Ernie! The Greatest Winger in the North West!
Today sees a whole 24 years since City lost possibly one of the most underrated superstars to pull on a City shirt. On this day in 1987 Ernie Toseland passed away quietly in Stockport.
Ernie joined City in March 1929 from Coventry where he had already made a name for himself, scoring eleven goals in twenty two games for them. As an outside right player this was not his main job for the club which made it even more impressive.
From the 1929-30 season through the next nine seasons Toseland would average 38 League games for City. Remember back in those days the season consisted of 42 games. Despite his main role being to supply balls for Tilson, Brook and Herd to convert he himself netted double figures in four out of six seasons as well as scoring in two successive FA Cup Semi Finals (in 1933 & 1934).
His first Championship season of 1936-37 for City was actually the third of his career. Ernie also should have won more International caps and probably would have done if it wasn’t for the excess of exceptional wingers around at the time.
After signing for City he scored in the home debut against Aston Villa and appeared in the last three games of that season. In 1931 he scored in the away fixture against Manchester United, a game City won 3-1 in a season United were relegated, bottom with only seven wins and conceding 115 goals! (Just had to put in those numbers!) 1934 saw Toseland and City lift the FA Cup before picking up a league winners medal in 1937.
Many people today, when it comes to City, compare todays players to those of yesteryear. Many get compared to Francis Lee, Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee and Neil Young. However it was the latter, Young, who himself is to be compared to Toseland.
Both were crucial to City’s successes, both won the League with City and both won the FA Cup with City. Both were overlooked for a more ‘glamerous’ trio. With Young, obviously it was Bell, Lee and Sumerbee and Toseland took the backseat to Swift, Brook and Doherty.
Toselands career was cut short in 1939 when a small German with anger management issues and questionable grooming habits invaded Poland. Ernie did continue to play football, but as at an amateur level, after the war. Since his glory days with City he has largely been forgotten but his contribution should not be overlooked.
A model of consistency on the field, Ernie was 82 when he died.
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