William Stewart (footballer, born 1868)

William Stewart (born 1868) was a Scottish footballer who played in the Football League for Everton and Preston North End.[3]

Bill Stewart
Personal information
Full name William Steven Stewart[1]
Date of birth 1868
Place of birth Arbroath, Scotland
Date of death 11 January 1937[2]
Place of death Smithdown Road Hospital, Liverpool, England
Position(s) Wing half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1889–1890 Distillery
1890–1893 Preston North End 69 (4)
1893–1897 Everton 122 (6)
1898–1900 Bristol City 51 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Football career

Initially with Black Watch, Stewart was an Army Cup winner and helped Distillery win the Irish Cup while stationed in Ireland with the Royal Scots. Preston North End bought him out of the Army. He moved to Everton in July 1893, forming a notable half back line with Johnny Holt and Dickie Boyle and playing in the 1897 FA Cup Final, a defeat to Aston Villa. Stewart was signed for Bristol City by Sam Hollis in July 1898 and finished his career as captain playing 51 games in the Southern League with Bristol City.[4] He was noted for his long throw-ins involving a running and jumping technique that was eventually outlawed.

Professional baseball

In 1890 Stewart played right field professionally for Preston North End Baseball Club in the National League of Baseball of Great Britain.[5]

Later life, tragedy and hardship

Bill Stewart later settled in the Toxteth area of Liverpool. After his playing days ended he worked for a time on the Liverpool docks, only to suffer severe injuries in an accident at some point in the 1920s.[6] Unable to earn a living Stewart fell on hard times and well-known Liverpool Echo football reporter 'Bee' suggested Everton F.C. should take a collection for their former captain at a match in October 1927.[7] This suggestion was discussed at an Everton F.C. board meeting on 25 October 1927,[8] but no agreement is detailed. Everton F.C. did later donate funds to Stewart and his family, as agreed at a board meeting in September 1936,[9] after news had reached the club that their former player was seriously ill with cancer. Two payments of five pounds are detailed at subsequent meetings.

Stewart's son Robert, born to first wife, Mary Emma Bennett,[10] was killed in action on 12 December 1917.[11] Mary had passed away in 1900,[12] aged just 29. Stewart remarried Ellen in 1910 and they had a son, Donald, who died aged just seven in 1915.[13]

Bill Stewart died on 11 January 1937,[14] at Smithdown Road Hospital. He was buried in an unmarked grave at the nearby Toxteth Park Cemetery. The Everton board of directors sent a wreath and letter[15] to his family. Ellen passed away aged 69 in February 1937,[16] barely a month after her husband, and was buried with him and their son at Toxteth Park Cemetery.

References
  1. STEWART, William Steven. "Marriage to Mary Emma Bennett, 11 April 1894 at Blackpool Parish Church; Lancashire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754–1936". Ancestry. Lancashire Anglican Parish Registers. Preston, England: Lancashire Archives. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  2. STEWART, Bill. "Famous Everton Player Dead, Liverpool Echo, 11 January 1937". Find My Past. British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  3. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. SoccerData. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
  4. Edwards, Leigh (1997). Bristol City FC The First 100 Years. Redcliffe Press. p. 114.
  5. "The Baseball Championship". Lancashire Evening Post. 24 June 1890. p. 4.
  6. STEWART, William Steven. "Famous Everton Player Dead, Liverpool Echo, 11 January 1937". Find My Past. British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  7. STEWART, William Steven. "Liverpool Echo, 15 October 1927". Find My Past. British Newspaper Archive. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  8. STEWART, W. "Meeting of the Directors held at Exchange Station Hotel on Tuesday 25 October 1927". The Everton Collection. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  9. STEWART, W. "Meeting of Directors held at Exchange Hotel, Liverpool, 28 September 1936". The Everton Collection. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  10. STEWART, William Steven. "MARRIAGE; Reg. Year: 1894; Req. Qtr.: Apr-Jun; Reg. District: Fyde; Vol.: 8e; Page: 1049". Ancestry. England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837–1915. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  11. STEWART, Robert. "Lance Corporal Robert Stewart, 25981, 13 Bn. The King's Liverpool Regt.; died 12 December 1917". Ancestry. Commonwealth War Graves Commission; Author: Peter Singlehurst; Series Title: British Commonwealth War Graves Registers, 1914–1918; Archive Name: London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  12. STEWART, Mary Emma. "England & Scotland, Select Cemetery Registers, 1800–2016". Ancestry. Liverpool Record Office; Liverpool, Merseyside, England; Liverpool Cemetery Registers; Reference: 352 CEM 8/1/5. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  13. STEWART, Donald. "DEATHS; Reg. Qtr.: Oct-Dec; Reg. District: West Derby; Vol.: 8b; Page: 867". Ancestry. FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837–1915. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  14. STEWART, William Steven. "DEATHS; Reg. Date: Jan-Mar; Reg. District: Liverpool South; Reg. Vol.: 8b; Reg. Page: 270". Ancestry. General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume: 8b; Page: 270. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  15. STEWART, W. "Minutes of Meeting held on Tuesday 12th January 1937 at Exchange Hotel". The Everton Collection. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  16. STEWART, Ellen. "DEATHS; Reg. Qtr.: Jan-Mar 1937; Reg. District: South Liverpool; Vol.: 8b; Page: 196". Ancestry. General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume: 8b; Page: 196. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
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