News Reports - 1930's
Bloomer receives gifts on his 56th birthday on 16th January of a tie of many colours from his granddaughter, and a cigarette box from his grandson Steve Richards aged 6 months. Bloomer states that he does not like prophesying on matches. He also states that he hopes that his grandson Steve jnr. becomes a Cricketer rather than a Footballer because there is far more money earned as a Cricketer!
20th January 1930
Bloomer trained at the Vulcan Athletic Ground during his early days with Derby County. Image: Vulcan Athletic Ground site between Peartree Rd and Portland St where Derby Junction played.
23rd January 1930
Bloomer converted a penalty from a standing start.
23rd January 1930
A Cup mix-up.
25th January 1930
The man who discovered Steve Bloomer.
14th March 1930
Bloomer to make the Epsom Derby Sweep draw.
28th May 1930
Bloomer draws the Derby Sweepstake in fundraiser
for Derby Infirmary after 99,585 tickets are sold.
for Derby Infirmary after 99,585 tickets are sold.
29th May 1930
Bloomer on par with Golf's Bobby Jones and Cricket's W.G. Grace.
21st June 1930
Bloomer's wife attends St. Thomas' Church
'Mothers Union' annual fete.
'Mothers Union' annual fete.
10th July 1930
Bloomer attends Sports Journalist's funeral.
22nd September 1930
Bloomer likes Grimsby Centre Forward.
23rd October 1930
Bloomer lends his support for Conservative candidate and Derby County Director Mr H.G. Pattison for the Pear Tree
municipal by-election.
municipal by-election.
5th December 1930
Bloomer reveals his sense of humour.
6th December 1930
Liberal Bloomer proposes and seconds Conservative candidate (Director of Derby County) to fend of Labour.
9th December 1930
Henry Dakin; the man said to have discovered Bloomer (although it's equally argued that John Goodall recommended him to Derby).
29th May 1931
The Class of 95.
18th July 1931
Bloomer plays for the British Legion and scores.
1st October 1931
Bloomer played in Burton Cup final for Tutbury Hawthorn.
16th October 1931
Bloomer represents Derby County at the funeral of ex-team mate.
31st October 1931
Bloomer Referee's Cambridge University v. Rams Reserves.
7th December 1931
Sarah Bloomer of the Normanton Ward Women's Institute Association makes a presentation.
11th March 1932
Bloomer referee's Cup Final.
24th March 1932
Bloomer referee's a walking football match.
22nd April 1932
Bloomer kicks off charity match.
2nd May 1932
Bloomer kicks off in match between
pick of Belper League v. Belper Veterans.
pick of Belper League v. Belper Veterans.
5th May 1932
Bloomer to referee walking football match.
Derby LMS Railway Veterans v. Crewe Railway Veterans.
Derby LMS Railway Veterans v. Crewe Railway Veterans.
5th May 1932
Bloomer referee's a walking football match. Clough is the Linesman!
13th May 1932
Bloomer referee's a walking football match and enjoys it
very much as players stick to the rules.
very much as players stick to the rules.
16th May 1932
Bloomer Chairs a Smoking Concert.
15th August 1932
Bloomer referee's charity walking football match.
15th August 1932
Bloomer to referee slow motion football match.
21st September 1932
Bloomer was famous throughout the colonies.
5th October 1932
Bloomer to referee pick of Derby v. pick of Buxton Amateur League.
28th October 1932
The one player who always appeared to get the measure of Bloomer was William Henry 'Willie' 'baby' 'fatty' Foulke. Foulke was about 6' 4" (1.93m) tall and up to 24 stone (152 kg). He could pick up the ball from the top with one hand.
3rd December 1932
This match was played out in front of 20,000 fans. The stand was erected outside and overlooking the Ground where houses now stand on the far side of Vulcan Street (the road that backed on to the Normanton End (originally the Sixpenny Stand)). This game played on the 1st February 1896 could so easily have spelt disaster had the wooden stand collapsed. Bloomer and Miller both scored twice.
24th December 1932
Bloomer's record of scoring the highest number
of goals for one Club equalled.
of goals for one Club equalled.
27th December 1932
'Follower of Derby County from the start' talks about
Derby County International Captains.
Derby County International Captains.
19th January 1933
Bloomer's nephew Edward Measures signs for Arsenal
on trial from Ilkeston F.C.
on trial from Ilkeston F.C.
23rd February 1933
Bloomer never won the FA Cup.
1st March 1933
Bloomer travels to watch boxing match to raise funds for hospital
but friend dies travelling back.
but friend dies travelling back.
