Eddie Latheron
Encyclopedia
Edwin Gladstone "Eddie" Latheron (1887 – 14 October 1917) was an English
footballer who played as an inside forward
for Blackburn Rovers
, helping them to win the Football League title in 1912
and 1914
. He also made two appearances for England
in 1913 and 1914. He was killed at the Battle of Passchendaele in World War I
.
, near Middlesbrough
and after playing for South Bank Corinthians he joined Grangetown Athletic, playing in the Northern League
. He was discovered by Blackburn Rovers in 1906 playing for Grangetown against Blackburn Crosshill in an FA Amateur Cup
tie. Rovers had originally gone to watch another player but it was Latheron who caught their eye and Rovers' manager Robert Middleton paid £25 to bring him to Ewood Park
.
Despite his lack of height, he was masterful in the air and possessed excellent ball control and a fine shot. A prolific goal scorer, but unselfish team player, he quickly established himself as a fan’s favourite and, due to his complexion and red hair, Latheron was known affectionately as "Pinkie" on the terraces.
Latheron soon became a regular selection at inside-left and in 1907–08
he was joint top scorer with nine goals from 27 appearances as Rovers struggled, finishing in 14th place in the table. The following season
, Middleton appointed Bob Holmes
, the former Preston North End
star as trainer. This appointment had a great impact on the team as they obtain fourth place in the table, with Latheron scoring ten goals.
Blackburn continued their good form the following season
and by October 1909 they became leaders of the First Division. They lost their position in January 1910 and finally finished in third place behind Aston Villa
and Liverpool
with Latheron again scoring ten goals. In 1910–11
, Blackburn struggled away from home, with only one win, and, although they won 12 games at home, they could only finish in mid-table. They did, however, have a good run in the FA Cup
, reaching the FA Cup semi-finals
where they went down 3–0 to eventual winners Bradford City
; Latheron scored three goals in the cup run, including two against Southend United
in the first round.
The 1911–12
season began badly with Blackburn Rovers losing two of the first three games. Blackburn's form gradually improved and the team went on an unbeaten run that lasted three months, which took them to the top of the league. Despite being defeated by Bolton Wanderers
and Arsenal
, Blackburn went on another good run and by the end of the season they had three more points than main challengers, Everton
. This was Blackburn's first Football League title. Despite missing a substantial part of the season through injury, Latheron was one of the stars of the team, contributing seven goals, including vital goals against Everton and Oldham Athletic in the final weeks of the season.
Blackburn started the 1912–13 season
very well and were undefeated until December, but there then came a run of five successive defeats. In an attempt to regain the championship, Middleton broke the British transfer record by buying Danny Shea
from West Ham United
for £2,000. Shea's twelve goals were not enough and Blackburn finished fifth that season, with Latheron the club's top scorer on 14.
His form earned him a call up to the England
team for the British Home Championship
match against Wales
played at Ashton Gate
, Bristol
on 17 March 1913, when he was joined by his Rovers team-mates, Bob Crompton
, Joseph Hodkinson
and Billy Bradshaw
. Latheron scored England's second goal in a 4–3 victory. His second international appearance came at Ayresome Park
, Middlesbrough
the following February, in a 3–0 defeat by Ireland with two goals from Liverpool
's Bill Lacey as Ireland claimed the British Home Championship
outright for the first time.
In the league, Rovers took the Football League title for the second time in 1913–14
with a seven point margin over Aston Villa
, thanks in no small part to Danny Shea's 27 goals with Latheron contributing 13.
Despite the outbreak of the First World War, league football continued in England for a further season, and in 1914–15
, Blackburn finished in third place behind Everton
and Oldham Athletic. Rovers scored 83 league goals in the season, with top scorer Percy Dawson
on 20 goals, with Latheron scoring 17.
In his nine league seasons at Ewood Park, Latheron played 258 games, scoring 94 goals.
For the 1915–16 season
, Latheron was one of several Blackburn Rovers players who guested for Blackpool
, for whom he was top scorer with 16 goals in wartime leagues.
Latheron returned to Blackburn for the 1916–17 season and played his final game for Blackburn Rovers on 17 March 1917. Including wartime matches, Latheron made a total of 303 appearances for Blackburn, scoring 120 goals.
as a gunner
, and within a week of his last match for Blackburn Rovers, he was at the Front
. He was killed on 14 October 1917, aged 29 at the Battle of Passchendaele, and was buried in the military cemetery at Vlamertinghe near to the town of Ypres
, Belgium
. He left behind a widow, Bertha, and a son, Walter.
