In February 1905, Sunderland FC inside-right Alf Common shocked the sporting world when he became the first £1,000 transfer. He was born in Sunderland and signed for his hometown team in 1897 as a goalscoring centre forward or outside right. In November 1901, not long after he had broken into the Sunderland first team, he was transferred to Sheffield United for a fee of £325. Common refused to re-sign for United in 1904 and returned to Sunderland for £520. When news brook of his impending move to relegation-threatened Middlesbrough, the Sheffield Daily Telegraph made it clear that he had not been forgiven for leaving United the previous year: ‘When Common refused to re-sign for United there was some talk of him retiring from football, but eventually his reason for leaving here was stated to be connected with business, and that desired live in Sunderland. Now he has signed for Middlesbrough, and although it may be fact that he will continue to live in Sunderland, yet the circumstances are rather curious. The price paid for him is stated to be big one, and it is evident that Middlesbrough intend to leave nothing undone to escape from their present dangerous position.’ Some members of the Football Association (FA), most notably J. C. Clegg, had long believed that the practice of ‘buying and selling players is unsportsmanlike and most objectionable in itself, and ought not to be entertained by those who desire to see the game played under proper conditions'.  The Yorkshire Evening Press agreed: ‘Just fancy £l.000 for Alf Common! It ought to be possible to buy a whole team for that sum with the field thrown into the bargain.’  It might had been part of a last-ditch strategy to save Middlesbrough from relegation, but it worked: Common scored a 50th minute penalty against his old club Sheffield United in his first game securing Middlesbrough’s first away win for nearly two years.  Subsequently the club, which had been battling relegation all season, survived against the odds.