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English Football Legends Series

Steve Bloomer was a slightly-built forward, with a powerful shot and quickness of thought that brought him 317 goals in 536 league games. The most prolific striker of his day, he is second only to Jimmy Greaves in the all-time list of top flight goal-scorers.

Steve Bloomer

Clubs: Derby County, Middlesbrough

Position: Forward

Appearances*: 598

Goals*: 352

Honours: Division 2 Championship

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* League appearances and goals only

Derby County

Bloomer was signed by Derby County as an 18-year-old in 1892, and made his league debut, in a 3-1 win at Stoke City, on 3 September 1892. His first league goal came 3 weeks later in a home game against West Bromwich Albion.

He was Derby's top scorer for an incredible 14 consecutive seasons and, together with the Goodall brothers, John and Archie, formed the spine of the Derby side that regularly challenged for honours during the 1890s and early 1900s.

The Rams finished as First Division runners-up in 1896 and reached three FA Cup finals (1898, 1899 and 1903), although they lost on each occasion.

Middlesbrough

In March 1906 Derby accepted a 750 pound fee for Bloomer and he joined Middlesbrough.

Playing alongside Alf Common, the first player to command a 1,000 pound fee, Bloomer continued rattling in the goals, and was Boro's top scorer in both the 1906-07 and 1907-08 seasons.

But trophies continued to elude him and in 1910 he rejoined Derby.

Return to Derby

He returned with the Rams no longer a top-flight side, but helped them to the Second Division title in 1912 - the only piece of silverware he would win during an exceptional playing career.

His last league Derby County goal came against Sheffield United on 6 September 1913, and his last match was against Burnley on 31 January 1914. He was 40 years old.

International Career

Bloomer made 23 England appearances between 1895 and 1907, scoring 28 goals. He scored twice on debut, and scored 4 in a game on two occasions. He also once hit 5 in a single international, against Wales.

Prisoner of War

After retiring Bloomer moved to Germany to coach Britannia Berlin. However, within weeks of his arrival the First World War broke out and he found himself interned in a civilian detention camp. He would remain a prisoner until March 1918.

Coaching career

After the War he coached Blauw-Wit Amsterdam in Holland, and later became coach of Real Union in Spain where he won the Copa del Rey, beating Real Madrid in the final.

He returned to England in 1925 and re-joined his beloved Derby County, working first as reserve team coach, and later as a groundsman at the Baseball Ground. He was also a newspaper columnist for a time.

Death and Legacy

Bloomer died in April 1938, and is buried at Nottingham Road Cemetery, Derby. He remains a legend at Derby County and the club anthem, Steve Bloomer's Watchin', is played before every home game.

He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

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