Thomas Clay
Encyclopedia
Tommy Clay was born 19 November 1892 in Leicester
and died on 21 February 1949 in Southend. He was a professional footballer who played fullback
for Leicester Fosse
the original name of Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur
and England
during the 1910s and 1920s.
Sunday School Juniors.
Tommy came to the attention of Tottenham during a FA Cup
tie between the two sides in 1914. Together with team mate Harry Sparrow he was signed by Spurs following the match. Tommy played for Spurs throughout the First World War participating in 107 friendly matches. He captained the side in 1920 when it won the Second division title
. In March 1921 he kept a clean sheet as stand-in goalkeeper in a 1 – 0 victory over Sunderland
. Later the same year, although not captain, he played in the 1921 FA Cup Final
. He continued to play for Tottenham, totting-up 318 league appearances (23 goals) and 33 FA Cup matches (1 goal), until May 1929 when he became player-coach at Northfleet
club with close associations with Tottenham.
He won his first of four England
Caps against Wales at Highbury on 15 March 1920 and the last on 8 April 1922 against Scotland
and between 1926 and 1929 during his time at Spurs he took up cricket coaching at Public Schools including Highgate
, St Paul's and Berkhamsted
.
He coached Dutch football side HVV Den Haag
between 1937 and 1939.
After retiring from football he subsequently ran a pub and sports outfitters in St Albans
. He was working as a builders’ labourer in Southend when he died in 1949.
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
and died on 21 February 1949 in Southend. He was a professional footballer who played fullback
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Leicester Fosse
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
the original name of Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
and England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
during the 1910s and 1920s.
Football career
Thomas Clay joined Leicester Fosse in April 1911 and made his first appearance for the team against Bradford Park Avenue F.C. on November 11 that year, having previously made a name for himself for local side BelvoirBelvoir
Belvoir , in some cases pronounced "beever", may refer to:*Belvoir, Doubs, a commune in the Doubs département of France*Belvoir, Leicestershire, a village in Leicestershire, England**Vale of Belvoir, an area of England...
Sunday School Juniors.
Tommy came to the attention of Tottenham during a FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
tie between the two sides in 1914. Together with team mate Harry Sparrow he was signed by Spurs following the match. Tommy played for Spurs throughout the First World War participating in 107 friendly matches. He captained the side in 1920 when it won the Second division title
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
. In March 1921 he kept a clean sheet as stand-in goalkeeper in a 1 – 0 victory over Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
. Later the same year, although not captain, he played in the 1921 FA Cup Final
1921 FA Cup Final
The 1921 FA Cup Final was contested by Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge. Spurs won by a single goal, scored by Jimmy Dimmock, eight minutes into the second half...
. He continued to play for Tottenham, totting-up 318 league appearances (23 goals) and 33 FA Cup matches (1 goal), until May 1929 when he became player-coach at Northfleet
Northfleet
Northfleet is a town in the Borough of Gravesham in Kent, England. Its name is derived from North creek , and the settlement on the shore of the River Thames adjacent to Gravesend was known as Norfluet in the Domesday Book, and Northflet in 1201...
club with close associations with Tottenham.
He won his first of four England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
Caps against Wales at Highbury on 15 March 1920 and the last on 8 April 1922 against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
Cricket Coaching and Later Career
In 1923 Thomas had been a trialist for Leicestershire County Cricket ClubLeicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
and between 1926 and 1929 during his time at Spurs he took up cricket coaching at Public Schools including Highgate
Highgate School
-Notable members of staff and governing body:* John Ireton, brother of Henry Ireton, Cromwellian General* 1st Earl of Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice, owner of Kenwood, noted for judgment finding contracts for slavery unenforceable in English law* T. S...
, St Paul's and Berkhamsted
Berkhamsted Collegiate School
Berkhamsted School is an independent school in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England. The present school was formed in 1997 by the amalgamation of the original Berkhamsted School, founded in 1541 by John Incent, Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, Berkhamsted School for Girls, established in 1888, and...
.
He coached Dutch football side HVV Den Haag
HVV Den Haag
HVV is an amateur football club in The Hague in the Netherlands. It was founded in 1883 as an extension of HCC, the Hague Cricket Club...
between 1937 and 1939.
After retiring from football he subsequently ran a pub and sports outfitters in St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
. He was working as a builders’ labourer in Southend when he died in 1949.