Edgar Chadwick

Edgar Chadwick was the first of many great goalscorers to wear the famous blue shirt of Everton FC. He joined the Merseyside club from his hometown team Blackburn Rovers just before the start of the first Football League season in 1888. Chadwick played in Everton’s first ever League game, against Accrington at Anfield, Everton’s ground at the time. He was an ever-present in that first season, was also the top scorer, and became the first Everton player to score in three consecutive matches. He missed just one League game in Everton’s first four seasons in the League. When he left the club in 1899 he had played 300 League and Cup games and scored 109 goals. He was in their championship-winning team in 1890/91 and was on two losing FA Cup final teams, 1893 (lost to Wolverhampton Wanderers) and 1897 (lost to Aston Villa).

After leaving Everton, Chadwick moved to Burnley and then went on to play for Southampton, Liverpool, Blackpool, Glossop and Darwen, before retiring from playing in 1905/06 season, with 413 League appearances and 127 goals to his credit. At non-League Southampton, he teamed up with his cousin Arthur as The Saints went on to win the Southern League title in 1901. The following year, Chadwick collected his third FA Cup runners-up medal when the Saints lost to Sheffield United in the final. Chadwick played for England seven times and scored three goals.

Chadwick was a member of the first FA touring party to Germany and Austria in 1899 and the following year he became one of the pioneering Englishmen to coach abroad, when he took his skills to Praha. After ending his playing days he returned to coaching on the continent again. After a brief spell in Germany, he started with regional clubs in the Netherlands and in 1908 was appointed coach to the national team, taking them to third place in two consecutive Olympics, 1908 and 1912. After 18 wins out of 26 matches with the national team, Chadwick then managed Vitesse Arnhem and then won the Dutch Championship with Sparta Rotterdam in 1915. Chadwick was offered the post of coach to the German national team in 1914, but turned it down with war looming. He played as a guest for Blackburn Rovers during World War I and made one appearance for Blackpool in December 1917 at the age of 48.

Chadwick returned to Blackburn at the end of his football career and became a baker, which was his first trade before becoming a footballer. He eventually retired to Blackpool but died at the The Craven Heifer public house in Backburn, during a visit back to his hometown, in 1942.