Devon General Bus Company FC, circa 1930.
Paul D Farley
DIED: 4th May 1942
Height and weight: 5 ft. 10 ins, 11st 4 lbs.
Devon born left half Albert started his professional career with his home town club, Exeter City in 1923 after being spotted playing for Non League outfit Pinhoe. He stayed at St James’ Park for almost three years and made 89 League appearances and scored 3 goals before arriving at Springfield Park on 3rd August 1927. He made his Wigan Boro League debut on 27th August 1927 in a home game against Hartlepools United that was lost 0-2.
He became a stalwart of the side during his two-year spell making 67 League appearances and scoring 3 goals before finishing his football career with Colwyn Bay United. Whilst at Wigan Boro he also made 4 appearances in both the Lancashire Senior Cup and the Manchester Senior Cup without scoring as well as playing in 3 FA Cup games including the one played in front of Springfield Park’s highest ever attendance (30,443). He left Springfiedl Park to sign for Colwyn Bay United in July 1929 and he was last heard of plying his trade at the Devon General Bus Company FC, circa 1930.
Martin Johnes
Darkie was a nickname usually given to people who were black or of mixed race. Is there any suggestion of this for Albert?
I have traced his parents, both of whom were from Devon.
In the 1920s Albert is shown on the electoral register as living 2 Brook Cottages. On the 1939 national register his occupation is listed as Concrete Works Labourer Railway Engineering Maintenance & Repair Staff.
His father, Alfred Henry, was a labourer and born in Newton Poppleford in 1858. He died in 1928. His mother Susan was born in Devon in 1862.
He had 6 brothers and sisters listed on the 1901 census. The family was then living at Whipton, Heavitree, St Thomas.