3/1 To Win
Senior Communications Officer Tom Loakes (@TomLoakes) explains why the Blue Plaque in Steve Bloomer's name, which was unveiled last week, is another fitting tribute for a man whose legacy very much lives on in Derby.
How much would he be worth today?
That’s the question I kept asking myself after seeing Derby County’s all-time leading goalscorer Steve Bloomer honoured last week.
A Blue Plaque was unveiled in his name on the corner of Pear Tree Street and Portland Street last Friday afternoon.
The Blue Plaque scheme, which is jointly run by Derby City Council and the Derby Civic Society, is a permanent reminder to people living, working and visiting Derby of the lives and achievements of individuals who helped put Derby on the map.
There’s no doubt about it, Bloomer did just that.
A small ceremony was attended by representatives from Derby City Council, including the Mayor, Councillor John Whitby, and Derby Civic society on the corner of Pear Tree Street and Portland Street.
Club ambassadors Roger Davies and Michael Johnson were at the unveiling and I was also lucky enough to be in attendance too alongside some of my media colleagues.
The Blue Plaque takes pride of place on the building which was Bloomer’s first school and is now owned by Paul Wallis Fashions Ltd, just a few streets away from Derby’s old Baseball Ground home.
When I knew I was attending the unveiling I did some background research to refresh my memory on Bloomer’s excellent record.
Every time I look at the numbers, I’m in awe.
He was prolific to say the least and, arguably, the most talismanic striker in the club’s history.
His name needs little introduction to Derby supporters after he scored 332 goals in 527 games for the club between 1891-1906 and 1910-14, with a spell at Middlesbrough sandwiched inbetween.
Bloomer’s final game for Derby, on 31st January 1914 against Burnley, came at the age of 40 years and 11 days.
That statistic, along with his thirst for goals, demonstrated his love for the game.
His exploits in front of goal were so impressive that he has been the Rams’ all-time leading goalscorer for over a hundred years.
I understand that times have changed, as has the game. Players don’t stick around at clubs for as long now; but what he accomplished remains incredible.
Bloomer also played for England between 1895 and 1907, scoring 28 times in 23 appearances – another formidable return.
He scored in all of his first 10 international matches, which unsurprisingly remains a record for number of consecutive scoring appearances.
He also became the first player to score two hat-tricks for England, after netting five goals against Wales in 1896 and another four against the same opponents in 1901. As a result, he was also the first player to score four goals for the Three Lions twice.
The legacy of the great man will live on for many, many years and it’s fantastic that the youngsters of today can discover Steve Bloomer story.
It’s one that’s more than just about Derby County, too.
During the First World War in Germany he was a civilian detainee at Ruhleben Civilian Detention Camp and he later went on to manage Spanish side Real Union between 1923 and 1925, helping them to lift the Copa del Rey in 1924 with a historic victory over Real Madrid.
His name is unlikely to ever be forgotten, either.
The ‘Bloomer Bust’ takes pride of place next to the home dugout at Pride Park Stadium, after it was erected in 2009 as part of the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations, while the famous ‘Steve Bloomer’s Watchin’ song plays out prior to kick-off at every home fixture.
A further step to remember the legendary striker took place in October last year, when Derby and Real Union met in Spain in the inaugural Steve Bloomer Trophy match. The Rams were 2-1 winners and it is hoped that the fixture will take place on an annual basis as the relationship between the clubs grows.
Bloomer is also listed in the Football League 100 Legends and the English Football Hall of Fame and shows it’s not just in Derby that he’s held in high esteem.
Maybe it’s the money swilling around in the game right now that got my brain whirring, but you do have to wonder what he would cost in today’s market.
Neymar, Philippe Coutinho and Romelu Lukaku, for example, have switched clubs in the last 12 months in high-profile moves for astronomical numbers.
England’s finest right now is Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane.
He is in sensational form, the focal point of their team and the man they rely on when the chips are down; very much like Bloomer was for Derby.
One national media outlet this week reported that Spurs have turned down £177 Million for Kane from Spanish giants Real Madrid.
I’m not drawing comparisons, given I never saw Bloomer play nor have I seen footage of him in action, but you those are the sort of numbers you need to cough up these days for a prolific striker.
Bloomer will forever be one of the club’s greats but, as I said at the very start of this piece, you do have to wonder what he’d cost in the current climate. It’s a question very much without an answer.
One thing’s for sure, though, his contribution to Derby County and the city itself is unquestioned and the latest honour in his name is a truly fitting one.
