It is with great sadness that we learnt that Albert Cheesebrough, who played in Leicester City’s FA Cup Final side against Tottenham Hotspur in 1961, died peacefully on 2 September, 2020, aged 85.
Born in Burnley on 17 January, 1935, Albert made his debut for his hometown club against Manchester United as a 17-year-old in 1952. Playing as a left winger or as an inside forward, Albert played a total of 142 top flight games for Burnley scoring 35 goals. He also played in 16 FA Cup ties for the northern club. While at Burnley he won an England Under-23s cap against France in 1956 and scored a hat-trick against Leicester City at Turf Moor in November 1957.
In June 1959, Leicester City’s Matt Gillies signed Albert for a fee of £20,000. He was the Club’s top scorer with 17 league and FA Cup goals in his first season at Filbert Street. The following season he played in Leicester City’s FA Cup Final side against double-winning Tottenham Hotspur. He also featured in the European Cup Winners’ Cup for the Club in 1961/62.
Although he did not play in Leicester City’s 1963 FA Cup Final against Manchester United, he had been regular in that famous Ice Kings side for the first half of the 1962/63 season.
In July 1963, after making a total 138 appearances for Leicester City, Port Vale paid their club record fee of £15,000 for Albert who later also played for Mansfield Town until a broken leg ended his professional career.
A talented all-round sportsman, Albert also played cricket in the Lancashire League for Lowerhouse Cricket Club.
In later life, Albert ran his own butcher’s business in Southport.
Leicester City Football Club’s thoughts are with Albert’s family and friends at this sad time.
