Mr. Edward “Eddie” McCreadie, died Monday, January 12, 2026, at the age of 85.
Eddie was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on April 15, 1940, to the late Jimmy & Mary Graham McCreadie. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Jim and Jack; sister, Esther all of Scotland.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Crouch McCreadie of Johnson City; three children, Paul, Sean and Ann Marie, their children, and grandchildren, all of Scotland.
Eddie started his professional soccer career in Scotland, playing for East Stirlingshire, a second division Scottish team. In 1962, at the age of 22 he was signed by Chelsea F.C. in the top division of English soccer. The 1973/74 season was his last. He ended with 410 appearances, all but five of them as a starter. He represented Scotland in international competition 23 times between 1965 and 1969.
He took over Chelsea as manager in 1975 and returned the team to First Division. After ending his time at Chelsea in 1977, he moved to Tennessee and managed the Memphis Rogues and later the Cleveland Force.
In 1985, he returned to Memphis where he was the director of coaching of a youth soccer league. Eddie retired in East Tennessee in 1998 with his wife, Linda.
Funeral services will be conducted at 5:00 PM, Thursday, January 15, 2026, at Boones Creek Christian Church with Minister David Clark officiating. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. Funeral services will be livestreamed via boonesreekcc.org
Graveside services will be conducted 11:30 AM, Friday, January 16, 2026, at the Cemetery at Boones Creek Baptist Church.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Boones Creek Christian Church, 2684 Boones Creek Rd, Johnson City, TN 37615.
Condolences may be sent to the family of Mr. McCreadie online at www.dillow-taylor.com
Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Jonesborough, TN 423-753-3821
01/28/2026
Becky Campbell
I had the honor of interviewing Eddie when I was a reporter at the Johnson City Press. It took a little convincing to let me write a story about him, but he finally relented. I was amazed at his story, and he was pleased with mine. After my article ran, I was contacted by several writers from overseas who wanted to talk to him as well. I passed that information along, but never knew if he was interviewed again. RIP Mr. McCreadie.
01/19/2026
Richard Schaller
My condolences to you Linda and the rest of the family. Eddie left a lasting memory to myself and thousands of Chelsea fans who began their support for the blues back in the 60s and 70s. As a player and manager he was one of the finest. His role as manager getting a team of youngsters to perform and get us back to Division One in 1976/77 was an iconic achievement. And also as a person too having briefly met him at the tribute evening at the Bridge in 2017. He is part of Chelsea’s history but even more important a part of the supporters history too. Thanks for the memories Eddie and RIP ?
01/18/2026
Anastasia Johnstone
For me it was absolutely great to meet Eddie and Linda in London 2017. Thank you very much! Rest in peace Eddie. Lots of love to Linda and family! XXX
01/18/2026
David Johnstone
Dear Linda,
When you and Eddie came to London to be the Guest of Honour at the event to mark the launch of ‘Eddie Mac, Eddie Mac’, Eddie’s biography written by Mark Worrall, Kelvin Barker, Neil Smith, Mark Meehan and myself, the pair of you gracing us with an appearance was, and still is, one of the greatest moments in all the time we’ve supported the Chelsea Football Club. For a man of such stature and so highly thought of by the Stamford Bridge crowd, Eddie was such a humble guy. The fact that you both made a massive effort to come and see us will never be forgotten, not only by the five of us who wrote the book but also by all the Chelsea supporters who you were both so kind in interacting with. My partner Ana will always be grateful too for the kindness you extended to us as a family. We treasure the moments we spent with both of you and our children George and Sabina, whilst still young at the time, are very aware of how much your visit meant to both Ana and myself.
Eddie and yourself are fully committed Christians and although you’re no doubt mourning his loss, I’m sure that you’re comforted by the fact that The Lord God Almighty, his son, Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will have welcomed him to Heaven where, one day, you’ll meet him again.
Take care, Linda, we love you very much.
A few of us had the honour of flying Eddie and Linda over to London in 2017 for a night to honour his time as a player and manager of Chelsea Football Club. We knew he was a special footballer and manager, and we discovered he was an equally special person.
Thank you, Eddie, for all you did for the club we all love. But more so, thank you for being a truly great man. Sleep well.
Thoughts are with Linda also. My sincere condolences on your loss.
Sincere condolences to Eddies family & friends. I never had the privilege of seeing Eddie play for Chelsea, he retired before my first game in the mid 1970’s.
He was a true Chelsea legend both as player & manager. A warrior on the pitch.
Rest in peace.
01/16/2026
Peter Turkington
Sincere condolences to Eddie's family from England. Although from the North of England I supported Chelsea from a young age, around 1966! I have wonderful memories of Eddie, and it's good to know he had a wonderful family and a happy life in Tennessee. Thank you Eddie, you will always be one of my heroes. A true Chelsea great who will never be forgotten.
01/16/2026
Christian Wood
RIP Eddie McCreadie. A proper Chelsea Legend.
01/16/2026
Jon Bray (X @CFCnews)
I became a Chelsea fan in 1970 with the FA Cup Final as my elder brother supported ‘Dirty’ Leeds. 56 years later I’m still as proud to be a Blue as I was back then and the wife and kids are now big fans as well. I had the pleasure of meeting you and the team at Bramall Lane (Sheffield United) in December 1976 when you kindly replied to my Mum’s letter after I’d broken my arm and you invited me into the changing room before the game to get my pot signed and have some photos with the players. I still have the letter and the pot today! Many thanks for all the great memories as both a player and a Manager. RIP Mr McCreadie.
As a Scot, I grew up supporting that Chelsea team of the late 60's early 70's in which Eddie played and gave been a Blue ever since.
