|
|
|
Steve
Bloomer |
Derby County
FC, Middlesbrough FC
23 appearances, 28 goals
two goals
on his debut
P 23 W 15 D 6 L 2 F
76:
A
19
78% successful
1895-1907
captain: one
minutes played: 2070 |
|
 |
|
Timeline |
| |
Stephen Bloomer |
|
Birth |
Tuesday, 20 January 1874
in Bridge Street, Cradley, Worcestershire |
|
|
registered in Stourbridge January-March 1874. |
|
Baptism |
Monday, 5 October 1874 at St Peter's Parish Church,
Cradley |
|
Education |
Attended St. James' Church of
England Boarding School, Derby. |
|
|
|
The Bloomer
family moved to Derby in 1879.
According to the 1881 census,
Stephen is the eldest of three children to Caleb and Mareb (née
Dunn) living at 44 Yates Street in Litchurch. His father is a puddler. |
|
|
(His mother
died on 27 November 1887 in Derby)
According to the 1891
census, Stephen now has three more younger siblings. They live at 87 Yates
Street with just their widowed father. Stephen is a striker in the
blacksmith industry. |
|
Marriage |
to Sarah Walker,
on Wednesday, 19 August 1896 at St. Thomas Church in Derby, Derbyshire.
He is stated as living at 41 St. Thomas Road, and Sarah at 42 Litchurch
Street. |
|
|
registered in Derby July-September 1896. |
|
Children |
Stephen and Sarah Bloomer had four
daughters together, Hetty Winifred
(b.15 February 1898), Violet Pretoria
(b.30 April 1900), Doris Alexandra
(b.27 May 1902) and Patricia K.
(b.1920). |
"A
DRUNK
AND DISORDERLY INTERNATIONALIST.
At Derby Police Court yesterday,
Stephen Bloomer, the well-known footballer, was summoned for having been
drunk and disorderly on Sunday last. He had only just returned from
Glasgow, where the previous day he kicked two of England's goals against
Scotland. Defendant did not appear but was represented by a solicitor,
whose only statement was an expression of regret. A fine of 10s. and costs
was imposed." - Liverpool Echo,
Thursday, 7 April 1898 |
|
|
According to the 1901 census,
a professional footballer and married to Sarah, with two daughters, Violet
and Hetty, living at 81 Cummings Street in Derby. |
"ILLNESS
OF STEPHEN BLOOMER.
Stephen Bloomer, England's greatest forward, came very near to having
played his last game this week. He caught a chill on returning home from
the Players' Union meeting, and pneumonia developed. It was touch-and-go
with him on Monday, but the crisis has now been passed, and the
Middlesbrough Club's medical adviser hopes to pull the great player
through. Bloomer had not missed a match up to a week ago." -
The Derby Daily Telegraph, Thursday, 24 December 1908. |
|
|
According to the 1911
census, Stephen is still a professional footballer, still married and now
with a third daughter, Doris. They live at 35 Portland Street in Derby. |
|
|
"STEPHEN BLOOMER WRITES HOME
FROM GERMANY.
News has again been obtained of Stephen Bloomer, the famous international
football forward, who was fulfilling a coaching engagement on the
Continent when the broke out. As recently as last Friday, Mrs. Bloomer was
overjoyed to receive at her home in Derby, a communication from her
husband himself. In this, Bloomer states that on November 5th he was
arrested as 'a prisoner of war'. and is now treated as such. He iso ne of
over 2,5000 Englishmen of military age who have been similarly dealt with
in Germany. Bloomer desires to be remembered by his old friends, and says
he is as comfortable as can be expected under he circumstances." -
The Ashbourne Telegraph, Friday, 20 November 1914. |
|
|
His daughter, Violet, died in 1917, his
father died in 1919. Then their fourth daughter, Patricia, died five weeks
after being born in 1920)
According to the 1921
census, Stephen is now a fitters labourer (for British Cellulose Chemical
Co.). He is still married and still lives at 35 Portland Street.
Passenger Lists in 1922 has Steve still living at 35 Portland Street.
The 48 year-old is stated as a footballer. He was on the CPL Minnedosa
travelling from Montréal to Southampton, on 11 August. |
|
|
Sarah Bloomer died suddenly on 9 April 1936 at the home
of her daughter and son-in-law,
Alf
Quantrill in Hale, Cheshire. Her address is stated as Portland Street in Derby. |
|
Death |
Saturday, 16 April 1938
in Derby, Derbyshire. Two years and a day after his wife, Sarah. |
|
aged 64 years 86 days |
registered in Derby April-June 1938. |
|
"BLOOMER.—On April 16, 1938, Stephen Bloomer (Steve), aged
64 years, at the Great Northern Inn, Junction-street."
