Edward Didymus
Edward John Didymus (13 April 1886 – 12 April 1918), sometimes known as Fred Didymus,[4] was an English professional footballer who played as an inside right in the Football League for Blackpool.[1] He also played for Portsmouth, Huddersfield Town, Northampton Town and Port Vale.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Edward John Didymus[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 13 April 1886[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Portsmouth, England[2] | ||
| Date of death | 12 April 1918 (aged 31)[3] | ||
| Place of death | Pas-de-Calais, France[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Inside right | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1904–1907 | Portsmouth | 3 | (0) |
| 1907–1908 | Northampton Town | ||
| 1908–1909 | Huddersfield Town | 30 | (5) |
| 1909–1910 | Blackpool | 2 | (0) |
| 1910 | Burslem Port Vale | 2 | (0) |
| Total | 34 | (5) | |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Playing career
Didymus played for home town club Portsmouth (Western League),[5] Southern League club Northampton Town and Huddersfield Town,[6] before joining Blackpool in 1909.[7] He played two Second Division matches for the "Seasiders" in the 1909–10 season.[7] In November 1910 he joined North Staffordshire & District League club Port Vale and made his debut in a 2–2 draw at Congleton Town on 26 November 1910.[2] He scored four goals in a 9–0 Hanley Cup win over Goldenhill Catholics on 2 December, before departing the club at the end of the year.[2]
Personal life
Didymus was married with five children and after his retirement from football in 1912, he worked as a tram driver for Portsmouth Corporation Transport.[5] In 1915, during the second year of the First World War, he enlisted in the Royal Army Service Corps.[5] After being transferred to the Manchester Regiment, Didymus arrived on the Western Front in March 1918 and was then transferred to the Middlesex Regiment.[5] While serving with the rank of private, he was killed in France in April 1918.[4] Didymus was buried in Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy-lès-Mofflaines.[3]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Blackpool | 1909–10[8] | Second Division | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Burslem Port Vale | 1910–11[8] | North Staffordshire & District League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Career total | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
References
- Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 81. ISBN 190589161X.
- Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 84. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0. ASIN 0952915200.
- "Casualty Details". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- Threlfall-Sykes, David. "New Name On Town's 'Roll Of Honour'". www.htafc.com. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- "Blues Backing Royal British Legion's #ThankYou100 Campaign". www.portsmouthfc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- "Didymus Edward Portsmouth 1905". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
- Calley, Roy (1992). Blackpool: A Complete Record 1887–1992. Breedon Books Sport. p. 194. ISBN 978-1-873626-07-8.
- Edward Didymus at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)