Steve Bloomer

Steve Bloomer (January 20, 1874 - April 16, 1938) was an English footballer from 1892 until 1914. He is recognised as one of the best pre-war footballers and was also a top-class cricketer and baseball player.

Related Topics:
January 20 - 1874 - April 16 - 1938 - English - Footballer - 1892 - 1914 - War - Cricket - Baseball

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He moved to Derby as a child, where he played for St. James' School in the Derbyshire Minor League. At one time, he scored 14 goals for them in one match. In his first game for Derby County, he scored four times against Darley Dale.

Related Topics:
Derby - Derby County

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First spotted by Preston North End double-winner John Goodall, Bloomer made his league debut at Stoke in September 1892 and was soon a crowd favourite. He ended up being Derby's leading scorer for 14 seasons, scoring 292 goals in 473 appearances for the club. In 1906, Bloomer joined Middlesbrough and developed pneumonia soon after this. He was listed as 'critical' but made a full recovery and rejoined Derby again in 1910, quickly helping them to get promoted.

Related Topics:
Preston North End - Double-winner - John Goodall - Stoke - September - 1892 - 1906 - Middlesbrough - Pneumonia - 1910

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To this day, Derby's club anthem is 'Steve Bloomer's Watching' and is played before every home game.

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When his playing career ended in 1914, he went to coach in Germany. In total, he scored 353 goals in 598 league games during his playing career. He is currently the second highest goalscorer of all-time in England's top division and lies in fourth place in the rankings for goals in all English league divisions. Bloomer was the First Division's top-scorer 5 times, in 1896 (joint with another player), 1897, 1899, 1901 and 1904.

Related Topics:
1914 - Germany - Second highest goalscorer of all-time - First Division's - 1896 - 1897 - 1899 - 1901 - 1904

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He won 23 England caps over the course of his career, the first being in 1895, when he scored twice in a 9-0 win against Ireland. Bloomer scored 28 goals in 23 England games, still leaving him in the 10 highest scorers for his country.

Related Topics:
England - Caps - 1895 - Ireland

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After World War I, he played for and then coached Derby reserves. After that, he went to coach abroad again, but came back to become a general assistant at Derby. He died three weeks after coming home at the end of a cruise, in April 1938. His grave can been seen in Nottingham Road Cemetary Derby.

Related Topics:
World War I - April - 1938

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