Edward (Ned) Anderson: ‘Death of Veteran QPR Footballer’
The following article appeared in the Hammersmith & Shepherd’s Bush Gazette on 24th April 1975:
‘A link with soccer history disappeared this week with the death of 91-year-old Ned Anderson who had been the oldest living Queen’s Park Rangers player.
Ned died peacefully in his sleep at the Westway Park Old People’s Home in Shepherd’s Bush, only a kick away from the Loftus Road Stadium.
Although confined to a wheelchair most of the time, he was active to the last and maintained a strong interest in football.
Not many people realised that Ned played for QPR in the early part of this century. A modest man, he seldom spoke of his goal-scoring days with Rangers and Sheffield United between 1905 and 1908.
Born in Newcastle, Ned left school at 13 and played for several local teams in 1901/2. He was soon spotted by a scout from Sheffield United and signed for the princely wages of £3 a week.
During his one season in the United reserve side, playing in the Midland League, Ned netted no less than 30 goals.
In 1906 he moved south to Rangers, who at the time played on railway land at Park Royal.
The first of his goals for them came at Luton in September 1906. He switched from being a centre-forward to a half-back while Rangers began to emerge as a professional outfit.
Ned helped them clinch the Southern League Championship in 1908, and then tragedy struck. At the age of 25 cartilage trouble finished Ned’s career.
He married a Harlesden girl, Fanny, and moved to the Napier Works in Acton Vale where he worked for 50 years.
The Andersons lived in Galloway Road, Shepherd’s Bush until Fanny died eight years ago. Ned died last Monday, his wife’s birthday.
The funeral was held at Ealing Cemetery on Monday. Ned leaves two sisters, four grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren – all of them girls.’
Ned made 20 Southern League appearances for the Rangers and scored three goals.
Steve Russell
(The postcard is from my collection & Ned is shown in the third row, second from the right. Thanks to Gordon Macey & Colin Woodley for their assistance)
Thanks to Peter Trott for some additional information….Ned was born in Newcastle on 21st December 1883 & passed away on 14th April 1975. The family had lived at 100, Galloway Road in the Bush.