Steve Bloomer , the great inside right, scored 395 goals in his club career (Derby County 527 games, Middlesbrough 130 games).
He was also a prolific scorer in international football.
Making his debut as a 21 year old he got 2 goals in his first match. He then proceeded to score in each of his first 10 internationals, collecting 19 goals in the process.
In his 8th international he overtook Tinsley Lindley as England's highest ever scorer (Lindley had held the record for 7 years).
Bloomer scored in 16 of 23 games played, a strike rate of 1.217 goals per game.
He was also a prolific scorer in international football.
Making his debut as a 21 year old he got 2 goals in his first match. He then proceeded to score in each of his first 10 internationals, collecting 19 goals in the process.
In his 8th international he overtook Tinsley Lindley as England's highest ever scorer (Lindley had held the record for 7 years).
Bloomer scored in 16 of 23 games played, a strike rate of 1.217 goals per game.
1904- goal number 26.
The table charts his international goals with descriptions from contemporary press reports in italics.
Goals | |||||||
1 | 09.03.95 | England | 9 | 0 | Ireland | Derby CCC | 2 |
Steve got England’s 2nd (4 mins- put in a splendid run and notched a second point- a shot that the Irish goalkeeper had not the slightest chance of stopping) and 6th (58 mins- scored from a pass from Goodall). Contemporary press reports credited him with England’s 1st goal, which was later deemed an own goal. | |||||||
2 | 06.04.95 | England | 3 | 0 | Scotland | Goodison | 3 |
Playing at outside left, Steve opened the scoring in the 30th minute. A pass from a free kick by Holt after Goodall had been fouled. | |||||||
3 | 07.03.96 | Ireland | 0 | 2 | England | Solitude, Belfast | 4 |
Steve’s goal in the 75th minute was England’s 2nd. … a low, swift shot… | |||||||
4 | 16.03.96 | Wales | 1 | 9 | England | Cardiff Arms Park | 8 |
2nd a shot that the Welsh custodian never saw until it was in the net. (25 mins). 4th (40 mins) Sandilands dashed away and with a beautiful center enabled Bloomer to score. …a ‘daisy cutter’ 6th (60 mins) after a fine combined run in the teeth of the wind Bloomer was entrusted with the final chance and made no mistake in banging the ball past the Welsh goalkeeper. 8th (83 mins) Bassett and Bloomer ran the ball down and the latter finished with a successful shot. 9th (89 mins) from a pass by Bassett. | |||||||
5 | 20.02.97 | England | 6 | 0 | Ireland | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 10 |
1st (19 mins ) Passing to Smith, The English captain cleverly returned to Bloomer, who sent in, amid loud cheering, a straight, high shot that gave Scott no chance whatever. 6th (85 mins) from Athersmith’s pass… Scott made a noble bid to save, but found it totally beyond his powers. A capital shot by the nimble Bloomer. | |||||||
6 | 29.03.97 | England | 4 | 0 | Wales | Bramall Lane, Sheffield | 11 |
Steve got England’s 2nd goal in the 44th minute. Athersmith …made a splendid run down the wing and passed to Bloomer who gave Trainer no chance with a lightning shot. | |||||||
7 | 03.04.97 | England | 1 | 2 | Scotland | Crystal Palace | 12 |
Steve put England in front in the 19th minute. Athersmith… reached the line, and then with a wonderful kick dropped the ball in front of goal, and Bloomer put it into the net. Athersmith… shot across goal. Bloomer, however, was on the spot, and, taking possession in the melee, he got past Patrick… | |||||||
8 | 02.04.98 | Scotland | 1 | 3 | England | Celtic Park | 15 |
The ‘sovereigns’ game. England’s captain, Wreford-Brown, presented Bloomer with a gold sovereign after he scored. He was responsible for England’s 2nd (a high shot) and 3rd(A bad bit of play by Gibson gave Bloomer what was practically an open goal) goals , in the 23rd and 72nd minutes. Bloomer’s 2nd goal saw him overtake Tinsley Lindley to become England’s all-time top scorer. | |||||||
9 | 18.02.99 | England | 13 | 2 | Ireland | Roker Park, Sunderland | 17 |
Bloomer, following up a shot by Athersmith which Lewis could not quite get away, kicked the 5th goal (40 mins) He scored England’s 13th (89 mins) Bloomer also missed a penalty at 5-0. | |||||||
10 | 20.03.99 | England | 4 | 0 | Wales | Ashton Gate, Bristol | 19 |
2nd (44 min), when (Jones) ventured out to save a good one from Athersmith he was successful, but before he could get back Bloomer put the ball into the net. 4th (86) Forman… pressed towards the goal and Bloomer stopped the ball, and, turning round, scored… | |||||||
11 | 08.04.99 | England | 2 | 1 | Scotland | Villa Park | |
This was Bloomer’s 11th International and the first in which he did not score. | |||||||
12 | 07.04.00 | Scotland | 4 | 1 | England | Celtic Park | 20 |
Steve scored in the 35th minute to make it 3-1. Athersmith dribbled down past Robertson. Drummond caused him more trouble, but could not clear, and Bloomer dashing onto the ball (scored). | |||||||
13 | 18.03.01 | England | 6 | 0 | Wales | St James' Park, Newcastle | 24 |
1st (38) Corbett raced up the wing and centred finely to Bloomer, the latter snapping the ball nicely passed Roose just below the crossbar. 3rd (?) Foster’s shot… was cleared by Roose but Bloomer got onto the ball and kicked a third… 4th (80) from a scrimmage…took a shot and hitting the inside of the post… 6th (83) a blunder by Morris… Roose delaying his rush too long. | |||||||
14 | 30.03.01 | England | 2 | 2 | Scotland | Crystal Palace | 25 |
Steve made it 2-2 in the 80th minute with what was reported to be a sensational goal. Bloomer broke almost from his own goal line…with sound judgement he drew Rennie out of goal and made the score ‘two goals all’. | |||||||
15 | 03.03.02 | Wales | 0 | 0 | England | Racecourse, Wrexham | |
16 | 22.03.02 | Ireland | 0 | 1 | England | Balmoral Showgrounds, Belfast | |
17 | 03.05.02 | England | 2 | 2 | Scotland | Villa Park | |
Bloomer captained England in this match, however, he ended the 1902 International campaign without a goal. | |||||||
18 | 09.04.04 | Scotland | 0 | 1 | England | Celtic Park | 26 |
Steve marked his comeback with a 64th minute winner. (Watson) missed his kick and the ball came to Bloomer , who found the net with a high shot…quite unsavable | |||||||
19 | 25.02.05 | England | 1 | 1 | Ireland | Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough | 27 |
A 50th minute equalizer. An easy thing for him, as he received it close in and had no one but the goalkeeper to beat. | |||||||
20 | 27.03.05 | England | 3 | 1 | Wales | Anfield | |
21 | 01.04.05 | England | 1 | 0 | Scotland | Crystal Palace | |
22 | 18.03.07 | England | 1 | 1 | Wales | Craven Cottage | |
Another comeback, but no scoring boots… | |||||||
23 | 06.04.07 | England | 1 | 1 | Scotland | St James' Park, Newcastle | 28 |
Fittingly Steve Bloomer scored on his international farewell- his 42nd minute strike levelling the game. He took a pretty pass from Veitch … and drove in a great low shot which shook the rigging , and caused a tumult that might have been expected to bring down the scores of people who were finding scanty and precarious foothold on the steep slates of four storey houses facing the ground. | |||||||
Bloomer held the England record for 4 years , when his total was overtaken by Vivian Woodward.
