Sam Chedgzoy
Encyclopedia
Sam Chedgzoy was an English
football player who changed the laws of the game. He played professionally for Everton F.C.
, the New Bedford Whalers
and Montreal Carsteel. He also earned eight caps with the English national team
.
in 1910, spending sixteen season with the Blues, predominantly was a right wing forward. Everton were runners up in the then top division, Division 1
, in the 1911–12 season; and won the championship 1914–15. In total, Chedgzoy made 300 appearances (279 in the league) for Everton. He scored thirty-six goals, with thirty-three coming in league games.
if another player made contact with the ball. In that year, the International Football Association Board
(IFAB) changed the laws of football so that a goal could be scored directly from a corner kick (without another player touching the ball). However, the wording of the new law was vague. A Liverpool Echo
sports journalist, Ernest Edwards, informed the Everton side of the lack of precision in the new rules. During a game against Woolwich Arsenal
, Everton gained a corner kick that Chedgzoy took. Instead of crossing
the ball in, he dribbled the ball into the penalty area
and scored while the other players and referee looked on in shock - and then he successfully persuaded the referee that the rules permitted this way of scoring a goal. After deliberation by the Football Association
, it was decided that the goal was legal, and the law was amended making it clear that the player taking the corner could only strike the ball once before another player must make contact. This ensures that corner kicks cannot become corner dribbles, but also permits a goal to be scored direct from a corner.
on 15 March 1920. He went on play a total of eight games with England, his last a 3–1 victory over Northern Ireland
on 22 October 1924.
where he signed with New Bedford Whalers
of the American Soccer League
.
. In his ten years with the club, he took them to seven league finals, losing the first four before winning the 1936, 1939 and 1940 titles. He made his final appearance as a player for Carsteel in the Canadian Club Final in 1939 at the age of fifty. He remained in Montreal until his death.
Chedgzoy was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
in 2005.
(1911–1983), was also a footballer who played for various clubs in the 1930s.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football player who changed the laws of the game. He played professionally for Everton F.C.
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, the New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers was the name of three United States soccer teams based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The first Whalers played in the Southern New England Soccer League between 1914 and 1918. The second Whalers played in the American Soccer League between 1924 and 1931 before merging into Fall...
and Montreal Carsteel. He also earned eight caps with the English national team
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
.
Everton
Chedgzoy began his professional career with Everton F.C.Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in 1910, spending sixteen season with the Blues, predominantly was a right wing forward. Everton were runners up in the then top division, Division 1
English football champions
The English football champions are the winners of the highest league in English football, which is currently the Premier League. Teams in bold are those who won the double of League Championship and FA Cup, or the European Double of League Championship and European Cup in that season.Following the...
, in the 1911–12 season; and won the championship 1914–15. In total, Chedgzoy made 300 appearances (279 in the league) for Everton. He scored thirty-six goals, with thirty-three coming in league games.
Changing the laws of the game
In 1926, he forced a change in the laws of the game when he almost scored by dribbling the ball in from a corner kick. Contrary to popular belief, he hit the side netting and did not score. Prior to 1924 a goal could only be scored from a corner kickCorner kick
A corner kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football. It was first devised in Sheffield under the Sheffield Rules 1867...
if another player made contact with the ball. In that year, the International Football Association Board
International Football Association Board
The International Football Association Board is the body that determines the Laws of the Game of association football.-Operations:...
(IFAB) changed the laws of football so that a goal could be scored directly from a corner kick (without another player touching the ball). However, the wording of the new law was vague. A Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
The Liverpool Echo is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Saturday, and is Liverpool's evening newspaper while its sister paper, the Liverpool Daily Post, is the morning paper...
sports journalist, Ernest Edwards, informed the Everton side of the lack of precision in the new rules. During a game against Woolwich Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, Everton gained a corner kick that Chedgzoy took. Instead of crossing
Cross (football)
In football, a cross is a delivery of a ball from either side of the field across to the front of the goal by applying various kicking techniques. A cross is there to provide a goal-scoring opportunity...
the ball in, he dribbled the ball into the penalty area
Penalty area
The penalty area , is an area of an association football pitch. It is rectangular and extends to each side of the goal and in front of it. Within the penalty area is the penalty spot , which is from the goal line, directly in-line with the centre of the goal...
and scored while the other players and referee looked on in shock - and then he successfully persuaded the referee that the rules permitted this way of scoring a goal. After deliberation by the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
, it was decided that the goal was legal, and the law was amended making it clear that the player taking the corner could only strike the ball once before another player must make contact. This ensures that corner kicks cannot become corner dribbles, but also permits a goal to be scored direct from a corner.
National team
Chedgzoy earned his first cap with England in a 2–1 loss to WalesWales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
on 15 March 1920. He went on play a total of eight games with England, his last a 3–1 victory over Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
on 22 October 1924.
American Soccer League
In 1926, Chedgzoy emigrated to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he signed with New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers was the name of three United States soccer teams based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The first Whalers played in the Southern New England Soccer League between 1914 and 1918. The second Whalers played in the American Soccer League between 1924 and 1931 before merging into Fall...
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
.
Canada
Chedgzoy gained his first taste of Canada while vacationing there in 1922. In 1924, he spent the English League off season as manager of the Grenadier Guards, a Canadian armed forces team which competed in the Interprovincial League. When he left the Whalers in 1930, Len Peto, owner of Montreal Carsteel hired Chedgzoy as the team’s player-coach. Carsteel played in the Canadian National Soccer LeagueCanadian National Soccer League
The Canadian National Soccer League, known as the National Soccer League until 1993, was a professional soccer league in Canada that existed from 1926 to 1997...
. In his ten years with the club, he took them to seven league finals, losing the first four before winning the 1936, 1939 and 1940 titles. He made his final appearance as a player for Carsteel in the Canadian Club Final in 1939 at the age of fifty. He remained in Montreal until his death.
Chedgzoy was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
The Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in Vaughan, Ontario, was founded in 1997. It was incorporated by the Ontario Soccer Association. The Hall aims to celebrate and highlight the achievements of top Canadian Footballers and Builders who have played and developed the game in Canada...
in 2005.
Family
His son, SydneySydney Chedgzoy
Sydney Chedgzoy was an English professional association footballer who played as a winger for a number of Football League and non-league clubs in the 1930s....
(1911–1983), was also a footballer who played for various clubs in the 1930s.