8th March 1933
Bloomer attends funeral of friend. Jack Clough the Linesman at the Derby Railway Veterans v. Crewe Railway Veterans walking football charity match in which Bloomer was Referee on 14th May 1932 also attended.
11th March 1933
Bloomer referee's 'Past Players v. Heanor Wednesday'
football match (pre match).
football match (pre match).
24th April 1933
Bloomer referee's 'Past Players v. Heanor Wednesday'
football match (post match).
football match (post match).
25th April 1933
Bloomer referee's slow motion football match.
Derby Railway Veterans v. Derby Old Men's Brotherhood.
Derby Railway Veterans v. Derby Old Men's Brotherhood.
09th May 1933
Bloomer and nine other Rams players referee a six-a-side tournament for schoolboys at Overseal.
18th May 1933
Bloomer Referee's Slow Motion football match.
15th May 1933
Bloomer to referee schoolboy match.
25th May 1933
Harry Dakin, a disciplinarian and Derby County's first Trainer, specially prepared Bloomer for International matches and accompanied him to most games.
26th May 1933
Mr Kingscott, Co-founder, President and former Secretary
of the Midland Alliance League was one of the first to
spot Bloomer's talent as an England Player.
of the Midland Alliance League was one of the first to
spot Bloomer's talent as an England Player.
13th December 1933
Bloomer referee's charity football match.
24th January 1934
Bloomer once played in a six-a-side tournament at Duffield Hall Flower Show in the grounds of the Hall.
25th January 1934
Bloomer's mentor 'John Goodall'.
19th February 1934
Bloomer, Goodall and Kinsey play in the same England
team. Bloomer scores 5 but claimed 6 in a 9-1
demolition of Wales at Cardiff Arms Park.
team. Bloomer scores 5 but claimed 6 in a 9-1
demolition of Wales at Cardiff Arms Park.
11th April 1934
Bloomer spent four years in Ruhleben Internment Camp with the well known Derby Jockey, Trainer and long time friend Sam Heapy.
30th April 1934
Bloomer accepts award on behalf of the Great Northern Inn
for runner-up in Cribbage League.
for runner-up in Cribbage League.
3rd May 1934
Bloomer referee's slow motion walking match. The Municipal Sports Ground in Osmaston Park Road, Allenton, Derby was built by unemployed soldiers at the end of the Great War. It opened and is pictured below in 1929. This was very nearly the site of Derby County's new stadium after the Baseball Ground was bombed in 1941 during World War II which would have held 78,600 spectators and been designed by Maxwell Ayrton who designed the Wembley Empire Stadium. Derby County did play at this ground very briefly following the bombing.
11th May 1934
Bloomer referee's slow Motion football match.
12th May 1934
Referee Bloomer encourages the Veterans to run
for the last 5 minutes.
for the last 5 minutes.
14th May 1934
Bloomer agrees to attend the Heanor Carnival cricket match.
15th June 1934
Bloomer attends Jubilee Supper at Derby Drill Hall.
28th September 1934
Bloomer's transfer to Middlesbrough was a bad move for Derby says a reader in reference to Right Back Tommy Cooper's transfer to Liverpool. Tommy Cooper was the recognised best England Right Back of this era. He was tragically killed in June 1940 aged 32 years in a motorbike accident in Suffolk while serving for the King's Liverpool Regiment.
6th December 1934
Young boy who used to fetch and carry for Bloomer
would love to renew his acquaintance.
would love to renew his acquaintance.
13th December 1934
Sam Heapy: "Steve Bloomer was the outstanding figure
......many men lost their reason......but he couldn't break
Steve and me. We kept smiling to the end."
......many men lost their reason......but he couldn't break
Steve and me. We kept smiling to the end."
22nd December 1934
Bloomer visits York to watch the Rams in F.A. Cup 3rd Round win York City 0-1 Derby County (Crooks 1). Attendance: 13,612.
12th January 1935
A fine tribute to Bloomer.
16th April 1935
Derby Police v. Heanor Wednesday : Bloomer to present medals.
25th April 1935
Bloomer presents trophy at charity football match.
30th April 1935
Bloomer (2nd from left) receives the
Messrs. Strettons and Altons Cribbage League Cup.
Messrs. Strettons and Altons Cribbage League Cup.
2nd May 1935
Bloomer Referee's Derby Railway Veterans v. Crewe Railway Veterence match.
10th May 1935
Bloomer referee's slow motion football match.
Derby Railway Veterans v. Crewe Railway Veterans.
Derby Railway Veterans v. Crewe Railway Veterans.
13th May 1935
Bloomer presents Trophy and souvenir cups at schoolboy match.
16th May 1935
Bloomer's league goals record broken.
21st October 1935
Baseball: Bloomer was a player of "outstanding merit."
