Edward Robert Presland (27 March 1943 – 1 August 2021)[1] was an English footballer who played as a defender in England for West Ham United, Crystal Palace, Colchester United, Chelmsford City and Wealdstone and for Jewish Guild in South Africa. He was manager of Wealdstone, Dulwich Hamlet, Hendon, Gravesend and Northfleet and Dagenham. He also played first-class and List A cricket for Essex.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Edward Robert Presland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 27 March 1943 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Loughton, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 1 August 2021 (aged 78) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Gateshead, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| –1960 | West Ham United | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1960–1967 | West Ham United | 6 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1967–1969 | Crystal Palace | 61 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1969 | → Colchester United (loan) | 5 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chelmsford City | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jewish Guild | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wealdstone | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wealdstone | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dulwich Hamlet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hendon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gravesend and Northfleet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dulwich Hamlet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980–? | Dagenham | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club career
editPresland started as a junior for West Ham United before signing as a professional in October 1960. He did not make his debut until 27 February 1965 in a 2–1 home win against Liverpool in which he scored his only goal for West Ham.[2] He made only six appearances for West Ham before moving to Crystal Palace in 1967. He had a spell on-loan with Colchester United signing on 11 October 1969. He made his Colchester United debut on the same day in a 2–1 home win against Bradford Park Avenue. He made only six appearances for Colchester in all competitions, his last being in November 1969.[3] After leaving Crystal Palace he played for Chelmsford City, Jewish Guild in South Africa and Wealdstone.[3][4]
Managerial career
editOn his return from South Africa Presland played for Wealdstone and moved on to manage the club. Similar roles followed with Dulwich Hamlet, Hendon, Gravesend and Northfleet, again with Dulwich Hamlet before moving to Dagenham as a coach. In 1980, he became their manager and led them to their victory in the 1980 FA Trophy Final with Dagenham beating Mossley 2–1 at Wembley. He was sacked almost immediately after the victory and then left football for a time before returning as a scout for Ipswich Town, West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur.[5] As a scout for Tottenham, Presland played a central role in the recruitment of players Gareth Bale and Luka Modrić.[1]
Cricket career
editPresland played 30 first-class and 24 List A matches for Essex between 1962 and 1972.[3][6] His highest score was 51 against Northamptonshire in 1967.[7]
Death
editOn 1 August 2021, at the age of 78, Presland died of cancer at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b "Former West Ham United defender Eddie Presland passes away at the age of 78". West Ham United. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "Eddie Presland". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- ^ a b c "Player profile – Eddie Presland". www.coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- ^ "CRYSTAL PALACE : 1946/47 – 2010/11". www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
- ^ Hogg, Tony (1995). West Ham Who's Who. London: Independent UK Sports publications. p. 168. ISBN 1-899429-01-8.
- ^ James Dart (10 August 2005). "Multi-talented footballers". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com.
- ^ "Obituary - Eddie Presland". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.