In October 2007, a group of Belgian fans of Blackburn Rovers honoured the 90th anniversary of Latheron's death by a ceremony at his grave.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who played as an inside forward
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
for Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, helping them to win the Football League title in 1912
1911-12 in English football
The 1911–12 season was the 41st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Blackburn Rovers won the First Division title for the first time....
and 1914
1913-14 in English football
The 1913–14 season was the 43rd season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition-First Division:-Second Division:...
. He also made two appearances for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in 1913 and 1914. He was killed at the Battle of Passchendaele in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Playing career
Latheron was born at GrangetownGrangetown, North Yorkshire
Grangetown is a township in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the outskirts of Middlesbrough between the town and ICI Wilton. It is approximately 3.3 miles east of Middlesbrough centre and 4.4 miles from Redcar. Although...
, near Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
and after playing for South Bank Corinthians he joined Grangetown Athletic, playing in the Northern League
Northern League (football)
The Northern League is a football league in North East England for semi-professional and amateur teams. Having been founded in 1889, it is the oldest surviving football league in the world after the Football League....
. He was discovered by Blackburn Rovers in 1906 playing for Grangetown against Blackburn Crosshill in an FA Amateur Cup
FA Amateur Cup
The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when The Football Association abolished official amateur status.-History:...
tie. Rovers had originally gone to watch another player but it was Latheron who caught their eye and Rovers' manager Robert Middleton paid £25 to bring him to Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
.
Despite his lack of height, he was masterful in the air and possessed excellent ball control and a fine shot. A prolific goal scorer, but unselfish team player, he quickly established himself as a fan’s favourite and, due to his complexion and red hair, Latheron was known affectionately as "Pinkie" on the terraces.
Latheron soon became a regular selection at inside-left and in 1907–08
1907-08 in English football
The 1907–08 season was the 37th season of competitive football in England. Manchester United were Football League champions for the first time, while Bradford City won the Second Division and Wolverhampton Wanderers won the FA Cup...
he was joint top scorer with nine goals from 27 appearances as Rovers struggled, finishing in 14th place in the table. The following season
1908-09 in English football
The 1908–09 season was the 38th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Tottenham Hotspur played their first ever season in the Football League, gaining promotion to the First Division in the process...
, Middleton appointed Bob Holmes
Robert Holmes (footballer)
Bob Holmes was a professional footballer, who was a member of the famous 'invincibles' of Preston North End.-Career:...
, the former Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
star as trainer. This appointment had a great impact on the team as they obtain fourth place in the table, with Latheron scoring ten goals.
Blackburn continued their good form the following season
1909-10 in English football
The 1909–10 season was the 39th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Aston Villa won their sixth top division title.Lincoln CIty were re-admitted to the Football League after a season away, at the expense of Chesterfield.-Honours:...
and by October 1909 they became leaders of the First Division. They lost their position in January 1910 and finally finished in third place behind Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
with Latheron again scoring ten goals. In 1910–11
1910-11 in English football
The 1910–11 season was the 40th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Huddersfield Town entered the Football League for the first time. Grimsby Town were the team who made way for them...
, Blackburn struggled away from home, with only one win, and, although they won 12 games at home, they could only finish in mid-table. They did, however, have a good run in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, reaching the FA Cup semi-finals
FA Cup Semi-finals
The FA Cup Semi-finals are played to determine which teams will contest the FA Cup Final. They are the penultimate phase of the FA Cup, the oldest football tournament in the world.- Location :...
where they went down 3–0 to eventual winners Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
; Latheron scored three goals in the cup run, including two against Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
in the first round.
The 1911–12
1911-12 in English football
The 1911–12 season was the 41st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Blackburn Rovers won the First Division title for the first time....
season began badly with Blackburn Rovers losing two of the first three games. Blackburn's form gradually improved and the team went on an unbeaten run that lasted three months, which took them to the top of the league. Despite being defeated by Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
and Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, Blackburn went on another good run and by the end of the season they had three more points than main challengers, Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. This was Blackburn's first Football League title. Despite missing a substantial part of the season through injury, Latheron was one of the stars of the team, contributing seven goals, including vital goals against Everton and Oldham Athletic in the final weeks of the season.
Blackburn started the 1912–13 season
1912-13 in English football
The 1912–13 season was the 42nd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Sunderland won the First Division for the fifth time, with a record of 25–4–9; Aston Villa, finishing second, had fewer defeats, but a lot more draws: 19–12–7....
very well and were undefeated until December, but there then came a run of five successive defeats. In an attempt to regain the championship, Middleton broke the British transfer record by buying Danny Shea
Danny Shea (footballer)
Danny Shea was a footballer who played as an inside-forward.-West Ham United:Born in Wapping, England, Shea played for the Builders Arms pub in Stratford, as well as other local teams Pearl United and Manor Park Albion, when he was discovered by West Ham United boss Charlie Paynter...
from West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
for £2,000. Shea's twelve goals were not enough and Blackburn finished fifth that season, with Latheron the club's top scorer on 14.
