Within days of winning his first England cap, Bert (“Kelly”) Houlker had left First Division Blackburn Rovers for Portsmouth, the Southern League champions. In 1902-03, he won two further caps, but the Saints replaced Pompey at the top of that League.

Whereupon he moved to Southampton and enjoyed one solid run of games as the Saints retained the title in 1904. A strong left-half with a tenacious style so popular with fans,

he had nevertheless fallen out of favour with the England selectors, but bounced back to make two more international appearances towards the end of a patchy 1905-06 season with Southampton. Whereupon, he gathered up his caps (see scrapbook section) and Southern League medal and went home, intending to retire. Tempted back to Ewood Park, he had another season in the First Division before retiring in 1907 – but only until he was wooed, in 1909, to have a final fling with Colne. Well, not quite final… In 1918, Bert, at almost 46, turned out for the Rovers in a war-time game. After working as an overseer at the Mill, Bert established a modest coal-haulage business in the 1930s, using hand carts. When he retired in 1947, the carts had given way to a fleet of lorries.