News Reports - 1940's
Heapy alludes to mouldy bread but the Bloomer is fresh.
14th June 1940
Bloomer's marvellous memory recalled more than once that the Derby County v. Aston Villa 1st Round F.A. Cup game on 1st February 1896 was one of the outstanding games of his career.
Many describe the match which finished 4-2 to the Rams (Bloomer 2, Miller 2. Attendance: 20,000) as the most thrilling game of all time. It was also a match that came perilously close to disaster as a temporary wooden stand erected for the match cracked under the strain of the crowd after swaying to and fro. Had the Stand collapsed there would inevitably have been death and many other casualties and Derby would have become the first national football disaster. The authorities and workmen reinforced the supports while the match was still in progress by persuading many of the fans to exit the structure and the Stand held out: just!
Many describe the match which finished 4-2 to the Rams (Bloomer 2, Miller 2. Attendance: 20,000) as the most thrilling game of all time. It was also a match that came perilously close to disaster as a temporary wooden stand erected for the match cracked under the strain of the crowd after swaying to and fro. Had the Stand collapsed there would inevitably have been death and many other casualties and Derby would have become the first national football disaster. The authorities and workmen reinforced the supports while the match was still in progress by persuading many of the fans to exit the structure and the Stand held out: just!
13th November 1943
Smith, the greatest player of the 1890's drew the defence and as he said "Steve" the ball would be in the net.
6th December 1943
Bloomer scored six goals in one match.
11th December 1943
Bloomer never broke his leg throughout his career. It's also worthwhile noting that there is no evidence that he broke any bones.
21st December 1943
Bloomer stated that he would have been a better player had
he have played alongside Hughie Gallagher.
he have played alongside Hughie Gallagher.
1st January 1944
Bloomer's did not have the wizardry of Stanley Matthews but took the shortest route to goal. His motto was 'Goals Win Matches' and believed in the maxim 'Tis better to shoot 10 times and score one goal than never to shoot at all'.
21st October 1944
Bloomer was an Inside Right but his first game
for Derby was at Outside Left and scored.
for Derby was at Outside Left and scored.
25th October 1944
Bloomer's first League game was playing for Derby Midland v. Gainsborough Trinity in the Midland League. He played just that one game before moving to Derby County after Derby Midland folded.
28th October 1944
Bloomer's granddaughter and ex-Derby County player Alfie Quantrill's daughter Patricia Mary Quantrill marries.
24-25th November 1944
Prime Minister of New Zealand days the name of Steve Bloomer
was a name to be worshipped even when he was a boy.
was a name to be worshipped even when he was a boy.
14th April 1945
Ex-Derby reserve player and Trainer Bill Bromage who was a great friend of Bloomer says Steve was the best player of his day.
20th August 1945
Derby's forward line-up of Bloomer, Bentley, Bauchop
and Barnes were known as the 'Busy Bees'.
and Barnes were known as the 'Busy Bees'.
27th February 1946
Bloomer scored in his first and last appearances for England.
26th April 1946
Bloomer won the Cup for Tutbury Hawthorn as an
ineligible player in 1892 v. Gresley Rovers.
ineligible player in 1892 v. Gresley Rovers.
12th July 1946
Bloomer played in the same team for Derby Swifts in 1891
as Derby Mayor (1935), Alderman (councillor) John Clark.
as Derby Mayor (1935), Alderman (councillor) John Clark.
14th April 1947
Bloomer's one and only 'bogy man' was Bill 'Fatty' Foulke. A huge imposing Sheffield United Goalkeeper and also accomplished professional Cricketer who stood 6' 4" and weighed 24 Stones.
19th May 1949
Bloomer scores the first goal ever to be scored at West Bromwich Albion's Hawthorns ground on 3rd September 1900 in front of 5,000. The final score was West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Derby County.
30th June 1949
Bloomer became a bookworm and was also bought a
medal by Derby County players as a youngster for
his performance with Derby Swifts.
medal by Derby County players as a youngster for
his performance with Derby Swifts.
28th September 1949
Bloomer never had a moustache!
29th September 1949
The response given by the Telegraph is wrong. The F.A. had imposed a maximum overall transfer spending guide on Clubs. Boro had already splashed £1000 on Alf Common so could not appear to pay anything like the same for Bloomer. A fee of £750 was agreed but both clubs agreed to add Emor 'Jack' Ratcliffe a mostly reserve Left Back who had made 16 first team appearances in 4 years as part of the deal. The fee of £750 was then divided by a percentage for Bloomer and the same for Ratcliffe. Bloomer also received £10 to sign on and rumours of other back handers were rife. Boro were said to been given the fee money by a string of other Clubs to ensure Boro would not be relegated and Bury would. That way the clubs would get better gates when they played them. Basically the whole deal was seen by many as unsavory to say the very least. Even Bloomer received a 2 match ban for receiving the £10.
13th October 1949
Correction to Telegraph article dated 13th October 1949.
20th October 1949
Bloomer's last league game for the Rams was Bradford City 0-0 Derby County (attendance: 15,000) on the 24th January 1914. His last F.A. Cup game was Burnley 3-2 Derby County (Barnes 1, Waugh 1) (attendance: 30,000) on the 31st January 1914.
3rd November 1949