Eric Hayward

Lionel Eric Hayward (2 August 1917 – 1976) was an English professional footballer who played as a defender. He was the elder brother of Basil and Doug Hayward.

He began his career as an amateur at Port Vale in July 1934 before turning professional in 1936. He was never a first-team regular and was allowed to join Blackpool in May 1937. He remained at Bloomfield Road for the next 15 years, during one of the brightest periods in the club's history, and played twice at Wembley in the FA Cup final defeats of 1948 and 1951. In total, he played 305 league games in the Football League, not including appearances during World War II.

Career Hayward began his career with Port Vale as an amateur in July 1934, signing professional forms two years later. with whom he would spend the next 15 years.

He made his debut for the "Seasiders" on 27 November 1937, in a single-goal defeat by Liverpool at Bloomfield Road. He went on to make 23 further appearances during the 1937–38 season. He missed only one game of the 1938–39 campaign before World War II intervened. During the hostilities he guested for Stoke City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Wrexham, Walsall, Birmingham and Luton Town

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1934–35 Second Division

1935–36 Second Division

1936–37 Third Division North

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1937–38 First Division

1938–39 First Division

1939–40

1946–47 First Division

1947–48 First Division

1948–49 First Division

1949–50 First Division

1950–51 First Division

1951–52 First Division

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Honours Blackpool Football League War Cup: 1943 FA Cup runner-up: 1947–48,