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A Proven goalscorer - Edward (Eddie) Loyden 1945 - 2025
A tribute by Blackpool historian Gerry Wolstenholme 1/2
Eddie Loyden was born in Seaforth, Liverpool, on 22 December 1945 and played his junior football as a centre or inside forward as an amateur with Formby before having with Preston North End, again as an amateur. Blackpool’s Merseyside scout Verdi Godwin noted his prowess and recommended him to Blackpool, who immediately signed him on amateur forms on 14 September 1963.
After some ‘A’ team games he made his Central League debut on 16 November 1963 against West Bromwich Albion reserves when he scored Blackpool’s only goal in a 2-1 defeat. Three days later, he starred in the FA Youth Cup game against Tranmere Rovers on 19 November 1963 when he was considered ’a player with dynamite in his boots’ as he scored twice in the 5-0 victory. He also had another shot deflected into the net by a Tranmere defender.
Pleased with his early progress, Blackpool signed him as a professional on 6 December 1963 just before his 18th birthday. He was said to be ’all and strong and packed a pretty good shot in either foot’ and had been discovered by. His weekly wage was £8 all year round plus an additional £17 if and when he played in the first team and an additional £2 when he played in the Central League side.
Always a combative player, he received his first booking in the FA Youth Cup game against Manchester United on 22 January 1964 when he scored twice, once from the penalty spot in Blackpool’s 3-2 defeat. And he finished his first season at the club having played in seven Central League games, scoring one goal, plus two FA Youth Cup games in which he scored four goals.
He was tipped as one to watch prior to the 1964/65 season with the rider that he ’could well become one of Blackpool’s most valuable assets before very long’. His progress was such that his weekly wage had been increased to £11 plus an extra £19 if and when he played in the first team and an extra £2 when he played in the Central League side.
He began the 1964/65 season in the Central League side and in the game against Bury reserves on 5 September 1964, the press praised him with ’The Blackpool player who attracted the greatest notice was that often exploding bombshell called Eddie Loyden, who at inside right was so often seeking shooting positions and so often shooting that most folk during and after the match were asking, “Why not give him a run at centre forward?”’ “Well, why not?” commented the reporter. And that even though he didn’t score in the game that Blackpool won 4-1.
He was booked for a second time in the Central League game against Preston North End reserves on 14 September 1964 but he did score two of Blackpool’s goals in a 4-2 victory. And a third booking came along in a 2-0 victory over Leeds United reserves on 26 December 1964. However, his good form could not be ignored and, after having scored 10 goals in 20 Central League games, he made his First Division debut at centre forward against Liverpool on 2 January 1965 with regular centre forward Ray Charnley moving to inside right. Blackpool suffered a 3-2 home defeat and with Charnley returning to centre forward for the following game, Loyden returned to reserve team action.
Unfortunately he was fined £5 for an undisclosed reason of a breach of training regulations on 15 January. But this did not stop him from being under consideration for a return to the first team and he made his second League appearance as a late choice in the 1-1 draw with Leicester City on 13 February 1965. His selectin came about when Blackpool’s proposed signing of Robin Stubbs from Torquay United fell through at the very last minute. A place had been left in the side for Stubbs to play for the Seasiders so Loyden was called in to fill it.
He received a third booking in the game against Stoke City reserves on 20 February when Blackpool won 2-0. And he finished the 1964/65 season having played two League games and, almost a regular in the Central League games, playing 37 games and scoring 14 goals, for Blackpool in the season. He was the Central League side’s leading goalscorer.
Blackpool increased his weekly wage for the 1965/66 season to £16 plus an extra £14 if and when he played in the League side. But he spent the season in the Central League side, playing 18 games and scoring six goals.
With Charnley still scoring regularly in the League side, Blackpool gave him a free transfer on 18 June 1966. He was immediately signed by Second Division Carlisle United later in June 1966 but he played no League football for the club in his one-season stay at the club.
