Description
Brodsworth, Doncaster born goalkeeper Ted Sagar was known as a fearless goalkeeper of great ability. He joined Everton as an apprentice in March 1929 after playing for Thorne Colliery in 1928 and was initially understudy to Arthur Davies and Billy Coggins, making his Football League debut against Derby County in January 1930. He didn’t get a look in during 1930-31 as Coggins was an ever present, but from the start of the 1931-32 season Sagar had the gloves missing one game as Everton won the League title and he hardly let go of them for the next 15 war interrupted seasons.
He played in Everton’s League Championship winning sides of 1931-32 and 1938-39 and the FA Cup winning side of 1933, when Everton beat Manchester City 3-0 at Wembley. Sagar won his first cap for England when he was selected in a 3-1 win over Ireland at Windsor Park, Belfast, in October 1935, and played three more times for England winning his next cap against Scotland at Wembley in April 1936, playing twice on England’s May 1936 European tour in defeats to Austria and Belgium. During the Second World War he played for Portadown in 1940, as well as representing the Northern Ireland Regional League.
He played his last match for Everton, who had been relegated in 1951, at Plymouth Argyle in November 1952 before his retirement, having made exactly 500 appearances for Everton; this goalkeeping appearance record for the club was only beaten by Neville Southall in 1994.
NB This image was taken at the Tottenham v Everton FA Cup 3rd round tie on 13th January 1934, played at White Hart Lane. Tottenham won 3-0, knocking the reigning FA Cup holders out. The image features Sagar as well as Everton players Jock Thomson, Warney Cresswell and Tommy White, along with Tottenham players Les Howe and George Hunt.