Albert Iremonger was born in Wilford, Nottinghamshire, on 15 June 1884. Between 1905 and 1925 he played football as a goalkeeper for Notts County, amassing a record 601 appearances. His 20-year career was interrupted by the First World War in which he served as part of the Middlesex Regiment.
As a cricketer Iremonger was a right-handed batsman and right arm medium pace bowler. He made his debut for Notts against Leicestershire in June 1906 and played 14 First-Class matches, making his final First XI appearance in 1910. Iremonger took ten First-Class wickets at an average of 29.60 and scored 261 runs at an average of 16.31. He also made 28 appearances for Notts 2nd XI and the Club & Ground XI, playing his last match for the county in 1927 at the age of 43.
Iremonger registered his only First-Class half century, and highest score of 60 not out, against Sussex in August 1909. Batting at nine, Iremonger hit his score in an innings of 472 all out before the match ended in a draw.
Iremonger’s sole First-Class five-wicket haul also came in 1909 when he took 5-83 in a drawn match against Essex. He bowled 36.5 overs at an economy rate of just 2.25 during Essex’s first innings, playing a key part in preventing Essex from building a bigger first innings lead. His victims included the key wicket of AJ Turner, who had scored 117 before he was caught by Wilf Payton off Iremonger’s bowling.
Albert’s elder brother James also played cricket for Notts and, unlike Albert, he became a well-established member of the first team from 1899 until his final First-Class appearance in 1914. James appeared in 333 matches for Nottinghamshire, scoring 16,509 runs including 31 centuries and a highest score of 272. James was also a very effective bowler who claimed 612 First-Class wickets at an average of 22.62 and he later became coach of Notts County FC.
Standing at 6’ 5”, Albert was an imposing and notoriously eccentric goalkeeper who was considered unfortunate not to have been awarded an England cap. However, his fame as a Notts County player is immortalised by one of the roads alongside the Meadow Lane stadium having been named after him.
After his retirement from professional sport Iremonger was the landlord the Cremorne Hotel in the Meadows and the Ferry Inn in his home village of Wilford before his death on 9 March 1958.
April 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 294