England and Arsenal football legend Eddie Hapgood’s connection to Leamington has been marked by the unveiling of a blue plaque at the house in the city the place lived in the closing years of his life.The plaque was unveiled by Leamington Mayor Cllr Susan Rasmussen and Eddie’s son Michael at 44 Heath Terrace yesterday.Several members of Eddie’s household, representatives from Arsenal FC and Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western, an Arsenal fan, had been amongst the crowd who got here for the unveiling, for which the wheels had been set in movement by Leamington city councillor Bill Gifford again in 2019.Former England and Arsenal Captain Eddie Hapgood. Photo credit score: Fredrick William Daniels.Eddie’s daughter Dr Lynne Hapgood, who has lived in Leamington for many of her life since the mid-Nineteen Sixties, stated the occasion has been ‘very emotional and completely incredible’. “I’m so proud of what my dad did,” she addedBefore as of late of trendy multi-millionaire footballing megastars, Eddie was a sporting hero in his personal proper.Born in Bristol in 1908 as the ninth of ten youngsters, he labored as a milkman from the age of 14 , which was college leaving age at the time, taking part in football in the junior leagues.44 Heath Terrace in Leamington the place the blue plaque, to mark Arsenal and England football legend Eddie Hapgood having lived there, has now been positioned and unveiled.At 18 he began taking part in for Kettering Town FC at a stage slightly below the Football League.A yr later he signed for Arsenal underneath the administration of ‘star supervisor’ Herbert Chapman.It was Herbert’s counter-attacking techniques which helped Eddie, a quick and skillful defender with an eye fixed for a artistic move, to flourish as a participant and he was admired by his most illustrious opponent the nice Stanley Matthews.At the age of simply 22, Eddie grew to become the captain of Arsenal and, inside a yr of taking part in his first worldwide match he was made the captain of the England nationwide workforce.A mural displaying Arsenal legends at the membership’s Emirates Stadium consists of Eddie Hapgood sporting the quantity 3 shirt.He performed virtually 400 video games for Arsenal between 1927 and 1944 and was capped 30 occasions for England between 1933 and 1939, showing in internationally historic video games reminiscent of an away match in Munich in opposition to Germany in 1938 the place he and his teammates had been made to offer the Nazi salute by The Foreign Office as a gesture of goodwill.He additionally had his nostril damaged in the notorious and notoriously soiled ‘Battle of Highbury’ match between England and the then world champions Italy in 1934.Neither Germany nor Italy got here out on high in both sport.Eddie’s taking part in profession was sadly reduce quick when he was simply 30 resulting from the outbreak of the Second World War however he went in to administration at Blackburn Rovers, Watford and Bath City with various success between 1944 and 1956.At Arsenal, Eddie was paid a most wage of £12 per week with a bonus of £2 for a win or £1 for a draw.And, like the stars of at the moment, he additionally topped up his earnings via promoting endorsements and modelling.Lynne stated: “He was extremely well-known as a participant however again in these days footballers weren’t paid wherever close to as a lot as they’re now.”When struggle broke out he was informed he might decide up his wages for the subsequent six days and then that was it.”It was exhausting for him however individuals all the time revered him as a person with nice footballing ideas and he was the most affectionate and caring father.”Lynne moved to Leamington as a pupil at the University of Warwick when it first opened in 1965.Her older sister Margot later purchased 44 Heath Terrace and moved to the city bringing Eddie and their mom – his spouse – Margaret together with her.Lynne, who additionally moved in to the house and lived there for some time, stated: “Dad completely liked the city.”He gained his tennis teaching certificates, he joined the library and learn many books.”He would go to look at Coventry and Aston Villa matches.”He was delighted as a result of I was right here as a result of we hadn’t been capable of see a lot of each other.”I had had a child and he helped by taking Sam out in a pram.- he was pleased and it was the first time he had been safe for a really very long time after going via numerous managerial roles.”With his well being having began to deteriorate earlier than he got here to reside in Leamington, Eddie died in April 1973, aged 64.He left 4 youngsters, additionally together with Tony who performed for Burnley and Watford in the Fifties, and his spouse Margaret who died in the Nineteen Eighties.Speaking at the unveiling of the plaque, his son Michael stated St Mark’s church close to Heath Terrace was full to the brim for his father’s funeral.
https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/your-warwickshire/kenilworth/blue-plaque-unveiled-at-leamington-house-which-was-the-last-home-of-england-and-arsenal-football-legend-eddie-hapgood-3395801
