Eddie Stuart

Eddie Stuart
Personal information
Full nameEdward Albert Stuart[1]
Date of birth12 May 1931[1]
Place of birthMiddelburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa[1]
Date of death4 November 2014 (aged 83)
Place of deathWrexham, Wales
Playing positionDefender
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1950Rangers Johannesburg
1951–1962Wolverhampton Wanderers287(5)
1962–1964Stoke City63(2)
1964–1966Tranmere Rovers83(2)
1966–1968Stockport County77(1)
1968–1972Worcester City?(0)
Total510(10)
Teams managed
1968–1971Worcester City (player-manager)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Edward Albert "Eddie" Stuart (12 May 1931 – 4 November 2014) was a South African professional footballer who played as a defender. He played 322 times in England for Wolverhampton Wanderers between 1951 and 1962, winning three league titles and the FA Cup. He also served Stoke City, Tranmere Rovers and Stockport County.[1]

Career

Stuart began his professional career with Rangers of Johannesburg, where he won the South African Cup, before joining English English First Division side Wolverhampton Wanderers in January 1951. After spending time in the reserves, he made his senior debut on 15 April 1952, scoring in a 4–1 loss to Black Country rivals West Bromwich Albion. A visit to his homeland saw him contract a tropical disease that hospitalised him and put him out of action for over a year.[2] He returned to the first team for the final months of the 1953–54 season that brought Wolves their first-ever league championship. He remained in the starting team over the remainder of the decade, adding two further league titles, and becoming club captain in 1959 following the retirement of Billy Wright.[2]

In Summer 1962 Stuart joined Stoke City for £8,000.[3] His first season with the club saw them win the Second Division title in 1962–63, and he remained for their return in the top flight.[1] He played 30 matches for Stoke in 1963–64 as they consolidate their top-tier status.[1] He moved to Tranmere Rovers for £4,000 in 1964, and later served Stockport County, where he won the Fourth Division title. He then had a brief spell in management as he became player-manager of non-league Worcester City in 1968, but left the club when he retired from playing in December 1971. After leaving the game, he ran a string of hairdressing salons around the Wolverhampton area.

Stuart died on 4 November 2014 in Wrexham, Wales aged 83 following a long illness.[2]

Career statistics

Club Season Division League FA Cup League Cup Other[A] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1951–52 First Division 2100––21
1952–53 0000––00
1953–54 12000––120
1954–55 33040––370
1955–56 37010––380
1956–57 30420––324
1957–58 40040––440
1958–59 40040–30470
1959–60 28040–60380
1960–61 280400050370
1961–62 360200000380
Total 2875210001403225
Stoke City 1962–63 Second Division 402001000412
1963–64 First Division 230106000300
Total 632107000712
Tranmere Rovers 1964–65 Fourth Division 412202000452
1965–66 420101000440
Total 832303000892
Stockport County 1966–67 Fourth Division 411002000431
1967–68 Third Division 330200000350
Total 771202000811
Career Total 5101029012014056310
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the FA Charity Shield and European Cup.

Honours

Wolverhampton Wanderers
Stoke City
Stockport County

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Eddie Stuart passes away". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 4 November 2014.
  3. ↑ Matthews, Tony (2006). The Legends of Wolverhampton Wanderers. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-518-X.

External links