E-GALLERY

Bawtry Photo's

Ted was born in Moorends in 1910 and grew up in Highfields then later moved to Hatfield where he worked at Thorne Colliery and played for Thorne Colliery FC.

That was by March, 1929 - and on January 18, 1930 he made the first of what was to become a record-breaking 463 League appearances against Derby County.

Sagar only ever played for the one club from the moment he signed from the junior leagues as a 19-year-old in March 1929, until he made his last appearance at Plymouth Argyle in November 1952 - a mammoth 463 League games later. That total was an Everton record which outlived him, surviving until eight years after his death when it was surpassed by Neville Southall in 1994.

It was during the 1931-32 season that Sagar established himself in the side, and he spent the next 11 seasons as the first-choice goalkeeper at Goodison – although that period spanned 17 years, six of which saw football suspended while the Second World War was fought. Immediately he settled into the team, Everton won the League Title. Sagar missed only one game that season, and didn't miss any the following year as Everton were again successful, this time in the FA Cup. The season before war broke out, Everton were Champions once more and many observers agreed that the side of 1938-39 was the finest they had ever seen.

"There is no finer goalkeeper in the League today," opined one newspaper, on the occasion he was selected to represent the Football League in 1934.

After the war, in 1950-51, the 40-year-old Sagar still first-choice - became the last Everton goalkeeper to play in a relegated side. Not an honour to be especially proud of, but it was something else Neville Southall came close to taking from him in 1994. His last appearance was made in Division Two, in November 1952.

Sagar died in October 1986, aged 76. On his passing, Everton lost a dedicated servant, the like of whom may never be seen again.

Thanks to Tony Richardson.

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