Edward John Purdon was born in Johannesburg, South Africa on March 1, 1930. After starting his career with Marist Brothers he went on to prove himself as a prolific goal scorer in the English Football League.
Ted made his debut in the English Second Division with Birmingham City in the 1951-52 season. In 64 league games the centre forward scored 27 goals from 1951 to 1954 for Birmingham.
In January 1954 he was sold to First Division club Sunderland for $60,000. Ted scored 39 goals in 90 league games for the Black Cats.
In March 1958 he was sold to Workington for $36,000. Then followed short spells with Barrow, Bath City, Bristol Rovers and Wellington Town.
In May 1961 Ted joined the Polish White Eagles in Toronto as a player manager. He helped the club to a third place finish in the 1961 National Soccer League standings. He scored eight league goals during the season.
During the winters Ted played for the New York Ukrainians in the German-American League. He stayed with that club from 1961 to 1967.
Before the start of the 1962 season the White Eagles joined the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League. However, when joining the league the White Eagles were forced to move to Buffalo. Ted was the player coach of the Buffalo White Eagles but was sold to Toronto City during the season. On September 21, 1962 Toronto City sold Ted to New York Ukrainians for $2,500.
Ted returned to Toronto City for the 1963 Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League season. City ended the season in last place in the six-team league. In 1964 Ted helped Toronto City win both the league championship and the playoff championship. During the 1964 ECPSL season he scored 17 league goals. After the season he was picked as a member of the ECPSL Second All-Star team.
In April 1965 Ted signed a new contract with Toronto City. He scored 11 league goals during the 1965 Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League season. Ted later played in the National Soccer League for Toronto Inter-Roma in the 1967 season and Toronto Ukraina from 1968 to 1970.
Ted was an honorary member of Sunderland’s North American Supporters Club.
He passed away in Toronto at the age of 77 on April 29, 2007.