(Cont)
A tribute by Blackpool historian Gerry Wolstenholme 1/2
Eddie Loyden was born in Seaforth, Liverpool, on 22 December 1945 and played his junior football as a centre or inside forward as an amateur with Formby before having with Preston North End, again as an amateur. Blackpool’s Merseyside scout Verdi Godwin noted his prowess and recommended him to Blackpool, who immediately signed him on amateur forms on 14 September 1963.
After some ‘A’ team games he made his Central League debut on 16 November 1963 against West Bromwich Albion reserves when he scored Blackpool’s only goal in a 2-1 defeat. Three days later, he starred in the FA Youth Cup game against Tranmere Rovers on 19 November 1963 when he was considered ’a player with dynamite in his boots’ as he scored twice in the 5-0 victory. He also had another shot deflected into the net by a Tranmere defender.
Pleased with his early progress, Blackpool signed him as a professional on 6 December 1963 just before his 18th birthday. He was said to be ’all and strong and packed a pretty good shot in either foot’ and had been discovered by. His weekly wage was £8 all year round plus an additional £17 if and when he played in the first team and an additional £2 when he played in the Central League side.
Always a combative player, he received his first booking in the FA Youth Cup game against Manchester United on 22 January 1964 when he scored twice, once from the penalty spot in Blackpool’s 3-2 defeat. And he finished his first season at the club having played in seven Central League games, scoring one goal, plus two FA Youth Cup games in which he scored four goals.
He was tipped as one to watch prior to the 1964/65 season with the rider that he ’could well become one of Blackpool’s most valuable assets before very long’. His progress was such that his weekly wage had been increased to £11 plus an extra £19 if and when he played in the first team and an extra £2 when he played in the Central League side.
He began the 1964/65 season in the Central League side and in the game against Bury reserves on 5 September 1964, the press praised him with ’The Blackpool player who attracted the greatest notice was that often exploding bombshell called Eddie Loyden, who at inside right was so often seeking shooting positions and so often shooting that most folk during and after the match were asking, “Why not give him a run at centre forward?”’ “Well, why not?” commented the reporter. And that even though he didn’t score in the game that Blackpool won 4-1.
He was booked for a second time in the Central League game against Preston North End reserves on 14 September 1964 but he did score two of Blackpool’s goals in a 4-2 victory. And a third booking came along in a 2-0 victory over Leeds United reserves on 26 December 1964. However, his good form could not be ignored and, after having scored 10 goals in 20 Central League games, he made his First Division debut at centre forward against Liverpool on 2 January 1965 with regular centre forward Ray Charnley moving to inside right. Blackpool suffered a 3-2 home defeat and with Charnley returning to centre forward for the following game, Loyden returned to reserve team action.
Unfortunately he was fined £5 for an undisclosed reason of a breach of training regulations on 15 January. But this did not stop him from being under consideration for a return to the first team and he made his second League appearance as a late choice in the 1-1 draw with Leicester City on 13 February 1965. His selectin came about when Blackpool’s proposed signing of Robin Stubbs from Torquay United fell through at the very last minute. A place had been left in the side for Stubbs to play for the Seasiders so Loyden was called in to fill it.
He received a third booking in the game against Stoke City reserves on 20 February when Blackpool won 2-0. And he finished the 1964/65 season having played two League games and, almost a regular in the Central League games, playing 37 games and scoring 14 goals, for Blackpool in the season. He was the Central League side’s leading goalscorer.
Blackpool increased his weekly wage for the 1965/66 season to £16 plus an extra £14 if and when he played in the League side. But he spent the season in the Central League side, playing 18 games and scoring six goals.
With Charnley still scoring regularly in the League side, Blackpool gave him a free transfer on 18 June 1966. He was immediately signed by Second Division Carlisle United later in June 1966 but he played no League football for the club in his one-season stay at the club.
(Cont)
