Eddie Stuart

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]

Eddie Stuart

Personal information
Full name	Edward Albert Stuart[1]
Date of birth	(1931-05-12)12 May 1931[1]
Place of birth	Middelburg, Eastern Cape, South Africa[1]
Date of death	4 November 2014(2014-11-04) (aged 83)
Place of death	Wrexham, Wales
Playing position(s)	Defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1950	Rangers Johannesburg
1951–1962	Wolverhampton Wanderers	287	(5)
1962–1964	Stoke City	63	(2)
1964–1966	Tranmere Rovers	83	(2)
1966–1968	Stockport County	77	(1)
1968–1972	Worcester City	?	(0)
Total		510	(10)
Teams managed
1968–1971	Worcester City (player-manager)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Stuart began his professional career with Rangers of Johannesburg, where he won the South African Cup, before joining 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

Source:[4]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Other^[A]		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Wolverhampton Wanderers	1951–52	First Division	2	1	0	0	—		—		2	1
	1952–53	First Division	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	1953–54	First Division	12	0	0	0	—		—		12	0
	1954–55	First Division	33	0	4	0	—		—		37	0
	1955–56	First Division	37	0	1	0	—		—		38	0
	1956–57	First Division	30	4	2	0	—		—		32	4
	1957–58	First Division	40	0	4	0	—		—		44	0
	1958–59	First Division	40	0	4	0	—		3	0	47	0
	1959–60	First Division	28	0	4	0	—		6	0	38	0
	1960–61	First Division	28	0	4	0	0	0	5	0	37	0
	1961–62	First Division	36	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	38	0
	Total		287	5	21	0	0	0	14	0	322	5
Stoke City	1962–63	Second Division	40	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	41	2
	1963–64	First Division	23	0	1	0	6	0	0	0	30	0
	Total		63	2	1	0	7	0	0	0	71	2
Tranmere Rovers	1964–65	Fourth Division	41	2	2	0	2	0	0	0	45	2
	1965–66	Fourth Division	42	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	44	0
	Total		83	2	3	0	3	0	0	0	89	2
Stockport County	1966–67	Fourth Division	41	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	43	1
	1967–68	Third Division	33	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	35	0
	Total		77	1	2	0	2	0	0	0	81	1
Career Total			510	10	29	0	12	0	14	0	563	10

A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the FA Charity Shield and European Cup.

Honours

Wolverhampton Wanderers

• Football League First Division champions: 1953–54, 1957–58, 1958–59
• FA Cup winner: 1960

Stoke City

• Football League Second Division champions: 1962–63

Stockport County

• Football League Fourth Division champions: 1966–67

References

1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
2. "Eddie Stuart passes away". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 4 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 November 2014.
3. Matthews, Tony (2006). The Legends of Wolverhampton Wanderers. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-518-X.
4. Eddie Stuart at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

External links

• Eddie Stuart at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database