Bill Edmunds

William Edmunds (23 January 1898 – q4 1964) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre forward in the Football League for Darlington.[1] He also played non-league football in the north-east of England for clubs including Shildon, Spennymoor United and Trimdon Grange.

For other people named William Edmunds, see William Edmunds (disambiguation).

Bill Edmunds
Personal information
Full name William Edmunds[1]
Date of birth (1898-01-23)23 January 1898[2]
Place of birth Trimdon Grange, England
Date of death 6 November 1964(1964-11-06) (aged 66)[3]
Place of death Trimdon Village, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[4]
Position(s) Centre forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Shildon
Spennymoor United
1921–1922 Darlington 8 (6)
Trimdon Grange
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Life and career

Edmunds was born in Trimdon Grange, County Durham, the third child of James Edmunds, a coal miner, and his wife Sarah.[5] He played North-Eastern League football for clubs including Shildon[6] and Spennymoor United[7] before, at the age of 23, signing for Darlington ahead of their first season in the Football League.[8] A "towering centre forward",[9] Edmunds went straight into the first eleven for the opening match, at home to Halifax Town in the newly formed Third Division North.[8] He scored a late consolation goal in a 5–1 loss in the reverse fixture,[10] but was left out in favour of George Stevens for the next match, a 7–0 defeat of Chesterfield,[11] and dropped into the reserves.

A scoring spree in the North-Eastern League after Christmas[12] earned him a recall to the first team.[13] He duly scored three times as Darlington beat Tranmere Rovers 4–1 at home,[14] and played in the next five matches, scoring twice (against Stalybridge Celtic and Wigan Borough) before returning to the reserves.[15] At the end of the season, he played on the losing side in the Durham Senior Cup final against Sunderland reserves.[16]

At the time of the 1939 Register, Edmunds was working as a mental nurse at Winterton Hospital, Sedgefield.[2] He died in Trimdon Village in 1964 at the age of 66.[3]

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 82. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  2. "1939 England and Wales Register for William Edmunds". 1939 Register. 3 Sunnyside Terrace Sedgefield Durham – via Ancestry Library Edition.
  3. "Find a will: Edmunds 1965". UK Probate Service. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  4. "Third Division. Northern Section. Darlington". Athletic News. Manchester. 15 August 1921. p. 6.
  5. "1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription 3 Cross Plantation Trimdon Grange, Trimdon, Durham, England". William Edmunds. Age: 13. Birthplace: Trimdon Grange Durham. Census reference: RG14PN29679 RG78PN1719 RD546 SD1 ED12 SN88. Retrieved 16 November 2014 – via Findmypast.
  6. "North-Eastern League". Yorkshire Post. 5 April 1920. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "North-Eastern League". Yorkshire Post. 14 February 1921. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Football". Yorkshire Post. 27 August 1921. p. 16 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. "Hartlepools United v. Darlington". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 1 September 1921. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. "Halifax Town v. Darlington: 10,000 spectators present". Yorkshire Post. 5 September 1921. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "Darlington v. Chesterfield: visitors swamped". Yorkshire Post. 12 September 1921. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. "North-Eastern League". Yorkshire Post. 27 December 1921. p. 3. In the second half Edmunds scored for Darlington, the same player heading in a second goal.
    "North-Eastern League". Yorkshire Post. 9 January 1922. p. 4. Edmunds equalised from a penalty.
    "North-Eastern League". Yorkshire Post. 16 January 1922. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive. Edmunds put the Quakers ahead again.
  13. "Association". Yorkshire Post. 4 February 1922. p. 16 – via British Newspaper Archive. Darlington are giving another trial to Edmunds in the centre forward position.
  14. "Darlington outplay Tranmere Rovers". Yorkshire Post. 6 February 1922. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. "No title". Yorkshire Post. 11 February 1922. p. 18.
    "Darlington v. Stalybridge Celtic: league leaders again win". Yorkshire Post. 20 February 1922. p. 3.
    "Third League (North)". Western Morning News. Plymouth. 6 March 1922. p. 2.
    "Third League. Darlington v. Hartlepools United. Changes in Darlington forward line". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 24 March 1922. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. "Durham Senior Cup. Final tie". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 13 May 1922. p. 6.
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