Eddie Stuart

Edward (Eddie) Stuart was born in Middelburg, South Africa, on 12th May 1931. A talented footballer he played for Rangers of Johannesburg, before Stan Cullis persuaded him to join Wolverhampton Wanderers in January 1951.

Stuart made his first-team debut against West Bromwich Albion on 15th April 1952. However, after making a home visit he contracted a tropical disease that put him out of action for over a year. He returned to the first-team in time to help Wolves win the First Division championship in the 1953-54 season.

In the 1954-55 season lost the services of Roy Swinbourne who was injured early in the season. Despite the goals of Johnny Hancocks (26) and Dennis Wilshaw (20) Wolves could only finish second to Chelsea. Stuart played in 37 games that season.

Wolves won the League Championship in 1957-58 by 5 points from Preston North End. The club scored an amazing 103 league goals that season. SC had built a great team that included Stuart, Peter Broadbent, Eddie Clamp, Ron Flowers, Jimmy Mullen, Bill Slater, Roy Swinbourne, Dennis Wilshaw, Billy Wright, Bert Williams, Norman Deeley, Jimmy Murray and Bobby Mason.

Wolves also won the title in the 1958-59 season with 28 wins in 42 games. Once again the forwards were in great form scoring 110 goals. This was seven more than Manchester United and 22 more than third placed Arsenal. Stuart played in 38 league games that season.

The following season Stuart became captain of Wolves. In the 1959-60 season the club was beaten into second placed by Burnley. Unfortunately, Stuart did not play in the club's 1960 FA Cup victory over Blackburn Rovers.

In the 1960-61 season Wolves finished in 3rd place behind Tottenham Hotspur. At the end of the season, after playing in 322 games for Wolves, he was sold to Stoke City for £8,000. He also played for Tranmere Rovers (1964-65) and Stockport County (1966-67). After retiring from football he ran several hairdressing salons in the Wolverhampton area.