His form earned him a call up to the England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
team for the British Home Championship
1913 British Home Championship
The 1913 British Home Championship was an international football tournament between the British Home Nations. An evenly matched tournament, all four sides won at least one game and the competition could have gone any way, as Ireland showed the following year when they won their first undisputed...
match against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
played at Ashton Gate
Ashton Gate
Ashton Gate Stadium is a stadium in Ashton Gate, Bristol, England, and is the home of Bristol City F.C. Located in the south-west of the city, just south of the River Avon, it has an all-seated capacity of 21,497, with an effective capacity for football matches of around 19,500, with an average...
, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
on 17 March 1913, when he was joined by his Rovers team-mates, Bob Crompton
Bob Crompton
Robert "Bob" Crompton was an English professional footballer. He spent the entirety of his career with his hometown club, Blackburn Rovers...
, Joseph Hodkinson
Joseph Hodkinson
Joseph Hodkinson was an English international footballer, who played as an outside left.-Career:Born in Lancaster, Hodkinson played professionally for Blackburn Rovers, and earned three caps for England between 1913 and 1919....
and Billy Bradshaw
Billy Bradshaw (footballer)
William "Billy" Bradshaw was an English football player and manager. Bradshaw played at both professional and international levels as a left half.-Club career:Born in Padiham, Bradshaw began his career with Padiham and Accrington Stanley...
. Latheron scored England's second goal in a 4–3 victory. His second international appearance came at Ayresome Park
Ayresome Park
-External links:**-References:...
, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
the following February, in a 3–0 defeat by Ireland with two goals from Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
's Bill Lacey as Ireland claimed the British Home Championship
British Home Championship
The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
outright for the first time.
In the league, Rovers took the Football League title for the second time in 1913–14
1913-14 in English football
The 1913–14 season was the 43rd season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition-First Division:-Second Division:...
with a seven point margin over Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, thanks in no small part to Danny Shea's 27 goals with Latheron contributing 13.
Despite the outbreak of the First World War, league football continued in England for a further season, and in 1914–15
1914-15 in English football
The 1914–15 season was the 44th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The 1914 Charity Shield was not contested due to suspension of football during World War I-Events:...
, Blackburn finished in third place behind Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
and Oldham Athletic. Rovers scored 83 league goals in the season, with top scorer Percy Dawson
Percy Dawson
Percival "Percy" Dawson was an English footballer who played as a striker. He was born in Cullercoats....
on 20 goals, with Latheron scoring 17.
In his nine league seasons at Ewood Park, Latheron played 258 games, scoring 94 goals.
For the 1915–16 season
Blackpool F.C. season 1915-16
The 1915–16 season was Blackpool F.C.s first season in special wartime football during World War I. They competed in two Football League competitions spread over the full season – the Lancashire Section, Northern Group Principal Competition, for 26 games, and then in the Lancashire Section,...
, Latheron was one of several Blackburn Rovers players who guested for Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, for whom he was top scorer with 16 goals in wartime leagues.
Latheron returned to Blackburn for the 1916–17 season and played his final game for Blackburn Rovers on 17 March 1917. Including wartime matches, Latheron made a total of 303 appearances for Blackburn, scoring 120 goals.
Death and memorial
After the cessation of League football, Latheron enlisted, joining the Royal Field ArtilleryRoyal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
as a gunner
Gunner (rank)
Gunner is a rank equivalent to Private in the British Army Royal Artillery and the artillery corps of other Commonwealth armies. The next highest rank is usually Lance-Bombardier, although in the Royal Canadian Artillery it is Bombardier....
, and within a week of his last match for Blackburn Rovers, he was at the Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. He was killed on 14 October 1917, aged 29 at the Battle of Passchendaele, and was buried in the military cemetery at Vlamertinghe near to the town of Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. He left behind a widow, Bertha, and a son, Walter.
In October 2007, a group of Belgian fans of Blackburn Rovers honoured the 90th anniversary of Latheron's death by a ceremony at his grave.
Honours
Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
- Football League champions: 1911–121911-12 in English footballThe 1911–12 season was the 41st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Blackburn Rovers won the First Division title for the first time....
, 1913–141913-14 in English footballThe 1913–14 season was the 43rd season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition-First Division:-Second Division:...