Serjeant
ALLSOPP, THOMAS CHARLESWORTH
Service Number 51731
Died 07/03/1919
Aged 38
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) -- transferred to (75012) 126th Coy. Labour Corps
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Allsopp, of Leicester; husband of Edith Rose Allsopp, of 6, Redwell St., Norwich. Professional footballer and Norfolk County Cricketer.
Buried at NORWICH CEMETERY, NORFOLK
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Sergeant Thomas Allsopp served his country in the First World War but was to become on of the victims of the "Flu Epidemic" after the conflict ended.
Before WWI Thomas Allsopp was a very well known professional cricketer and footballer - and he has local connections to our Forum area. He enlisted and served with The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) during the War. Prior to that, as part of his professional football career, he played for Brighton and Hove Albion between 1905 and 1907 - playing as a regular "outside left". He made 72 appearances for Brighton and Hove Albion and scored 7 goals.
Prior to playing for Brighton and Hove Albion he had played for Leicester Fosse and Luton Town.
His cricketing career was also very successful and he played professionally for Norfolk, the M.C.C. and for Leicestershire, at times playing both professional football and cricket in the same years.
Thomas Charlesworth Allsopp died on the 7th March 1919 and he was buried with military honours in Earlham Road Cemetery, Norwich.
Sheffield Daily Telegraph - Saturday 08 March 1919
Sergeant T. C. Allsopp, the well-known ex- Norwich City footballer and Norfolk County cricketer, died at Norwich yesterday, haring only arrived from France on Saturday.
Leicester Daily Post - Saturday 08 March 1919.
Death of T. C. Allsopp.
A Former Leicester County Cricketer and Fosse Footballer.
The death occurred yesterday at Norwich, of Sergeant Thomas Charlesworth Allsopp, the well known Leicester cricketer and football player, who featured occasionally in the county cricket eleven for several seasons, and was associated for a time with the Leicester Fosse F.C. Sergeant Allsopp, who entered the Army in June, 1916, went to France with the Royal Garrison Artillery, and was subsequently transferred to the Labour Corps. lHe was demobilised only last week. His death was due to influenza after a brief illness.
Allsopp was born in Leicester in 1882 and early made his mark in local cricket and football. As a left arm bowler he had a trial for Leicestershire in 1903, and played in ten matches, finishing with an aggregate of 15 wickets at a cost of 31.86 each. The following year he showed considerable promise, taking part in 14 matches with a record of 47 wickets, at 31.21, but in 1905 his form with the ball was disappointing. He was a useful bat. At football he was a clever outside left, and appearing for Fosse first in 1904, rendered the club excellent service. He was afterwards with Brighton and Hove, and with Norwich City. establishing a considerable reputation in the Southern league. While at Norwich, also, he played cricket for Norfolk in the Minor Counties Competition and he also fulfilled engagements with the M.C.C. His many friends in Leicestershire will sincerely deplore his early death.