You would have been a legend of a manager too had you stayed. The clubs loss, but you believed in youth and they went onto become stars in their own right because you trusted them.
Let's not forget the pride every time you pulled on that Scotland shirt too in a great side
Thanks for the memories Eddie
Linda, I’m saddened to learn of Eddie’s passing. I remember meeting Eddie in the Rogues’ offices in Memphis as he was pulling off a miracle in assembling that first team on short notice, following his appointment as Coach. I felt like I was meeting royalty. Then, years later, to be playing alongside him with the Elders, was an honor. Remarkable, too, in that I had been (and still am) a Leeds supporter since that epic ‘70 FA Cup Final that Eddie played in against Leeds. I will always carry with me fond memories of that time in Memphis, and the many stories Eddie regaled us with, and, of course, the warmth of the man, himself. He is already missed.
01/16/2026
Stephen Connolly
Very sorry to hear the news,deepest condolences to the family, Rip
A massive part of my childhood at the start of my Chelsea journey. Greatly missed but never forgotten. RIP Eddie Mac
Eddie played in my first Chelsea game over 60 years ago and remained a boyhood hero of mine. A few years later I was a proud member of Eddie McReadies Blue and White Army. I was so privileged to meet Eddie at the Under The Bridge reunion a few years ago. A true legend and a true gentleman RIP Eddie.
I just want to say thank you for being part of the reason I support the greatest football club in the world. RIP Eddie
I became a Chelsea fan during Eddies's time there, he was a part of my childhood.
To all of Eddie's friends and family my deepest condolences, be assured that he has left many memories.
RIP Eddie McCreadie. As a player you were one of the reasons Chelsea became my team. As manager you gave us a team to be so very proud of at the most perilous of times for our beloved club. No managerial departure has hurt as much. Sending love and condolences to your family and thank you for all the memories.
01/15/2026
Judy & Del Niemeyer,
He was a great man Linda. Loved the times we sat at the kitchen table and he told me stories about all his travels as we waited for you to return home. He always made me feel at home. Our hearts and thoughts have been with you all day.
To Linda and family.
So sorry for your loss, but a life well lived. I’ve been a Chelsea fan for 58 years and one of my fondest memories is of standing over the tunnel in May 1977 as Eddie stood on the pitch and introduced his young promotion winning squad. It felt like that team would ‘fly’ the next season, under his guidance, and it is one of my biggest regrets that he was unable to see that through the following season. The club floundered for years thereafter. I’m so glad he was able to find happiness and success in the USA, return to the club in recent years, and realise the esteem in which he was held. RIP Eddie.
RIP Eddie - you will always be remembered at Stamford Bridge - condolences to all of his friends and family
from a proud member of Eddie McCreadie’s blue and white army
Wonderful player & manager, great person and an absolute Chelsea legend.
Thanks for the memories and RIP Eddie
Sincere condolences to Linda and the family and friends at this very sad time.
Thank you for all you did on the pitch and especially off the pitch for Chelsea Football Club.
You created some wonderful memories along the way which are still cherished today.
It was an honour to meet you and Linda in London in 2017.
Sleep well Sir
Condolences to all of Eddie’s family and friends.
That team of the late 60’s was what drew me to Chelsea and my football love affair started and Eddie Mac was a big part of that decision.
To witness that ‘70 FA Cup final win will be a constant reminder of those great days of the Kings of the Kings Road.
It was an honour to meet him finally in 2017 when he came to London, a day I didn’t think I would see.
RIP Eddie and thanks for all the fantastic memories
From watching you and my beloved Chelsea, winning the 1970 FA Cup. To following Eddie McCreadie's Blue & White Army, when you we're manager. Thanks for the memories, you were a Class act. Rest in Peace.
My heartfelt condolences to Linda and the family. I am a lifelong Chelsea fan and saw Eddie's first home game against Scunthorpe in 1962, and his last game as Manager of the team in 1977 when he won us promotion with a team of youngsters he inspired. As hard as nails, a great player and wonderful club servant - I was devastated when he left us, more so discovering how much it upset him. I am so glad he made a wonderful life with his loving family, and so happy that of all the clubs he could have joined - he came to mine. From a member of "Eddie McCreadie's Blue and White Army". Forever grateful
American Chelsea supporter here in NYC. You leave behind great memories Eddie.
Condolences to his family and friends.
To Linda and the family, I am so sorry for your loss and send you my sincere condolences from England. I was a tearful ten year old when Eddie left Chelsea in 1977, and remember hearing the news of his departure vividly. Meeting him in May 2017 was beyond my wildest dreams, and Eddie and my heroes from that era did not disappoint me on that wonderful night at Stamford Bridge. I am so grateful that he took the trip to the UK for one more time. I am comforted to know how happy his life was in Tennessee, and also that he was able to feel the love of the Chelsea support on the fortieth anniversary of his triumph and departure from London. He will never be forgotten by a certain generation of Blues fans and may he rest in eternal peace.
Many happy memories of Eddie especially with the Elders. Condolences to Linda and the rest of his family
When I was a boy in the 1960's, he was one of my heros, playing at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea. When he played (which was almost every match), I felt more secure that the opponents wouldn't score. And his play at the FA Cup final in 1970 helped us win the Cup. Thanks, Eddie, for all the memories.
Linda [having been your student it seems a bit odd to address you in that way]...I am so sorry to hear of Eddie's death. Although I do not think that I ever met him, I heard wonderful things about him. Prayers for comfort and peace. If you ever want to reach out, you may email me at mtbaker@charter.net Take care.
Great memories of a Great Man. Chelsea Legend.
Great man. Prayers for the Family!
Linda and family- I am so sorry for your loss. May you find peace and comfort as you grieve. Love, Jenell Wright
