William George Eardley (1871–?) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Burslem Port Vale and Stoke.[1] A pacey, quality player he was also prone to sulking.

Billy Eardley
Personal information
Full name William George Eardley[1]
Date of birth 1871[1]
Place of birth Stoke-upon-Trent, England[1]
Date of death ?
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1894–1895 Burslem Port Vale 8 (3)
1895 Newcastle Swifts
1895–1896 Burslem Port Vale 9 (4)
1896–1897 Stoke 10 (1)
Total 27 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Eardley joined Burslem Port Vale in May 1894.[2] In the 1894–95 season he only played nine games but did score three goals.[2] Two of his goals came against Newcastle United at St James' Park in a 2–1 win on 12 April.[2] His other goal came eight days later, in an end-of-season 4–0 win over Crewe Alexandra at the Athletic Ground.[2] He switched to Newcastle Swifts in the summer of 1895. He returned to Vale in September of that year.[2] He still failed to become a first-team regular and claimed four goals in ten games in the 1895–96 season.[2] The goals came in two braces against Darwen on 5 and 19 October.[2]

In August 1896, he moved on to Stoke. At Stoke, Eardley played ten matches under Horace Austerberry during the 1896–97 season, scoring once in a 2–1 victory against Preston North End at the Victoria Ground on 9 November 1896, and was released in January 1897.[1]

Career statistics

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Source:[3]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Senior Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Burslem Port Vale 1894–95 Second Division 8 3 0 0 1 0 9 3
1895–96 Second Division 9 4 1 0 0 0 10 4
Total 17 7 1 0 1 0 19 7
Stoke 1896–97 First Division 10 1 0 0 0 0 10 1
Career total 27 8 1 0 1 0 29 8

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 91. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  3. ^ Billy Eardley at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)