Although he enjoyed only a brief career at Hove, Bert Addinall quickly won a place in the hearts of Goldstone fans with his strength in the air and his penchant for scoring spectacular goals.
With a record of 33 goals in 63 games, “Our Albert’s” strike-rate compares with the best in the club’s history, and he is one of only two players – the other is Arthur Atwood – to have scored in five or more consecutive games on two occasions.
As a schoolboy Bert represented both Middlesex and London, and first appeared for Queen’s Park Rangers in the early stages of the Second World War. During the hostilities he served firstly in Air Raid Precautions, then with the Army as a driver in the Surgical Corps before qualifying as a sergeant P.T. instructor. In 1946 he played for the Army against its Belgian counterparts.
Bert’s post-war record with Rangers, 59 goals from 149 Football League games, was excellent by any standard, and after ten years at Loftus Road he was rewarded with a richly deserved testimonial from the West London club.
In January 1953, at the age of 31, Bert arrived at the Goldstone together with his Rangers colleague Harry Gilberg, in exchange for Albion’s Ron Higgins and a four-figure sum.
The following season, 1953-54, he led the club’s goalscorers with 22 goals as Albion made a vain bid for the championship of the Third Division (South).
Bert moved on to Crystal Palace in July 1954, but his career was curtailed by injury after just handful of games and he became a taxi-driver in London while also turning out for the Kent League side Snowdown Colliery until 1957. In 1965, Bert became landlord of the Ferry Inn, Shoreham, for a spell, after which he returned to his cab.
Bert played 63 matches for the Seagulls between 1953 and 1954 and scored 33 goals.