-
Derby Evening Telegraph, Monday, 18 April 1938 |
|
Obituary |
,%20Steve.jpg) "DEATH
OF STEVE BLOOMER
"The
'Telegraph' announces with regret the death early to-day of Steve Bloomer,
one of football's greatest personalities and the finest inside-right in
the history of the game. He died at the Great Northern Inn,
Junction-street, Derby, the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and
Mrs. Cyril Richards, with whom he had been living since his return on
March 25 from a health trip to Australia and New Zealand. He was taken ill
the day after his return, and his condition gradually became worse. His
death, however, was comparatively sudden and will come as a great shock to
the countless thousands who knew him affectionately as 'Steve.' He had
been ailing almost since the death of his wife two years ago, and the trip
to Australia was arranged in the hope that it would bring the desired
recovery.
,%20Steve.jpg) First discovered by Johnny Goodall, the old Rams' stalwart,
Steve was born in Cradley Heath in 1874, and was signed on by Derby County
at the age of 18 at a wage of 7s. 6d. a week! His first match with the
Rams' senior side was in his native Staffordshire—at Stoke on September 3,
1892; his last at Bradford against the City on January 14, 1914. He
quickly rose to a dazzling magnitude in the football firmament, and became
perhaps the greatest 'draw' the game has ever known. He was with the
England team on 21 occasions—including nine matches against Scotland and
six against Wales. His appearances in League and Cup-tie games exceeded
500. It provided one of football's greatest sensations when Steve was
transferred to Middlesbrough in March 1906. This followed a testimonial to
him to which admirers from all parts of the country contributed. He
dazzled opponents of the Teesside club for four seasons before returning
to the Baseball Ground, and at the age of 38, led the Rams from the
wilderness of the Second Division. It is not generally known that Steve
was also a baseball player of great ability. He was the best
second-baseman in England, according to B. G. Knowles, one of the most
capable judges of the game. He leaves two daughters—Mrs. Richards and Mrs.
A. Quantrill, of Altrincham, wife of a former Derby County player. There
are four grandchildren."
- Derby Evening Telegraph, Saturday, 16 April 1938 |
|
Funeral |
Wednesday 3pm, 20 April 1938 at Derby Cathedral
Buried in Nottingham Road Cemetery, in
Chaddesden, Derby
(above left), along with his wife. |
,%20Steve.jpg) "FUNERAL
OF STEVE BLOOMER
"Wonderful tributes to the memory of 'Steve' Bloomer, the former England,
Middlesbrough and Derby County inside-right was paid at his funeral in
Derby yesterday. Hundreds of people lined the main streets of the town,
and the seating accommodation of 1,000 at Derby Cathedral proved
inadequate for those who wished to be present. The service as conducted by
the Provost (the Very Rev. P.A. Micklem) assisted by the Precentor (the
Rev. G. A. Lewis Lloyd) prior to internment in the family grave at the
Nottingham-road Cemetery. The mourners were Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Quantrill
and Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Richards (sons-in-law and daughters), Mrs.
Hickinbottom (sister), Mrs. Measures (sisters). Amongst the colleagues of
playing days were Messrs. Fred Spiksley, Johnny Macmillan, Billy Meredith
(Manchester) and Charlie Morris. The Football Association was represented
by Mr. J. Holmes, and Derby County by Messrs. H. G .Pattison, J. H.
Followws, B. Robshaw (directors), staff and players"
- The Nottingham Journal, Thursday, 21 April 1938 |
|
|
 Douglas Lammings' An
English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & |
|
Biographies |
Steve Bloomer:
The Story of Football's First Superstar - Peter J. Seddon (Breedon,
1999)
Destroying Angel: Steve Bloomer ~ England's First
Football Hero - Peter J. Seddon (JMD Media, November 2010 [update
of his 1999 publication) |
|
Playing Career |
Club(s) |
Started playing
football with St. James' School FC in the Derbyshire Minor
League,
then in
1888 Bloomer joined Derby Swifts
FC.
He also briefly played for Tutbury Hawthorn
FC,
before
joining Derby County FC after
being discovered by
John Goodall.
"SUSPENSION OF
STEPHEN BLOOMER
The Derby County Directors have suspended Stephen Bloomer for 'gross
insubordination'. It is officially announced that he will not play this
week, and his selection after Saturday next depends upon whether he offers
s suitable apology for his alleged breach of discipline."