30th October 1935
Bloomer made Derby more talked about than any other man.
2nd December 1935
Bloomer's portrait painted on one of the
panels aboard the vessel Queen Mary.
panels aboard the vessel Queen Mary.
20th December 1935
Bloomer reflects upon Derby's first meeting and
FA Cup Final with Nottingham Forest.
FA Cup Final with Nottingham Forest.
24th January 1936
Funeral: Sarah Bloomer.
15th April 1936
Bloomer referee's fifth annual slow motion football match of Derby Railway Veterans v. Crewe Railway Veterans on 9th May 1936.
23rd April 1936
Bloomer referee's fifth annual slow motion football match of Derby Railway Veterans v. Crewe Railway Veterans on 9th May 1936.
7th May 1936
Bloomer referee's fifth annual slow motion football match of Derby Railway Veterans v. Crewe Railway Veterans on 9th May 1936.
8th May 1936
Dixie Dean breaks Bloomer's league goal scoring record.
3rd September 1936
When Bloomer signed for Derby County he earned
7/- 6d (£0.375p) per week.
7/- 6d (£0.375p) per week.
29th September 1936
Cricket: Cricket and house parties at
Lady Katherine Coke's residence.
Lady Katherine Coke's residence.
31st October 1936
Bloomer's positional play was clever and rarely failed with his shot.
11th November 1936
Bloomer talks to Southgate School for Boys about playing in the Junior and Senior Shield and respecting your opponents.
1st December 1936
Bloomer's left back team mate dies aged 62.
8th February 1937
Bloomer's left wing team mate dies aged 72.
12th February 1937
BBC radio broadcast on 296.2 metres Medium Wave.
There were no BBC radio recordings made on the day
of the broadcast. The programme topic was Derby
County's history, policy and players past and present.
There were no BBC radio recordings made on the day
of the broadcast. The programme topic was Derby
County's history, policy and players past and present.
5th March 1937
Football by wireless.
29th March 1937
Bloomer compares the players of the1930's in an unfavourable
light to those of his era such as John and Archie Goodall, 'Lol' Plackett, 'Kid' Cooper and Arthur Latham.
light to those of his era such as John and Archie Goodall, 'Lol' Plackett, 'Kid' Cooper and Arthur Latham.
31st March 1937
Bloomer and Sammy Crooks disagree about the
best technique of forward play when comparing
Bloomer's day with Crooks' in wireless broadcast.
best technique of forward play when comparing
Bloomer's day with Crooks' in wireless broadcast.
1st April 1937
Bloomer attends ex-England team mate and West Bromwich Albion Chairman William (Billy) Isiah Bassett's (age 68) funeral.
12th April 1937
Bloomer's wish is to one day handle the F.A. Cup and says that all petty arguments between Players are left on the pitch.
14th May 1937
Comparing Steve Bloomer to other great players, Bloomer played for just over 20 seasons and scored 422 goals in 678 domestic and international matches achieving 0.62 goals per game. Dean's playing career stretched to 15 seasons scoring 425 goals in 489 games achieving 0.86 goals per game. Bloomer of course played until he was 40 and Dean played up until he was 31. When calculating Bloomer's goals to games ratio up until age 31 he scored 0.71 goals per game when including the inter-league representative Football League matches that he played in. Dean had played about 70 more games than Bloomer by the age of 31 because there were more teams in the league. Jimmy Greaves scored 0.7 goals per game and Brian Clough scored 0.9 goals per game throughout their playing careers although Clough only played 276 games in total compared to Bloomer's 694 (from Derby Midland Football Club to professional career end).
5th June 1937
Reminiscence of early league football.
8th June 1937
8th June 1937
Bloomer owed so much to his mentor John Goodall's wise guidance.
28th July 1937
Bloomer attends funeral of Head Groundsman
C.H. Edmonds at St.James' Church.
C.H. Edmonds at St.James' Church.
29th July 1937
Bloomer watches Derby County 1-1 Middlesbrough
(Stockill 1) on 16th October 1937. Attendance: 15,267.
(Stockill 1) on 16th October 1937. Attendance: 15,267.
18th October 1937
Doctor advises long sea voyage to benefit health due to Asthma attacks and Bronchitis. Those who saw his play testify that there
will never be another . A testimonial is organised in his name.
will never be another . A testimonial is organised in his name.
19th October 1937
After a journey lasting five weeks and two days, Bloomer
will be looked after by a Derby man in Australia.
will be looked after by a Derby man in Australia.
21st October 1937
Bloomer sails from Tilbury docks to Sydney aboard the S.S. Otranto on the 20th November, arriving on the 29th December. Then he boards the S.S. Oronsay to sail to New Zealand on the 26th January before returning to Tilbury via Brisbane on the same ship in March.
