12 Facts About Ted Purdon

Edward John Purdon was a South African professional footballer who played as a forward.

Ted Purdon played for Birmingham City in the Second Division of the Football League and for Sunderland in the First Division.

Ted Purdon came to England on tour with his South African club in 1950 at the age of 20, was watched by representatives of several clubs, and signed for Birmingham City.

Ted Purdon was a good cricketer, and was named once as twelfth man for Warwickshire.

Ted Purdon made a spectacular start to his Sunderland career, scoring twice on debut against Cardiff City and following that up with a hat-trick against Arsenal at Highbury in his second game.

Ted Purdon was a big man whose "physique allied to a total lack of fear made him a handful for any centre-half"; West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Norman Heath was in collision with him during a game and received spinal injuries so severe that he never played again.

Workington took an early lead and Ted Purdon came close to adding a second before Dennis Viollet's second-half hat-trick settled the matter.

Ted Purdon was part of the Barrow team which conceded ten goals in a league match at Hartlepools United.

Ted Purdon emigrated to Canada in 1961, where he played for Toronto City and other Canadian clubs in the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League, and helped New York Ukrainians to win the 1965 National Challenge Cup.

Ted Purdon re-signed with Toronto Ukraina for the 1969 season, and 1970 season.

Ted Purdon was a founder member and honorary president of Sunderland's North American supporters' club.

Ted Purdon died in a Toronto hospital two days later at the age of 77.