Alf Ackerman was born in Pretoria, South Africa, on the 5th January 1929. He enjoyed huge success in the local Leagues, particularly with Pretoria Municipals, and became noted for his fantastic ability in and around the goalmouth.

At the young age of 18 he was contacted by Clyde FC who, at the time, were doing well in Scotland. So, early in 1947, a young man who was to gain the nickname of 'Ack Ack Ackerman' (memories of the war and its anti-aircraft guns were fresh) made his debut on British shores. After 3 good years with Clyde Alfie had begun to attract interest from English clubs. Hull City, a hugely ambitious Second Division outfit, were first to make a move and paid a massive £11,500 to capture his signature.

He went on to score 21 goals in just 34 appearances for The Tigers, but found it hard to settle beneath the Humber Bridge. After just one season he was again on the move, this time signing for Norwich City for £9,500. Two seasons at Carrow Road saw him scoring prolifically and overpowering opposition defences. The Norwich faithful were stunned, therefore, when Ackerman was allowed to leave the club in October 1953, returning to the club that had brought him in to English football - Hull City. He enjoyed his time in Hull much more second time around, forming a formidable strike partnership with Bobby Crosbie (the pair became known as the 'terrible twins'). He was much in demand by now and found it impossible to turn down the offer of a move to Derby County in March 1955. It turned out to be a bad move, with Alf finding himself in and out of favour, and he did not hesitate to join Carlisle United when manager Fred Emery offered him the chance of first team football in November 1956.

He went on to score 26 goals in 32 games (including 7 goals in four games in the FA Cup) during his first season with the club - United finished 15th. This included a wonderful 6-1 victory against Mansfield at Brunton Park, on the 22nd December 1956, in which Alf scored 4 goals. Brunton Park was seeing yet another goal scoring legend. The FA Cup game against Birmingham on the 5th January 1957 brought the biggest crowd ever seen down Warwick Road, and 27,164 people watched Ackerman grab a hat-trick in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Only Brian Clough was more prolific in the English Divisions throughout that fantastic season for United's front man.

He netted 37 League goals and 3 FA Cup goals in the 57/58 season, playing in every game for the club. This included two hat-tricks and five double-strikes. His partnership with the influential Ivor Broadis was becoming un-stoppable. He had also shown, especially over the course of this season, that he could score with both feet and with his head. It was simple, if he wasn't marked, he scored. Despite this, the club still struggled somewhat and ended up 16th in Division Three North.

His final months with the club in the 58/59 season (incidentally, the first season of the newly formed Fourth Division) were less fruitful, but he still managed 7 goals in 23 League appearances and 2 goals in 3 FA Cup ties. It was in January 1959 that Carlisle waved a fond farewell to Alfie. Rumour had it that he had been involved in dressing room arguments for a number of months with new manager Andy Beattie (he had even spent a short time on the transfer list) and it came as no real shock when he moved on to join Millwall at The Den. He left the club having made 96 appearances and scoring an impressive 62 goals. He remained with Millwall until 1961 when the curtain finally fell on his professional career. A total of 371 League games had been played and a massive 198 goals had been scored. He did go on to manage both Dartford, and Gravesend & Northfleet, in Non-League football and settled in the Dartford area where he became very popular running a local newsagents store.

He returned to South Africa in later years where ill health got the better of him, and he died on the 10th July 1988 aged 59 in Johannesburg. Alf Ackerman is beyond doubt one of the best goalscoring footballers this club has seen. Again, it is up for debate as to whether he is the best goalscorer ever to grace Brunton Park, but I for one will not argue with anyone who claims he is.