Eddie Bishop
Encyclopedia
Eddie Bishop is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played in The Football League
in England
for Tranmere Rovers
, Chester City
and Crewe Alexandra
and also played and managed in non-league football.
and began his career playing non-league football. He was with Winsford United
before beginning the first of three spells with Northwich Victoria
in 1984–85
. He later had a spell with Altrincham
before a brief stint with Runcorn prompted Tranmere Rovers
to give Bishop his professional chance at the age of 25 in March 1988.
He returned to Northwich on loan in August 1988 but was quickly back with Rovers, making 35 league appearances during their Division Four promotion season. The following season saw Bishop appear at Wembley Stadium
as a substitute in the Division Three play-off final against Notts County
, which Tranmere lost 2-0.
In December 1990 Bishop joined local rivals Chester City
for £70,000, making him Chester’s record signing until Stuart Rimmer
returned to the club the following year .. He scored seven times in 19 games to help Chester avoid relegation from Division Three, but he was out of favour the following season and spent time on loan with Crewe Alexandra
in the closing stages of the season.
Bishop regained his place in the Chester side and became the first Chester player to score at the Deva Stadium, albeit with a late consolation in a 2–1 defeat to Stockport County
on August 25, 1992. Over the next three years he had spells in and out of the side, before a potent start to the 1995–96
season saw him score in the opening five games of the season. He added three more before the end of October, but he was ruled out through injury for the remainder of the season. Bishop (now playing part-time ) was released at the end of the season, with his final Football League
appearance having been as a substitute in a 3–1 win at Rochdale
on 31 October 1995. The season also saw him involved in an unusual incident when out injured during Chester’s home win over Hereford United
, when he grabbed hold of the public address microphone to criticise the referee as he turned down a Chester penalty appeal.
Bishop returned to Northwich in the summer of 1996, making 54 Conference
appearances over the next two seasons. He then moved to local rivals Witton Albion
, where he also became part of the coaching staff. He had a spell as joint caretaker manager in 1998–1999
,
and in 2001 was appointed manager after another successful stint in caretaker charge. But his reign as permanent boss lasted only 10 games and ended shortly after an incident in a Cheshire Senior Cup
tie against Woodley Sports
.
He returned to football as assistant manager to Nigel Gleghorn
at Nantwich Town
, where he continued his playing days. He then had a spell assisting his former Chester team-mate Chris Lightfoot
at Runcorn F.C. Halton, with the pair being sacked together in October 2004
.
Chester City
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
, Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
and Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
and also played and managed in non-league football.
Playing career
Bishop was born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and began his career playing non-league football. He was with Winsford United
Winsford United F.C.
Winsford United Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Winsford, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1883 and is nicknamed The Blues...
before beginning the first of three spells with Northwich Victoria
Northwich Victoria F.C.
Northwich Victoria Football Club are an English football club who play at the Victoria Stadium in Wincham, Northwich, Cheshire in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of the English football league system.Northwich are an old club, founded in 1874 and named in honour of...
in 1984–85
1984-85 in English football
The 1984–85 season was the 105th season of competitive football in England.-Bradford City disaster:56 spectators died and more than 200 were injured when a fire ripped through the Main Stand at Valley Parade during Bradford City's Third Division fixture with Lincoln City on 11 May...
. He later had a spell with Altrincham
Altrincham F.C.
Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:...
before a brief stint with Runcorn prompted Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere Rovers F.C.
Tranmere Rovers Football Club are an English team based in Birkenhead, Wirral. The club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system...
to give Bishop his professional chance at the age of 25 in March 1988.
He returned to Northwich on loan in August 1988 but was quickly back with Rovers, making 35 league appearances during their Division Four promotion season. The following season saw Bishop appear at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
as a substitute in the Division Three play-off final against Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
, which Tranmere lost 2-0.
In December 1990 Bishop joined local rivals Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
for £70,000, making him Chester’s record signing until Stuart Rimmer
Stuart Rimmer
Stuart Rimmer is an English former footballer who is Chester City's record goalscorer. He scored 134 league goals in two spells for Chester, and also represented seven other clubs during his professional career....
returned to the club the following year .. He scored seven times in 19 games to help Chester avoid relegation from Division Three, but he was out of favour the following season and spent time on loan with Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in the closing stages of the season.
Bishop regained his place in the Chester side and became the first Chester player to score at the Deva Stadium, albeit with a late consolation in a 2–1 defeat to Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
on August 25, 1992. Over the next three years he had spells in and out of the side, before a potent start to the 1995–96
1995-96 in English football
- Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title....
season saw him score in the opening five games of the season. He added three more before the end of October, but he was ruled out through injury for the remainder of the season. Bishop (now playing part-time ) was released at the end of the season, with his final Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
appearance having been as a substitute in a 3–1 win at Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
on 31 October 1995. The season also saw him involved in an unusual incident when out injured during Chester’s home win over Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
, when he grabbed hold of the public address microphone to criticise the referee as he turned down a Chester penalty appeal.
Bishop returned to Northwich in the summer of 1996, making 54 Conference
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
appearances over the next two seasons. He then moved to local rivals Witton Albion
Witton Albion F.C.
Witton Albion F.C. are a football club based in Northwich, England. They were founded in 1887. They have won the Cheshire Senior Cup 11 times since 1902. Their most recent success in this competition was in 2006, when they defeated Stalybridge Celtic in the final. They have also reached the FA Cup...
, where he also became part of the coaching staff. He had a spell as joint caretaker manager in 1998–1999
,
and in 2001 was appointed manager after another successful stint in caretaker charge. But his reign as permanent boss lasted only 10 games and ended shortly after an incident in a Cheshire Senior Cup
Cheshire Senior Cup
The Cheshire County Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the Cheshire Senior Cup, is a football knockout tournament founded in the 1879–80 season and involves teams from Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside, England. It is the County Cup competition of the Cheshire FA and...
tie against Woodley Sports
Woodley Sports F.C.
Woodley Sports F.C. is a football club based in Woodley, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. They were established in 1970 as Woodley Athletic, and play at the Neil Rourke Memorial Stadium. In 1992, they became champions of the Manchester League Division One, and were promoted to the Manchester...
.
He returned to football as assistant manager to Nigel Gleghorn
Nigel Gleghorn
Nigel William Gleghorn is a former English professional footballer who played as a forward or central midfielder.-Biography:...
at Nantwich Town
Nantwich Town F.C.
Nantwich Town Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Nantwich, Cheshire, England. The club was founded in 1884 and is nicknamed The Dabbers. The club is currently a member of the Northern Premier League Premier Division, with home matches played at the Weaver Stadium.Nantwich...
, where he continued his playing days. He then had a spell assisting his former Chester team-mate Chris Lightfoot
Chris Lightfoot (footballer)
Chris Lightfoot was a professional footballer who played in the Football League for four clubs. He later managed in non-league football....
at Runcorn F.C. Halton, with the pair being sacked together in October 2004
.
Honours
Tranmere Rovers- Football League Division Four runners-up: 1988–891988-89 in English footballThe 1988–89 season was the 109th season of competitive football in England.-Hillsborough disaster:On 15 April, a crowd crush at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough killed 94 people and injured more than 300. A 95th Liverpool supporter died in hospital...
(35 apps, 8 goals) - Football League Division Three play-off finalists: 1989–901989-90 in English football-European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
(used sub in final). - 2009 Masters Football Winner
Chester City
- Football League Division Three runners-up: 1993– 941993-94 in English footballThe 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
(18 apps, 1 goal).