Career
Born in Crook, County Durham Alderson played from a number of amateur sides before moving to Newcastle United where his career was interrupted by the outbreak of World War I. Following the war he had a successful spell at Crystal Palace and another at Sheffield United making over 100 appearances for each club Early career in the North East
Jack Alderson began his footballing career as a junior with his local side Crook Juniors, beginning his senior career with Crook Town. He moved to Shildon Athletic before joining Football League side Middlesbrough.
Crystal Palace
With the outbreak of World War I and with league football abandoned Alderson served in the army whilst remaining on the books at Newcastle.
Based at Woolwich he played a number of wartime games for Crystal Palace as a guest player and at the end of the war signed for Palace from Newcastle for a fee of £50. He was an ever-present in the first post-war season, 1919-1920, as Palace finished third in the Southern League.
He remained a constant in the Palace side as they were promoted as champions in their debut season. Following a dispute with Crystal Palace over a benefit match Alderson moved to Pontypridd in 1924, having played 205 first team games for Palace.
Sheffield United
The football committee (who ran the club at the time) were not completely convinced however and sanctioned the £500 move only if the player was under thirty.
Club secretary John Nicholson was tasked with verifying the matter and the fee was duly paid to Crystal Palace who still retained his registration. Alderson arrived at Bramall Lane with the local press citing him as 29 – this being far from the truth as he was in fact 34. Despite his confused transfer Alderson was a success at United, playing 137 games in four years, although he was often considered eccentric and unreliable by his team mates, particularly his liking for entertaining the fans during a game by touching the ground without bending his knees.
Later career
He subsequently played for Worcester City before rejoining Crook Town where he ended his playing career.
