Eddie Stuart
Encyclopedia
Edward "Eddie" Albert Stuart (born 12 May 1931 in Middelburg, Eastern Cape
) is a South Africa
n former professional footballer. He spent the majority of his league career with Wolverhampton Wanderers
, where he won three league championships.
, 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 1-4 loss to Black Country rivals
.
A visit to his homeland saw him contract a tropical disease that hospitalised him and put him out of action for over a year. 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 as the club added two further league titles.
After two further seasons, bringing him a total of 322 Wolves appearances, he joined Stoke City
for £8,000 in Summer 1962.
His first season with Stoke saw them win the Second Division
championship, and he remained for their return in the top flight. He moved to Tranmere Rovers
for £4,000 in 1966, 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, where he still resides today.
Middelburg, Eastern Cape
Middelburg is a town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, in the Great Karoo. It lies in the Upper Karoo, 1 279 m above sea level, with a population of 44000...
) is a South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n former professional footballer. He spent the majority of his league career with Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, where he won three league championships.
Career
Stuart began his professional career with Rangers of JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, where he won the South African Cup, before joining English First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
side Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in January 1951. After spending time in the reserves, he made his senior debut on 15 April 1952, scoring in a 1-4 loss to Black Country rivals
Black Country derby
The Black Country derby is most commonly the local derby between the English football teams West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The term 'Black Country derby' can also be given to a match between either of these teams and Walsall F.C., though such matches are less common as a result...
.
A visit to his homeland saw him contract a tropical disease that hospitalised him and put him out of action for over a year. 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 as the club added two further league titles.
After two further seasons, bringing him a total of 322 Wolves appearances, he joined Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
for £8,000 in Summer 1962.
His first season with Stoke saw them win the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
championship, and he remained for their return in the top flight. He moved to 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...
for £4,000 in 1966, and later served 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...
, where he won the Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
title. He then had a brief spell in management as he became player-manager of non-league
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
Worcester City
Worcester City F.C.
Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:...
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
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
area, where he still resides today.