Alfred Valentine Rouse (14 February 1897 â 1961) was an English footballer who played for Crewe Alexandra, Port Vale, Stoke, Swansea Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers and was described as a 'gentleman' player.
Rouse was born in Hoddesdon and played for Welsh sides Llanelly and Pontypridd before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1921. He played five Second Division games for "Wolves" in the 1921âÂÂ22 campaign, before joining First Division club Stoke in August 1922. He played in 38 matches in 1922âÂÂ23 as Stoke suffered relegation back to the Second Division. Manager Tom Mather kept faith with Rouse at left-half in 1923âÂÂ24, and made him captain for the 1924âÂÂ25 campaign. He scored his first senior goal in a 1âÂÂ1 draw with Barnsley at the Victoria Ground on 1 November 1924. Despite possessing a strong squad, overall performances on the pitch were below standard, and the team went 12 matches without a win (1 January 1925 to 21 March 1925) and was almost relegated. Four wins and three draws in their last eight matches ensured survival by the narrowest of margins, a single point. Rouse was sold to Swansea Town but featured just four times for the "Swans" in 1925âÂÂ26. He left Vetch Field and joined Port Vale in June 1926. He played 29 Second Division matches in the 1926âÂÂ27 season and then 39 league games in the 1927âÂÂ28 season, as Vale posted top ten finishes. However, he lost his first-team place at the Old Recreation Ground in February 1929 and was given a free transfer in May 1929. He spent the 1929âÂÂ30 and 1930âÂÂ31 seasons in the Third Division North with Crewe Alexandra, before joining Connah's Quay & Shotton.