One of the most interesting
parts of the investigation was establishing exactly why Albert
died so young. At time of writing the last known match played by
Albert was March 30th 1896 and in less than one year after, at
the age of 24, he was being laid to rest.
There is plenty of news articles during his football career indicating that he
experienced more than one bought of long term sickness. There is also evidence
that Albert became very ill when he was playing for Derby in a match in London.
The details of the match is not documented but we do know that he played for
Derby against the Corinthians in a friendly on 9th Feb 1895. The following match
on the 11th against Eastbourne he wasn't mentioned in the match report (Derby
Daily Telegraph) and again on the 12th against Millwall he doesn't appear to
have played. The 16th of the same month he was back in the side. Its likely that
the match against Corinthians at the end of April 1895 is the match they are
referring to but as yet i haven't investigated this month to confirm that.
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One of the mysteries which is yet to be solved is why he died at 159 Moss Side
Lane East in Manchester(see map images below). We know that the Woolley family
had relocated to Manchester but we have no confirmation of where they lived at
that time. We also know that his brother Samuel was present at the time of his
death. The obvious answer would be that they lived at 159 Moss Side Lane East
but after a visit to the Manchester archive library it was established that out
of the 40+ Woolley's that lived in the city in 1895 none of them lived there.
In 1896 there was less Woolley's in Manchester but again no one was registered
to 159 Moss Side Lane East! His Mother Elizabeth, died in 1901 and was buried
with Albert. The records at the Southern Cemetry had her address recorded as
18 Prestage Street in Stretford at her time of her death. So lots of confusion
and at the moment, not many answers as to why Albert died at 159 Moss Side Lane.
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