Clarets legend’s England cap and medals return to Turf Moor

Edwin “Eddie” Mosscrop may not be a household name nowadays but he was instrumental in the Clarets’ early success, helping the club win the 1914 FA Cup and the First Division Championship in 1920-21.

And those memories will continue to live on at Turf Moor after the club bought, at auction, an England cap and medal and a Football League representative medal awarded to the Claret.

Born in Southport in 1892, flying winger Mosscrop was a schoolmaster when he joined Burnley as a 20-year-old amateur in 1912.

Before the war his form leading up to the FA Cup final saw him rewarded with a call up to the full England side for the Home International clash with Wales in Cardiff, which England won 2-0.

He kept his place for England’s 3-1 defeat against Scotland but this unfortunately signified the end of his international career.

In between these two outings, Mosscrop also represented the Football League against the Scottish League, the match taking place at Turf Moor. It was his appearances on this ground at club level though that have seen him become a legendary figure in Burnley’s history as he played a key role in clinching that First Division title in 1921.

After a period of serious illness, however, he was forced to retire from the game in 1922, having scored 20 goals in 198 senior appearances for Burnley.

The items acquired by Burnley FC, which will be added to the club’s trophy cabinet, are the purple England cap and the 18ct gold medal awarded to Mosscrop by the Football Association to commemorate his appearance against Scotland along with medal awarded by the Football League after the game against the Scottish League.

Mr Ray Simpson, Burnley FC historian, said: “Eddie Mosscrop was a very significant player for Burnley in those memorable years for the club either side of the First World War and was one of only a handful of Clarets who have won FA Cup and League Championship medals.

“We will be proud to display here at Turf Moor these items awarded to a true Burnley FC legend.”

A spokesman for the club said: “Once again Burnley Football Club is extremely grateful to members of the various Clarets’ supporters’ groups who have made a generous collective contribution to the purchase of these items.”