- The Derby Daily Telegraph, Tuesday, 3 December 1902
He had been registered with
Burton Wanderers FC at Christmas 1892 while still a Derby player, for
which he was
suspended by the FA on 20 February 1893.
Bloomer did cause a sensation when he joined Middlesbrough
FC on 16 March 1906 for a £750 transfer fee, alongside
Billy Brawn from Aston
Villa FC. He returned to County on 21
September 1910, ending rumours he was about to join Raith Rovers FC. Bloomer reluctantly retired at the
end of the 1913-14 season, at the age of 40 following County's relegation, having accepted a coaching
position in Germany. However, when he returned to the Baseball Ground
after coaching in Netherlands, Bloomer did play a few games for the County
reserves, the team he was now coaching. |
League History
599 appearances,
351 goals |
Derby County FC 1894-1906
355 appearances
206 goals.
debut: 3 September 1892 Stoke FC 1 Derby County FC 3.
Middlesbrough FC 1906-10 125 appearances 61
goals
debut:
17 March 1906 Liverpool FC 6 MiddlesbroughFC 1.
Derby County FC
98 appearances 53 goals
debut (division two): 1 October 1910 Derby County FC 5 
Lincoln City FC 0.
last: 24 January 1914 Bradford City FC 0 Derby
County FC 0. |
Club honours
|
Football League
Division One third place 1893-94 (25ᵃ 19ᵍ), 1896-97 (29ᵃ 24ᵍ),
runners-up 1895-96 (25ᵃ 22ᵍ);
FA
Cup semi-finalists 1895-96 (5ᵃ 5ᵍ), 1896-97 (4ᵃ 7ᵍ), 1901-02 (7ᵃ 3ᵍ),
1903-04 (6ᵃ 5ᵍ),
runners-up 1897-98 (3ᵃ 5ᵍ), 1898-99 (5ᵃ 6ᵍ), 1902-03 (1ᵃ 1ᵍ);
Football League Division Two
winners 1911-12 (36ᵃ 18ᵍ); |
|
Individual honours |
Football
League (fifteen appearances); |
|
Goalscoring honours |
Football
League Division One Top Goalscorer
1895-96 (20,
shared with John Campbell),
1896-97 (24), 1898-99 (23), 1900-01 (23), 1903-04 (2); |
Distinctions |
As well
as playing for the football side, Bloomer also starred with the Baseball
Club, Derby County Baseball Club won the Championship in 1895, 1897 and
1898.
His memorial (above
right) was erected in October 1996 in Cradley.
His English League goals records of 351 was
finally beaten by Billy Dean in 1936.
His brother, Philip, played one
league match for Derby County FC in 1895—He died 5 June 1896. |
|
Height/Weight |
5'
8½", 11st. 9lbs [1899],
5'
7", 10st.
12lbs [1902],
5'
7½", 11st.
0lbs
[1904]. |
|
Source
|
Douglas Lammings' An English
Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990]. |
|
England Career |
|
Player number |
One of four who became 218th players (220)
to appear for England. |
|
Position(s) |
Inside-right |
|
First match |
No. 53,
9 March 1895, England
9
Ireland 0,
a British Championship match
at Derbyshire County Cricket
Ground, Nottingham Road, Derby, aged 21 years
48 days.
|
Last match
12 years 28 days
(new record) |
No. 91, 6 April 1907,
England 1
Scotland
1, a British Championship match at St. James' Park, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, aged 33 years 76 days. |
|
Major tournaments |
British Championship 1894-95, 1895-96, 1896-97,
1897-98, 1898-99, 1899-1900, 1900-01, 1901-02, 1903-04, 1904-05, 1906-07; |
|
Team honours |
British Championship winners
1894-95, 1897-98, 1898-99, 1900-01, 1903-04, 1904-05; |
Individual honours |
The Professionals
(three appearances 6ᵍ March 1895-March 1897, September 1901, withdrew in March
1896)
The North (three
appearances 3ᵍ February 1899-February 1901, withdrew in February
1902);
England's Top
Goalscorer (three 1895, six 1896
(record-equalling), four 1897, five 1901), Joint Top Goalscorer
(one 1900, one 1907). |
Records |
Record England appearances
from 1905 until 1909, overtaken by Bob Crompton.
Record England goalscorer between 1898 until 1956 (shared with
Vivian Woodward from 1911), overtaken by Nat Lofthouse;
The oldest
goalscorer
until March 1914.
The longest career between goals until Stan
Matthews broke it.
Scored in his
first ten internationals, the record still stands.
