Alfred Edge (5 November 1864 – 11 April 1941) was an English footballer. His regular position was as a forward. He played for Stoke, Newton Heath, Northwich Victoria and Ardwick[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alfred Edge[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 5 November 1864[2][3] | ||
| Place of birth | Stone, Staffordshire, England[2][3] | ||
| Date of death | 11 April 1941 (aged 76)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Inside forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1884 | Goldenhill Wanderers | ||
| 1885–1891 | Stoke | 52 | (16) |
| 1891–1892 | Newton Heath | 19 | (7) |
| 1892 | Nottingham Jardines Athletic | ||
| 1892–1893 | Stoke | 1 | (1) |
| 1893–1894 | Northwich Victoria | 3 | (0) |
| 1894 | Ardwick | 1 | (0) |
| 1894 | Macclesfield | 4 | (2) |
| Total | 80 | (26) | |
| International career | |||
| 1891[4] | Football Alliance XI | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editEdge was born in Stone, Staffordshire, and played for a Staffordshire side Goldenhill Wanderers before joining Stoke in 1885.[1] He became a useful forward for Stoke and scored five goals in a 10–1 win over Caernarfon Wanderers in the FA Cup during the 1886–87 season.[1] He was a member of the Stoke squad in their first two seasons in the Football League. He made his League debut on 8 September 1888, as a forward for Stoke in a 2–0 defeat by West Bromwich Albion at the Victoria Ground. His debut League goal was scored on 1 December 1888 in a 2–1 victory against Blackburn Rovers. In 1889–90 he played 19 of the 22 League matches played by Stoke scoring three goals.[2] Like the rest of the team Edge struggled in the first two seasons, Stoke failed to gain re-election and joined the Football Alliance. Stoke were much more successful as they finished as champions of the Alliance with Edge scoring 12 goals.[1]
Stoke re-gained their place in the Football League but Edge stayed in the Alliance signing for Manchester based Newton Heath.[1] Whilst at Newton Heath he was suspended by the FA for also playing for Nottingham Jardines Athletic. His ban was lifted after an investigation and he re-joined Stoke in 1892. He played one match for Stoke which came in a 7–1 victory against his old club Newton Heath.[1] He later went on to play for Northwich Victoria, Ardwick and finished his football career with Macclesfield.[1]
Style of play
editIn one source described as an exceptionally fine footballer; a versatile forward with loads of skill quick over short distances and who never gave up the ghost.[5]
Career statistics
editSource:[2]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Stoke | 1885–86 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1886–87 | — | — | 2 | 6 | 2 | 6 | ||
| 1887–88 | — | — | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | ||
| 1888–89 | Football League | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 3 | |
| 1889–90 | Football League | 11 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 4 | |
| 1890–91 | Football Alliance | 22 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 12 | |
| Total | 52 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 68 | 27 | ||
| Newton Heath | 1891–92 | Football Alliance | 19 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 10 |
| Stoke[1] | 1892–93 | First Division | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Northwich Victoria | 1893–94[2] | Second Division | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Ardwick | 1893–94[2] | Second Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Macclesfield | 1893–94[6] | The Combination | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Career Total | 80 | 26 | 19 | 14 | 99 | 40 | ||
Honours
edit- Stoke
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
- ^ a b c d e f Alf Edge at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
- ^ a b "FreeBMD". Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^ Football Alliance v Football League, 20 April 1891, 11v11.com
- ^ Matthews, Tony (2005). The Who's Who of Stoke City. Breedon Books. p. 72. ISBN 1-85983-473-6.
- ^ "Player Profiles". Silkmen Archives. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2018.