Tom Cain
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tom" Cain was an English footballer who played as goalkeeper
for Stoke
, Everton
and Southampton St. Mary's
in the 1890s.
in 1893, where he took over in goal from the injured Bill Rowley
for most of the 1893–94 season.
In April 1894, he moved to Everton
, making his first team debut as a replacement for the out of form Richard Williams
in a 3–1 victory over Bolton Wanderers
on 6 October 1894. Cain retained his place for a further nine league matches, before Williams was recalled. After two further appearances in March, Cain moved to the south coast to join Southampton St. Mary's
for their second season in the Southern League
.
In his Southampton debut, Cain replaced Walter Cox
, but underwent a goalkeeper's nightmare, conceding seven goals away to Clapton
on 19 October 1895. Despite this setback, he retained his place, although he missed several key games through injury, being replaced by the on-loan "Gunner" Reilly
or by Cox.
Following the arrival of George Clawley
, Cain moved on again at the end of the season, returning to the Football League
with Grimsby Town
for a then Southampton club record transfer fee of £20. Despite this fee, Cain only made two League appearances for Grimsby before returning to Hebburn Argyle in October.
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
for Stoke
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
, Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
and Southampton St. Mary's
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the 1890s.
Football career
Cain was born in Sunderland and started his career with Hebburn Argyle before joining StokeStoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
in 1893, where he took over in goal from the injured Bill Rowley
Bill Rowley
William Spencer "Bill" Rowley was an English footballer who played as goalkeeper for Stoke in the 1880s and 1890s, also making two appearances for England...
for most of the 1893–94 season.
In April 1894, he moved to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, making his first team debut as a replacement for the out of form Richard Williams
Richard Williams (footballer)
Richard Williams was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Career:A native of Chesterfield, Williams began his career as a trainee with Everton, and was a member of the first team between 1891 and 1895, making a total of 70 appearancces - 58 in the Football League and 12...
in a 3–1 victory over Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
on 6 October 1894. Cain retained his place for a further nine league matches, before Williams was recalled. After two further appearances in March, Cain moved to the south coast to join Southampton St. Mary's
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
for their second season in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
.
In his Southampton debut, Cain replaced Walter Cox
Walter Cox (footballer)
Walter Cox was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs around the turn of the 20th century.-Football career:Cox was born in Southampton and started playing for the newly formed Southampton St Mary's club in 1892 as an outfield player...
, but underwent a goalkeeper's nightmare, conceding seven goals away to Clapton
Clapton F.C.
Clapton F.C. is an English association football club, who play in Forest Gate, in the London Borough of Newham, England.Founded by W.R. Davis at a meeting in his father's house at 11 Queensdown Road, Clapton in August 0f 1877. Downs F.C. started playing on Hackney Downs. They changed their name a...
on 19 October 1895. Despite this setback, he retained his place, although he missed several key games through injury, being replaced by the on-loan "Gunner" Reilly
Matt Reilly (footballer)
Matthew Michael "Matt" Reilly was an Irish international goalkeeper who played most of his career with Portsmouth in the Southern League. He also had spells with Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur in the Southern League, with Notts County in the Football League, with Dundee in the Scottish Football...
or by Cox.
Following the arrival of George Clawley
George Clawley
George Clawley was an English professional goalkeeper who played for Stoke, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries...
, Cain moved on again at the end of the season, returning to the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
with Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
for a then Southampton club record transfer fee of £20. Despite this fee, Cain only made two League appearances for Grimsby before returning to Hebburn Argyle in October.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Stoke Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
1893–94 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Everton Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
1894–95 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Southampton St. Mary's Southampton F.C. Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club... |
1895–96 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Grimsby Town Grimsby Town F.C. Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town... |
1896–97 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Career Total | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |