Ted Sager
Edward (Ted) Sager was born in Moorends on 7th February 1910. After leaving school he worked as a coalminer at Thorne Colliery. A talented goalkeeper he joined
Everton in March 1929.
Sager made his debut for the club against
Derby County in January 1930. That season the club was relegated to the Second Division. The star of the team at the time was
Dixie Dean.
Everton easily won the Second Division championship in the 1930-31 season.
Dixie Dean scored in 12 consecutive league games and once again was the club's leading scorer.
Everton won the First Division championship in 1931-32. Sager only missed one game that season. Tony Matthews in
Who's Who of Everton points out that Sager "became famous for his headlong dives towards the ball, regardless of how many players were blocking his path." Matthews added: "He was a fine shot-stopper and had the uncanny ability to pluck high, looping balls out of the air with timely precision."
Everton also reached the 1933
FA Cup Final. The team that lined up against
Manchester City included Sager,
Dixie Dean,
Cliff Britton and
Albert Geldard. Everton won the game 3-0.
In December, 1936,
Everton signed
Tommy Lawton for a fee of £6,500. The team at this time included
Joe Mercer,
Dixie Dean,
Cliff Britton,
Albert Geldard,
Alex Stevenson and
Jack Jones. In the 1938-39 season
Everton won the First Division league title, by beating
Wolverhampton Wanderers by four points.
Sager's football career was interrupted by the
Second World War. He joined the
British Army and served in
Denmark,
Italy and
Iraq.
After the war Sager returned to
Everton. In September 1948
Cliff Britton, Sager's former teammate, was appointed manager of the club. Sager retained his place in the side but unfortunately the club was relegated in the 1950-51 season.
Sager played his final game for
Everton in November 1952. He was 42 years, 281 days old, and was the oldest player ever to appear in a first-class game for the club. Over a 23 year period, Sager played 497 games for Everton.
Edward Sager, who became a
Liverpool licensee, died on 16th October 1986.