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Personal
Fullname: Sidney Charles Puddefoot
aka: Syd Puddefoot (he is variously called Sydney & Sidney Puddefoot; without his Birth Certificate I cannot be 100% which is which.
Born: 17th October 1894
Birthplace: Limehouse, Essex
Signed: N/A
Left: N/A
Position: Centre-Forward
Debut: v West Ham United (A) 10/04/1924
Squad No.: N/A
Internationals: England
International Caps: 2
International Goals: 0
Biog
Famous for being the subject of one of the world record transfer deals, Syd Puddefoot was a centre-forward who learnt his skills with West Ham during the First World War, an army reserve, in 1918 he was posted North of the border where he guested with Falkirk in the League scoring with ease.
After the War he returned to West Ham United, wherein Falkirk broke the bank to sign him with a ludicrous £5000 bid, then the World Record Transfer amount (and only time Scottish football has ever contested that).
He gained renown as being one of the few English top-class imports in to Scottish Football at the time, but since there was never a chance the English FA would select a player playing in Scotland, he had to move back south to kick start his international career. So to Blackburn Rovers he went, Falkirk recouping a fair amount of their original deal by pocketing £4000 for his move.
The exact details of his single Celtic appearance are still murky, but what is known is that he was a former West Ham United player & an East Londoner. So likely he travelled with the Celtic squad to see family as well as helping Celtic for a good cause. He was also one of the scorers in this game for Celtic.
Match played in: 1924-04-10: West Ham 2-2 Celtic, Friendly
Pictures
In all likelihood, no picture exists of Puddefoot in a Celtic shirt (given his one appearance) this is the closest, chronologically, image found of him, with Falkirk in 1921/22.
Articles
Edinburgh Evening News – 11th April 1924
Dundee Courier – April 1924
