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Players Index Page Last Updated
30 December 2022
 
 

Syd Puddefoot

Blackburn Rovers FC

2 appearances, 0 goals

P 2 W 0 D 1 L 1 F 0: A 1
25% successful

1925-26

captain: none
minutes played:
180

Timeline

  Sydney Charles Puddefoot
Birth 17 October 1894 in Limehouse, London [registered in Stepney, December 1894].
Attended Park House School, West Ham
 

According to the 1901 census, Sydney is, on this census, the second of five children, the youngest are five-month old twins, to Harry and Sarah Elizabeth (née Sealey). His father is a cake and biscuit traveller. They live at 18 Aston Street in Limehouse.

 

According to the 1911 census, Sidney is still the second of five children, although only three survive from 1901. In tragic fact, the census reveals that Sidney is one of thirteen children, and an astonishing eight have died. Sidney is an accounting clerk, his father is a foreman and horsekeeper. They all live at 18 Leatherdale Street in Mile End Old Town.
According to his WWI Service Records (Royal Fusiliers), Sidney was living at 69 Vicarage Road in East Ham on 10 December 1915. He had syphilis from January 1917 until August 1918, he was hospitalized for the last two months. He was discharged from the army thereafter.

  According to the 1921 census, Sydney is now a professional footballer (for West Ham United FC) and is the oldest of four sons still at their home with their parents at 69 Vicarage Road in Straford.
According to Passenger Lists, Sydney, now a football coach, and Lilian returned to London on 8 June 1934, from Turkey on board the Amarapoora. They were living at 13 Trafalgar Road in Blackpool
Marriage to Lilian Frankland [registered in Fylde, September 1931]. They had one daughter, Susanne (b.1934)
  According to the 1939 register, Sydney C., a commission agents manager, is married to Lillian, and living at 27 Marcoft Avenue in Blackpool.
According to British Phone Books, in 1962, Sydney was living at 12 Kimberly Avenue in Blackpool, Tel No. Blackpool 42802. From 1967 until 1972, Sydney was working at Southend and living at 22 Bewley Court in Whittingham Avenue in Southend, Tel No. 62026 (changed to 67387 in 1972).
Death 2 October 1972 at 22 Bewley Court, Southend-on-Sea, aged 75 years 350 days [registered in Rochford, December 1972].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s) Played schoolboy football in East London, and played his junior football with Condor Athletic FC and Limehouse Town FC. Signed amateur forms with West Ham United FC during 1913, he signed professionally in the following season. During WW1, he was posted in Scotland, and guested for Falkirk FC. He returned and starred for the Hammers following the war. After 158 league appearances and 102 goals, he returned to Falkirk FC on 7 February 1922 for a world transfer fee record of £5000. After 113 league appearances and 49 goals, on 3 February 1925, Blackburn Rovers FC, inparticular, Bob Crompton, beat Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC to the signature of Puddefoot for a £4000 fee.
"THE TRIAL OF SYD PUDDEFOOT.
"The first big 'trial' of a footballer since the English Football Association rule relating to inquiries was altered to permit a player to appear in person to answer any charges will take place at Sheffield to-day, when a commission will deal with the case of Syd Puddefoot, of Blackburn Rovers. Puddefoot was sent off the field by the referee 30 seconds before the end of the match between Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers at Bolton on October 19.
"Puddefoot, I understand, will take advantage of the new ruling. He will have the right to hear all the evidence given in support of any charge, to cross-examine all witnesses, and to call evidence to refute the charge.
"Before the rule was altered the accused's case was put in writing and forwarded to the commission, and he was not permitted to attend.
"The sending off of Puddefoot mystified the critics and spectators. There was a heavy mist over the ground at the time. It was stated afterwards, however, that Puddefoot was alleged to have kicked Nuttall, the Bolton half-back."
- Friday, 8 November 1929, The Courier and Advertiser
  On 26 February 1932, he returned to West Ham United FC for another four-figure sum, scored another three goals in 22 league appearances, before being placed on the open-to-transfer list on 21 April 1933.
Club honours Scottish FA Cup semi-finalist 1923-24; FA Cup winners 1927-28; FA Charity Shield runners-up 1928;
Individual honours Football League (two appearances), Southern League (one appearance)
Distinctions Also played first class cricket with Essex CCC (1922-23). After returning from Europe, Syd turned out in the Ribblesdale League with St. Annes FC in June 1934 for two games before returning to Turkey.
Height/Weight 5' 7" [1915], 5' 8¾" [1917], 5' 10½", 12st. 0lbs [1926].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

