Alf Edge

Alfred Edge (5 November 1864 – 11 April 1941) was an English footballer. His regular position was as a forward. He played for Stoke, Newton Heath, Northwich Victoria and Ardwick[1]

Alf Edge

Personal information
Full name	Alfred Edge[1]
Date of birth	5 November 1864[2][3]
Place of birth	Stone, Staffordshire, England[2][3]
Date of death	11 April 1941 (aged 76)[1]
Position(s)	Inside forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1884	Goldenhill Wanderers
1885–1891	Stoke	52	(16)
1891–1892	Newton Heath	19	(7)
1892	Nottingham Jardines Athletic
1892–1893	Stoke	1	(1)
1893–1894	Northwich Victoria	3	(0)
1894	Ardwick	1	(0)
1894	Macclesfield	4	(2)
Total		80	(26)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Edge was born in Stone, Staffordshire, and played for a Staffordshire side Goldenhill Wanderers before joining Stoke in 1885.[1] He became a useful forward for Stoke and scored five goals in a 10–1 win over Caernarfon Wanderers in the FA Cup during the 1886–87 season.[1] He was a member of the Stoke squad in their first two seasons in the Football League. He made his League debut on 8 September 1888, as a forward for Stoke in a 2–0 defeat by West Bromwich Albion at the Victoria Ground. His debut League goal was scored on 1 December 1888 in a 2–1 victory against Blackburn Rovers. In 1889–90 he played 19 of the 22 League matches played by Stoke scoring three goals.[2] Like the rest of the team Edge struggled in the first two seasons, Stoke failed to gain re-election and joined the Football Alliance. Stoke were much more successful as they finished as champions of the Alliance with Edge scoring 12 goals.[1]

Stoke re-gained their place in the Football League but Edge stayed in the Alliance signing for Manchester based Newton Heath.[1] Whilst at Newton Heath he was suspended by the FA for also playing for Nottingham Jardines Athletic. His ban was lifted after an investigation and he re-joined Stoke in 1892. He played one match for Stoke which came in a 7–1 victory against his old club Newton Heath.[1] He later went on to play for Northwich Victoria, Ardwick and finished his football career with Macclesfield.[1]

Style of play

In one source described as an exceptionally fine footballer; a versatile forward with loads of skill quick over short distances and who never gave up the ghost.[4]

Career statistics

Source:[2]

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Stoke	1885–86	—	—		2	0	2	0
	1886–87	—	—		2	6	2	6
	1887–88	—	—		4	2	4	2
	1888–89	Football League	19	3	1	0	20	3
	1889–90	Football League	11	1	4	3	15	4
	1890–91	Football Alliance	22	12	3	0	25	12
	Total		52	16	16	11	68	27
Newton Heath	1891–92	Football Alliance	19	7	3	3	22	10
Stoke[1]	1892–93	First Division	1	1	0	0	1	1
Northwich Victoria	1893–94[2]	Second Division	3	0	0	0	3	0
Ardwick	1893–94[2]	Second Division	1	0	0	0	1	0
Macclesfield	1893–94[5]	The Combination	4	2	0	0	4	2
Career Total			80	26	19	14	99	40

Honours

Stoke

• Football Alliance: 1890–91

References

1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
2. Alf Edge at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
3. "FreeBMD". Retrieved 25 March 2018.
4. Matthews, Tony (2005). The Who's Who of Stoke City. Breedon Books. p. 72. ISBN 1 85983 473 6.
5. "Player Profiles". Silkmen Archives. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2018.

External links

• MUFCInfo.com profile