Lightfoot Teddy Image 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1913

Description

Liverpool born left half Teddy Lightfoot began his football career with Harrowby from where he joined Lancashire League club Southport Central in 1910, He signed for First Division Tottenham Hotspur in 1911. making his Football League debut at Middlesbrough that October, making 20 further appearances during the rest of the season. Although lightly used over the next two seasons, he came back into the side in September 1914 and played over half of Spurs’ matches before the onset of the First World War forced the suspension of peacetime football at the end of the season, by when he had scored twice in 66 matches for Tottenham Hotspur.

Lightfoot was one of several former and current (at that time) Spurs players who died in action in the War. In early 1916, Lightfoot joined The Royal Garrison Artillery, reaching the rank of sergeant. He died at 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station in Esquelbecq on 20th July 1918 – the cause of his death is unknown. Lightfoot is buried at the Esquelbecq Military Cemetery.

Perseus writing in the Lancashire Daily Post paid the following tribute “Edward Lightfoot was a splendid footballer but, more than that, he was a good sportsman and a player that respected both himself and his opponents. He has joined a noble company who will leave a big void in football”.