Note: S.S. Otranto (above) and S.S. Oronsay (below)
16th November 1937
Bloomer gets grand sendoff. Surrounded by ex-team mates
that travelled with him as far as London on their way to
Portsmouth. Bloomer's daughter Doris Richards to his left
and his good friend and ex-England striker Fred Spiksley.
that travelled with him as far as London on their way to
Portsmouth. Bloomer's daughter Doris Richards to his left
and his good friend and ex-England striker Fred Spiksley.
19th November 1937
Bloomer leaves for Australia and New Zealand. The day
when the Aston Villa Chairman offered an open cheque
book for his transfer. Bloomer's heavy heart upon being
sold to Middlesbrough, and the rousing reception when
he returned to Derby.
when the Aston Villa Chairman offered an open cheque
book for his transfer. Bloomer's heavy heart upon being
sold to Middlesbrough, and the rousing reception when
he returned to Derby.
20th November 1937
Bloomer says he is thoroughly enjoying his trip.
14th December 1937
Derby County fan cycles from Wales to watch Derby v. Stoke at Wolverhampton and explains that at the turn on the Century Bloomer was the first Player on everyone's lips in Wales.
22nd December 1937
Bloomer caught in sweltering heat.
23rd December 1937
Bloomer's first spot-kick.
27th December 1937
S.S. Oronsay due to dock at Tilbury on 24th March 1938. Bloomer makes and misses guest appearances in Sydney and suffers Asthma through over 90 degree heat on the equator heading for Colombo.
12th March 1938
Bloomer says he is very well.
17th March 1938
Bloomer Returns.
25th March 1938
Steve Bloomer Dies 16th April 1938
Bloomer tributes pour in.
16th April 1938
Death compared to W.C. Grace and Ranji at cricket.
Rams will never have a better servant.
Rams will never have a better servant.
16th April 1938
Funeral date set.
18th April 1938
Funeral
20th April 1938
Tributes
20th April 1938
Funeral: Derby Cathedral 'All Saints Church',
Wednesday 20th April 1938.
Wednesday 20th April 1938.
21st April 1938
Derby County players leaving the Cathedral.
21st April 1938
WREATHS
Notably from Derby County, Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion, Portsmouth, Huddersfield F.C., and Burton Town F.C.
Notably from Derby County, Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion, Portsmouth, Huddersfield F.C., and Burton Town F.C.
21st April 1938
In Memory of Steve Bloomer. Sons of Temperance Hall (Right).
26th April 1938
Bloomer's friend Albert Widdowson dies after
falling ill at Bloomer's funeral.
falling ill at Bloomer's funeral.
29th April 1938
Bloomer's Junior School Assistant Mistress
Mrs G.H. Mather dies aged 80.
Mrs G.H. Mather dies aged 80.
24th June 1938
Bowls fan Bloomer's ex-school team mate dies.
07th September 1938
Bloomer was a Bowls fan.
28th November 1938
Cricket: "I never saw that one Joe."
Bloomer bowled out by blind man.
Bloomer bowled out by blind man.
9th December 1938
Died 16th April 1938
'The greatest of old-timers', 'Napoleon of football',
'Destroying Angel', 'King of goal scorers', 'Paleface'.
'Destroying Angel', 'King of goal scorers', 'Paleface'.
3rd January 1939
Bloomer signed illegally for Burton Wanderers.
1st February 1939
Bloomer only got his debut in the first team because Derby had failed to register its first team players with the Football League on time.
27th February 1939
Bronze Memorial Plaque planned to be erected outside of the main entrance wall at the Baseball Ground in memory of Steve Bloomer.
2nd March 1939
Bloomer played football with an empty salmon tin in the street.
28th April 1939
The 'Steve Bloomer Fund' donates £200 to
Derbyshire Football Association.
Derbyshire Football Association.
22nd June 1939
Tribute paid to Steve Bloomer in Directors Annual Report 1939.
17th August 1939
Derby beat Villa in front of record crowd. Derby county 4-2 Aston Villa (H) (Bloomer 2, Miller 2). 1st February 1896. Attendance: 20,000 NOTE: the temporary stand built to accommodate
fans outside of the ground was said to have come within a
whisker of collapsing under the weight. It swayed from
side to side to an alarming degree.
fans outside of the ground was said to have come within a
whisker of collapsing under the weight. It swayed from
side to side to an alarming degree.
1st September 1939
Derby County 1-4 Sheffield United. F.A. Cup Final
15th April 1899 Attendance: 78,833.
15th April 1899 Attendance: 78,833.
14th September 1939