Albert Carnelly (1870–1920) was an English footballer who made a significant impact as an inside forward in the Football League and Southern League during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Nottingham, England, on December 29, 1870, Carnelly was a prolific goalscorer throughout his career.
He began his football journey playing locally for Notts County, though he didn’t make a first-team appearance for them. His professional career truly kicked off in December 1890 when he joined Loughborough. Here, he quickly established himself, scoring 44 goals in 58 Midland League appearances, demonstrating his keen eye for goal. His senior debut was in an FA Cup tie for Loughborough against Northwich Victoria in January 1893, where he scored despite a 2-1 home defeat.
In May 1894, Carnelly moved to Nottingham Forest, making the step up to Division One. He played two seasons with them, scoring 24 goals in 52 appearances. In his first season (1894-1895), he was Forest’s top goalscorer with 17 goals in 32 appearances.
He then joined Leicester Fosse in May 1896 for a single season, playing in Division Two and adding 10 goals in 28 games to his tally. Carnelly then ventured south, signing with Bristol City in July 1897 to play in the Southern League. He enjoyed a successful spell there over two stints (1897-1898 and 1898-1899), scoring a combined 27 goals in 35 league appearances and helping the team to Southern Football League runners-up titles in both seasons.
In the summer of 1899, Carnelly signed for Thames Ironworks (the club that would soon become West Ham United). He proved to be a valuable asset, scoring 14 goals in 34 appearances during his one season there, including two goals on his home debut. He then spent a further season in the Southern League with Millwall Athletic, making 13 appearances and scoring 2 goals.
After a brief return to Ilkeston Town in 1901, Albert Carnelly returned to Nottingham in 1901. He regained his amateur status in 1903 and finished his playing career with Nottingham Corporation Tramways.
Throughout his career, Carnelly made over 200 appearances, scoring a remarkable 116 goals in first-team league football. This included 80 Football League appearances with 34 goals, 58 Midland League appearances with 44 goals, and 75 Southern League appearances with 38 goals.
Albert Carnelly passed away on August 18, 1920, at the age of 49, in Nottingham. His career exemplifies the dynamic and evolving nature of English football at the turn of the 20th century, with his consistent goal-scoring prowess making him a notable figure in the history of several clubs.