Stephen Clarence Bloomer (25 November 1909 – 25 July 1943) was an Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne, Carlton and Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL),[1] and with Port Melbourne in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).
| Steve Bloomer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Stephen Clarence Bloomer | ||
| Date of birth | 25 November 1909 | ||
| Place of birth | Yea, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 25 July 1943 (aged 33) | ||
| Place of death | Flemington, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Brunswick | ||
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Weight | 77 kg (170 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1931 | North Melbourne (VFL) | 7 (4) | |
| 1933 | Carlton (VFL) | 3 (0) | |
| 1934 | Essendon (VFL) | 1 (0) | |
| 1935-1939 | Port Melbourne (VFA) | 61 (7) | |
| Total | 72 (11) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1939. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Family
editThe son of Matthias Bloomer (1867-1928),[2] and Catherine Bloomer (-1953), née Downing,[3] Stephen Clarence Bloomer was born at Yea, Victoria on 25 November 1909.
Football
editVictoria Markets (WL)
editBloomer was part of the Victoria Markets team, that had its home ground in Brunswick, which played its first-ever match in the mid-week Wednesday League — "a Melbourne based inter-workplace league" (see "Wednesday League": Boyles Football Photos) on 20 May 1931.[4]
The Victoria Markets team competed for four years: in an eight-team competition in 1931 and 1932, and a seven-team competition in 1933 and 1934. Bloomer played regularly for the Markets team in 1931, 1932, and 1933.
North Melbourne (VFL)
editPromoted from North Melbourne's Second XVIII,[5] he played his first match for the North Melbourne First XVIII, against Collingwood, on 20 June 1931.[6]
Carlton (VFL)
editCleared from North Melbourne to Carlton on 25 May 1932,[7] and playing for the Carlton Second XVIII on 9 July 1932 against Essendon's Second XVIII, he received a bad knock, going for a mark, and was hospitalized with a ruptured kidney.[8]
Promoted from Carlton's Second XVIII, he played three consecutive matches with the Carlton First XVIII in 1933: the first against Essendon on 5 August 1933, and the third, and last, against Melbourne on 26 August 1933. He continued to play for the Second XVIII until he was cleared to Essendon in June 1934.
Essendon (VFL)
editHe was granted a clearance from Carlton to Essendon on 27 June 1934.[9] and immediately became a regular player with the Essendon Second XVIII.[10]
He played one match with the Essendon First XVIII, against Richmond on 1 September 1934.[11] He was back in the Second XVIII the following week.[12]
Port Melbourne (VFA)
editBloomer was cleared from Essendon to Port Melbourne in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) on 17 April 1935.[13]
He played a total of 61 games, and scored 7 goals, over five seasons (1935-1939). His last match for the Port Melbourne First XVIII was against Willamstown on 29 July 1939. He was dropped to the Second XVIII the following week,[14] and never played senior football again.
Death
editHe died (suddenly) on 25 July 1943.[15]
Notes
edit- ^ Holmesby (2009), p.72.
- ^ Deaths: Bloomer, The Age, (Tuesday, 27 March 1928), p.1.
- ^ Deaths: Bloomer, The Age, (Friday, 19 June 1953), p.9.
- ^ "Onlooker", Wednesday League: Clubs Prepare for First Games, The Argus, (Tuesday, 12 May 1921), p.12.
- ^ Second Eighteens: Opening of the Season: North Melbourne, The Age, Friday, 2 May 1930), p.6.
- ^ North Likely to be Magpies' Sixth Victim, The Herald, (Friday, 19 June 1931), p.3; All Collingwood, The Herald, (Saturday, 20 June 1931), p.3.
- ^ Football: League Permits, The Argus, (Thursday, 26 May 1932), p.12.
- ^ Player Seriously Injured, The Age, (Monday, 11 July 1932), p.12.
- ^ League Grants Many Permits, The Argus, (Thursday, 28 June 1934), p.14.
- ^ Selected Sides: Essendon, The Herald, (Friday, 29 June 1934) p.13.
- ^ Club Notes: Essendon, The Age, (Friday, 31 August 1934) p.7; The Teams: Essendon v. Richmond, The Age, (Friday, 31 August 1934) p.7.
- ^ League Seconds, The Herald, (Friday, 7 September 1934), p.13.
- ^ League Committee's Permits for Association Men, The Argus, (Thursday, 18 April 1935), p.15.
- ^ "Rover", "Battle for Four", The Argus, (Friday, 4 August 1939), p.16.
- ^ Deaths: Bloomer, The Argus, (Monday, 26 July 1943), p.2; Deaths: Bloomer, The Age, (Monday, 26 July 1943), p.5.
References
edit- Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2009). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (8th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-921496-00-4.
- Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. ISBN 0-9591740-2-8
External links
edit- Steve Bloomer's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Steve Bloomer's profile at Blueseum
- Steve Bloomer: The VFA Project.
- Steve Bloomer's profile at essendonfc.com.au.
- Steve Bloomer at AustralianFootball.com