Hudson: Edward Kearney (Edward)

1916-1916 (Leeds City War-time Guest Player Details)

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Born: Bolton, Lancashire: 18-12-1876

Debut: v Leicester Fosse (h): 02-09-1916

5'10": 11st 6lb

Hudson commenced his football career with Walkden Central and Ashton National before moving to First Division fom Walkden Central to Manchester United for £75 in January 1913. He had played eleven games at Old Trafford before the outbreak of WW1. A reliable full-back, Hudson featured mainly as cover in three Football League seasons either side of the First World War, during which he also served in the British Army. He made his United debut on 24th January 1914 in a 2-2 draw at Oldham Athletic, going on to make a further eight appearances that season. He played twice more in 1914-15 but then faded out of the picture at Old Trafford and spent some time at Lancashire Combination side Tranmere Rovers. After enlisting in the Army at the start of the First World War, Hudson became a Gunner. Hudson enlisted in the British Army under Lord Derby’s Group Scheme on 8th December 1915 in Stockport and was then transferred to the Army Reserve. After returning to his job as a butcher, Gunner 85570 Hudson was called for service in the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) on 23rd May 1916 and was posted to RGA Number 2 Depot at Gosport. On 12th November 1916, Hudson was posted to 25th Anti-Aircraft Company RGA, based at Halifax, West Yorkshire, where he was struck down with influenza and admitted to Halifax Military Hospital on 27 January 1917. Subsequently discharged on 7 February, Hudson was later transferred to 28th AA Coy at Selby before serving with 56th AA Coy until he was transferred to Class “Z” Army Reserve on 3rd September 1919 and demobilized. In 1916, while in training locally, Leeds City asked Hudson to guest for them and he made his debut on 2nd September 1916 at home to Leicester Fosse. Following the 2-2 draw, it was reported in the Leeds Mercury: "Hudson of Manchester United, who partnered Copeland at full-back, is a resolute defender. He greatly strengthened the defence." He played in eleven of City's first thirteen games, but lost his place to Newcastle United defender, Billy Hampson, and left the club before the end of the 1916-17 season. They were the only games he played for Leeds City. On the resumption of Football League games he joined Second Division Stockport County in August 1919 and after he had made his debut at right-back in a 1-0 home win over Barnsley on 1st November 1919, he took his total to eleven League games with them before making his final appearance with them in a 0-5 away defeat at Leeds Road by Huddersfield Town. He then joined Aberdare Athletic of the Welsh Section of the Southern League which saw them as Runners-up in the first season, before they were elected to Football League Division Three South before the start of the 1921-22 season. He died in January 1945.