Management Career

Club(s) After failing to become the manager at Blackpool FC, where he had settled with his wife, he was appointed the player-manager in Turkey with Galatasaray, from June 1933 for the season. Returned to England, via a brief coaching assignment in Netherlands in the 1934 summer.
"SYD PUDDEFOOT MAULED.
"Syd Puddefoot, the famous international footballer and former centre-forward of West Ham United, Blackburn Rovers, and Falkirk F.C., received a mauling when trying to restore order in a game between the Galata Saray Club - described as the 'Arsenal' of Turkish soccer, and trained by Puddefoot - and the Fener Bagtche Club.
"A quarrel arose during the game at İstanbul, and play had to be suspended. Police were called in when the spectators invaded the pitch, and several players and spectators were injured in the scrimmage.
"The Turkish Football Association have opened an inquiry into the incident. Puddefoot was appointed coach to the Galata Saray Club about seven months ago on a year's contract." - Wednesday, 28 February 1934, The Falkirk Herald.
"
17 PLAYERS SUSPENDED
"As a sequel to the incident at a football match at İstanbul last week, in which Sidney Puddefoot was assaulted, the Turkish Football Association has suspended 17 of the 22 players who took part in the match.
"One player has been suspended for life, and others for periods varying from seven to two months.
"The match was between two old rivals, the Galata Saray and the Fener Bagtche Club, and whenever they meet excitement is at fever heat, both among spectators and players.
"On this occasion a free fight took place, and the referee was powerless. He repeatedly blew his whistle, but no one paid any attention, and the game had to be cancelled. Players came to blows, and one of them assaulted Puddefoot, who trains the Galata Saray Club.
"This action led to reprisals, in which spectators and players took part. One player fainted; others were injured and had to be taken to hospital. Police were called in and only restored order with difficulty."
- Monday, 5 March 1934, The Courier and Advertiser.
  Appointment as manager at Northampton Town FC on 8 March 1935, until his resignation on 10 March 1937 over a disagreement of club policy. Afterwhich he returned to coach in Turkey.

England Career

Player number One of five who became the 495th players (498) to appear for England.
Position(s) Inside-right
First match No. 147, 24 October 1925, Ireland 0 England 0, a British Championship match at Windsor Park, Donegall Avenue, Belfast, aged 31 years 7 days.
Last match No. 149, 17 April 1926, England 0 Scotland 1, a British Championship match at Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester, aged 31 years 182 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1925-26;
Team honours None
Individual honours England victory (two appearances, 1919-20)
Distinctions Died a week after Bill Rawlings

Beyond England

Appointed as an FA instructor to Kent Secondary Schoolboys in 1935, replacing Wally Hardinge. He was replaced by Len Graham, to become Northampton Town manager. Later a civil servant, initially serving as a police war reserve, in Blackpool, he retired in 1963, then had a spell on Southend United FC's staff from 1967. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.200.

 

Syd Puddefoot - Career Statistics
Squads Apps comp. apps Mins. goals ave.min comp. goals Capt. Disc.
2 2 2 180 0 0 min 0 none none
minutes are an approximation, due to the fact that many matches rarely stick to exactly ninety minutes long, allowing time for injuries and errors.

 

Syd Puddefoot - Match Record - All Matches - By Type of Match
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 1 0 0.00 1.00 0.00 -1
Away 1 0 1 0 0 0 =0 1 1 0.00 0.00 50.0 =0
All - British Championship 2 0 1 1 0 1 -1 2 1 0.00 0.50 25.0 -1

 

Syd Puddefoot - Match Record - Tournament Matches
British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1925-26 2 0 1 1 0 1 -1 2 1 0.00 0.50 25.0 -1
BC All 2 0 1 1 0 1 -1 2 1 0.00 0.50 25.0 -1
All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 2 0 1 1 0 1 -1 2 1 0.00 0.50 25.0 -1
All 2 0 1 1 0 1 -1 2 1 0.00 0.50 25.0 -1

Syd Puddefoot - Match History
 

 Club: Blackburn Rovers F.C. - two full appearances (180 min)

F.A. International Selection Committee - two full appearances (180 min)x

Age 31
1 147 24 October 1925 - Ireland 0 England 0, Windsor Park, Belfast BC AD Start ir
2 149 17 April 1926 - England 0 Scotland 1, Old Trafford, Manchester BC HL Start ir

Notes

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CG