ACROSS all sports, both locally and nationally, loyalty is now a rare commodity.
There are, of course, exceptions and the Isle of Wight’s Eddie Walder proved he was virtually unique in our own sporting world.
In the Isle of Wight soccer scene, Eddie spent his entire career at Newport Football Club, had enjoyed four decades with Newport Cricket Club and only ever played badminton for Whitecroft.
Eddie was a genuine all-rounder.
As well as being successful at his three major sports, he was also qualified to coach and teach in all of them, plus swimming, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, remedial PE and weightlifting.
To achieve these qualifications, Eddie travelled to many parts of Britain.
It all began at Priory Boys, from where he also played football for both the Island and Hampshire Boys’ teams.
He was also in the same Hampshire Youth team as Martin Chivers, who of course went on to make a name for himself at Saints, Spurs and with England.
Eddie represented the Island playing schoolboy cricket and as a young sprinter.
He was in the Newport first team at the age of 17 and was spotted by Swindon Town.
He had trials, played in their reserve side and trained alongside rising stars like Mike Summerbee, Don Rogers and Ernie Hunt.
Their manager, Bert Head, was a real talent spotter and wanted him to sign as a semi-pro.
At that time Eddie was working for Island brewers Mew Langton, and they gave him leave of absence to see if he could make the grade.
Head told Eddie he would also find him a job in a Swindon brewery.
It was a tough decision to make, but his age was against him and his form dipped at just the wrong time.
In the end, Eddie decided to remain with Newport.
With regard to that period of his life, he once said: “I am glad I tasted life at a league club.
“You had to be so good to make the real top. I was not too disappointed.”
In hindsight, it was probably the right decision.
Footballers were not paid extortionate wages in those days.
By the end of his chosen career he was a much respected prison governor at Camp Hill.
It was there he spotted the real soccer potential of one of his inmates, Jamie Lawrence, and he gave him all the encouragement he could.
Eddie was so thrilled when he later saw him playing in the Premiership.
He continued playing for Newport into his 40s and only left to retire.
Over the years, Eddie played more games for the club than anyone else and is still their leading goalscorer.
Western League outfit, Salisbury, did offer him £10 a week, when that was a lot of money, but he resisted the temptation and stayed with Newport.
At Church Litten, now swallowed up by two superstores, he played in one of the greatest forward lines in the club’s long history.
They were Barry Dyer, Chris Cheverton, Barry Allen, Trevor Allen and Eddie.
Four of them were Island lads.
Eddie was never booked until he was 21, but then he made up for it.
He was a fierce competitor on the field, particularly in local derbies with Cowes, watched by thousands of people, but off the field he was always a perfect gentleman.
The sight of him in full flight was something special.
He did take his fair share of injuries and recovered from two broken legs.
In one comeback game, he smashed in five goals against Sholing Sports.
His summers were spent a mile or so from Church Litten, at Victoria Recreation Ground, where he played in an unstoppable Newport cricket team.
They were all stars and had great success in Island cricket.
Eddie, who also represented the Island, was a very accurate fast bowler and, on his day, very capable with the bat.
His speed made him an asset in the field.
Later in his career he was delighted to play in the same team as his son, Ian.
They were together in a Newport side that won a Whitbread Cup final.
Eddie took up badminton at the age of 31 with the Whitecroft club.
He and his family helped to secure the future of the club.
His late wife, Sue, and his two sons, the other being Martin, were all good players.
A quick learner, Eddie went on to play for the Island at both senior and vets level.
He coached the Island representative team for 30 years.
With his dedication and natural sporting ability, Eddie went on to win honours in the local game.
Whitecroft won the first division and the Mallett Cup.
Eddie and John Herbert won the Island men’s vets final four years in a row. He also won the mixed doubles on three occasions with Carole Jordan.
Throughout his life, Eddie has been one of the most popular characters in Island sport.
As well as playing, he has helped so many others achieve their own personal goals.
Newport Football Club gave him a testimonial game in 1984 and so many local stars turned up to play.
He loved it, but the first round of drinks emptied his wallet.
These days, Eddie’s in a team of nine old guys, with apologies to Dave English who is younger than the rest, who meet twice a week for coffee and non-stop chat.
Obviously, that is on hold at the present moment.
This team is rather unique. There are no grumpy old men. One or two have made their own mark in Island sport and former heavyweight boxing champion, Roger French, keeps them all in order.
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