Longest England career, until Bob Crompton broke it. |
|
Distinctions |
Victorious
in his his first six appearances.
England's
Alf
Quantrill married Bloomer's eldest daughter, Hetty in 1921
Died eighteen days after Alec Leake. |
|
Beyond England |
,%20Steve.jpg) Bloomer accepted the job of coach with the Britannia Berlin 92
Sports Club, in Berlin, arriving in the German capital just three weeks
before the First World War broke out and, as an alien, spent almost all of
the next four war years as an internee at the Civilian Detention Camp, on
the racecourse at Ruhleben, six miles from Berlin. Following peacetime,
Bloomer coached FC Blauw-Wit Amsterdam, before he returned to Derby County
FC as reserve team coach. Bloomer turned down an approach from Poland to
coach their Olympic team in November 1919. He, did however, coach Real Unión Club de Irún, based in Bilbao, Spain. Winning the 1924 Cope del Rey and the
Campeonato de Guipuzcoa. He returned to Derby, becoming the club's
groundsman until his death. A bust (right) was finally unveiled in
January 2009 at Pride Park Stadium. -
An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who.
Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.37./Darlington Northern Echo
- 18 August 2007/CradleyLinks |
|
The Numbers |
|
parties |
Appearances |
comp. apps |
minutes |
|
goals ave.min |
comp. goals |
captain |
| 27 |
23 |
23 |
2070 |
28 |
74
min |
28 |
one |
|
sixteen matches |
|
The minutes here given
can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an
approximation. |
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS
|
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
23 |
15 |
6 |
2 |
76 |
19 |
+57 |
1 |
11 |
3.304 |
0.826 |
78.3 |
+13 |
|
all of his matches were played in the British Championship. |
When The
28
Goals Were Scored
|
0-5 |
6-10 |
11-15 |
16-20 |
21-25 |
26-30 |
31-35 |
36-40 |
41-ht |
ht-50 |
51-55 |
56-60 |
61-65 |
66-70 |
71-75 |
76-80 |
81-85 |
86-90 |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
14 |
15 |
Venue Record
|
Venue |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS
|
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
Home |
16 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
59 |
13 |
+46 |
0 |
7 |
3.688 |
0.813 |
78.1 |
+9 |
|
Away |
7 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
17 |
6 |
+11 |
1 |
4 |
2.429 |
0.857 |
78.6 |
+4 |
Captain Record
|
Venue |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS
|
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
Home |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
=0 |
0 |
0 |
2.00 |
2.00 |
50.0 |
=0 |
|
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
=0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
50 |
=0 |
Tournament Record
|
British Championship Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
| BC 1894-95 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
+12 |
0 |
2 |
6.00 |
0.00 |
100.0 |
+2 |
| BC 1895-96 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
1 |
+10 |
0 |
1 |
5.50 |
0.50 |
100.0 |
+2 |
| BC 1896-97 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
11 |
2 |
+9 |
0 |
2 |
2.667 |
0.667 |
66.7 |
+1 |
| BC 1897-98 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
+2 |
0 |
0 |
3.00 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
| BC 1898-99 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
3 |
+16 |
0 |
1 |
6.333 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+3 |
| BC 1899-1900 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
-3 |
0 |
0 |
1.00 |
4.00 |
0.00 |
-1 |
| BC 1900-01 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
2 |
+6 |
0 |
1 |
4.00 |
1.00 |
75.0 |
+1 |
| BC 1901-02 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
+1 |
1 |
2 |
1.00 |
0.667 |
66.7 |
+1 |
| BC 1903-04 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
+1 |
0 |
1 |
1.00 |
0.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
| BC 1904-05 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
+3 |
0 |
1 |
1.667 |
0.667 |
83.3 |
+2 |
| BC 1906-07 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
=0 |
0 |
0 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
50.0 |
=0 |
|
BC
All |
23 |
15 |
6 |
2 |
76 |
19 |
+57 |
1 |
11 |
3.304 |
0.826 |
78.3 |
+13 |
|
All Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
| BC |
23 |
15 |
6 |
2 |
76 |
19 |
+57 |
1 |
11 |
3.304 |
0.826 |
78.3 |
+13 |
|
23 |
15 |
6 |
2 |
76 |
19 |
+57 |
1 |
11 |
3.304 |
0.826 |
78.3 |
+13 |
Match History
|
apps |
match |
match details |
comp |
res. |
rundown |
pos |
|
the first player to score in fourteen England matches |
|
the first player to score in fifteen England matches |
|
|
England
Football Online
