Steve Bloomer

1891/1906 Derby County (ENG) 419 games, 273 goals

(English Premier League: 377 games, 241 goals)

(English Cup: 42 games, 32 goals)

1906/10 Middlesbrough (ENG) 130 games, 62 goals

(English Premier League: 125 games, 59 goals)

(English Cup: 5 games, 3 goals)

1910/14 Derby County (ENG) 106 games, 59 goals

(English Premier League: 34 games, 15 goals)

(English Premier League D2: 64 games, 38 goals)

(English Cup: 8 games, 6 goals)

With the National Team :

23 caps, 28 goals

(British Home Championship: 23 caps, 28 goals)

1st cap: March 9, 1895 against Ireland (9-0)

Last cap: April 6, 1907 against Scotland (1-1)

Stephen Bloomer

Born January 20, 1874 in Cradley (ENG)

Died April 16, 1938 in Derby (ENG)

English, striker, second striker, 1m73

Steve Bloomer was born in Cradley on January 20, 1874 in the town of Cradley, in the West Midlands. Shortly after his birth, he moved to Derby located in the county of Derbyshire. His first steps in football date back to his time in St. James' School in the Derbyshire Minor Football League.

An excellent ball striker, he quickly made a name for himself in the region, he would score 14 goals in a match in the competition. Simply impressive. When he was 14, he joined the Derby Swifts team and then that of Tutbury Hawthorn.

But what would change his life was his meeting with another great English player, John Goodall. It was the latter who brought him to the Derby County club. He joined the club in 1891 but did not play until 1892, at the age of 17, where he played alongside John Goodall. But it was during the 1892/93 season that he would definitively establish himself in the team, author of 11 goals in 28 matches, the striker was formidable in front of goal and showed great maturity in his game. His first match was on September 3, 1892 against Stoke City.

In a club that avoided relegation, finishing in 13th place in a 16-team championship. The following season was excellent for Derby County, which finished in 3rd place in the championship, helped by Steve Bloomer's 19 league goals.

But it was in 1895 that Bloomer's career would radically change, alongside players like John Goodall, G.O Smith and Jimmy Crabtree, he made his debut with the English selection. This first match, against Ireland, was a resounding success, a 9-0 victory for the English, Steve Bloomer scored twice and established himself as the new English star.

His captain at the time, Ernest Needham, would even say that he was the best player in terms of finishing at his time, and without a doubt one of the best players in terms of passing deep to score, because he had incredible speed.

Back in his club during the 1895/96 season, Steve Bloomer, who now had the status of a football superstar, would have his best collective season as he finished second in the championship with Derby County. In 30 matches in all competitions, he scored 27 goals. This season would mark the beginning of his prime.

Indeed, between the 1895/96 and 1898/99 seasons, he scored 127 goals in 133 matches and established himself as one of the best centre forwards in the world. He finished 3 times top scorer in the English championship, in 1896 (20 goals), in 1897 (22 goals) and in 1899 (23 goals). He finished 1 time vice-champion of the championship, and reached the final of the FA Cup twice. Unfortunately without success. But with England he won during this period he won 3 British Home Championship. This golden age for the player will also be marked by the tragic death of his little brother, Philip Bloomer, who played left back for Derby County, following peritonitis.

He stayed at Derby County, in a club that was now playing in the middle of the table in England. But as an individual, he remained one of the best players in the country and in the 1900/01 season he finished for the 4th time in his career, top scorer in the English championship.

In the 1902/03 season, he reached the FA Cup final again, but Derby County was pulverized 6-0 in the final by Bury, another great disappointment for the player who seemed cursed. The following season, he finished top scorer in the English championship again, for the 5th and last time.

During this period, he formed a magnificent duo with Vivian Woodward, another legend of English football. In 1906, he decided at the age of 32, to leave Derby County to play for the Middlesbrough club, the transfer was estimated at £750. Despite his advanced age, he finished as the club's top scorer twice in the 1906/07 and 1907/08 seasons.

His last international cap took place on April 6, 1907, against Scotland, a 1-1 draw on a goal by Bloomer. Merciless in front of goals, he scored 28 goals in 23 games! Mind-blowing! At that time, he also held the record for being the only English player to have scored quadruples twice for his country.

After 4 years with Middlesbrough, Steve Bloomer decided to return to Derby County, which was then in the English 2nd division. In the English second championship and despite his advanced age, he still scored 38 goals in 64 games. This allowed the English club to be champion of the English D2 during the 1911/12 season.

When he returned to the English elite, he was 38 years old. And when we thought he was finished, the player scored 13 goals in 29 league games, still as effective as ever. The 1913/14 season would be his last, however, he only played 6 games for 2 goals in all competitions, and so he retired at the age of 40.

Steve Bloomer would remain the top scorer in the English Premier League for almost 50 years before Jimmy Greaves overtook him. A formidable finisher, excellent sprinter, and technically adept, he was one of the first great names in English football.

- Top scorer in the English league in 1896 (20 goals), 1897 (22 goals), 1899 (23 goals), 1901 (23 goals) and 1904 (20 goals) (Derby County)

- Included among the 100 legends of the Football League

- Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008

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