Tom Sloan (footballer born 1959)
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tom" Sloan also known as Tommy Sloan, is a Northern Irish
ex-footballer who played as a midfielder
in both Northern Ireland and England in the late 1970s, the 1980s and even the early 1990s.
Born in Ballymena
, County Antrim
, Sloan began his football career with his local club, Ballymena United
. In 1978, he was part of the Ballymena United team that reached the final of the Irish Cup
only to lose to Linfield
. His role as a key player in that team earned him a selection for the Northern Irish under-21 team
for a match against the Republic of Ireland
.
That summer, Manchester United
and Tottenham Hotspur
were locked in a battle for Sloan's signature, but it was United who eventually won out, paying Ballymena United £
20,000 for the transfer. Sloan's influence in the heart of the United midfield was not sufficient for him to earn a regular place in the team, but his four appearances in his first season at Old Trafford
were enough to attract a call from the Northern Irish senior team
at the end of the season. In the space of 15 days, Sloan won his only three caps; two came in the 1979 British Home Championship
, against Scotland
and Wales
, while the other was a UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying match against Denmark
.
Sloan's involvement with the Manchester United first team gradually decreased over the next three seasons – he made just eight appearances in total in 1979–80 and 1980–81, and none at all in 1981–82 – and he was released to Chester City
in July 1982. At Chester, Sloan found his niche, making nearly 50 appearances in the one season he spent there before he returned to Northern Ireland to play for Linfield.
After a three-year stint with Linfield, he was transferred to Coleraine
for a further three seasons before moving back to his original club, Ballymena United, in 1989. He retired from regular football in 1991 and began to play for Raglan Homers in the Ballymena Sunday Morning League.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
ex-footballer who played as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
in both Northern Ireland and England in the late 1970s, the 1980s and even the early 1990s.
Born in Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
, County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
, Sloan began his football career with his local club, Ballymena United
Ballymena United F.C.
Ballymena United, is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club hails from the town of Ballymena, County Antrim and plays its home matches at Ballymena Showgrounds. Club colours are sky blue and white. Away Colours are Red and BlackThe club was...
. In 1978, he was part of the Ballymena United team that reached the final of the Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
only to lose to Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
. His role as a key player in that team earned him a selection for the Northern Irish under-21 team
Northern Ireland national under-21 football team
The Northern Ireland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Northern Ireland.-Former coaches:* To 20 August 2008.-2008/09 Matches:-Current squad:Squad to play San Marino.-Other Recent Call-Ups:...
for a match against the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team
The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland and competes in the biennial European Under-21 Football Championship and has competed since 1978.-Competition...
.
That summer, Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and 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....
were locked in a battle for Sloan's signature, but it was United who eventually won out, paying Ballymena United £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
20,000 for the transfer. Sloan's influence in the heart of the United midfield was not sufficient for him to earn a regular place in the team, but his four appearances in his first season at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
were enough to attract a call from the Northern Irish senior team
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
at the end of the season. In the space of 15 days, Sloan won his only three caps; two came in the 1979 British Home Championship
1979 British Home Championship
The 1979 British Home Championship was a British Home Nations competition, won by the English football side and notable for seeing marked increases in hooliganism and falling attendance which would result in its cancellation in 1984. The English started well, beating Northern Ireland to match the...
, 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...
and Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
, while the other was a UEFA Euro 1980 qualifying match against Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
.
Sloan's involvement with the Manchester United first team gradually decreased over the next three seasons – he made just eight appearances in total in 1979–80 and 1980–81, and none at all in 1981–82 – and he was released to Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
in July 1982. At Chester, Sloan found his niche, making nearly 50 appearances in the one season he spent there before he returned to Northern Ireland to play for Linfield.
After a three-year stint with Linfield, he was transferred to Coleraine
Coleraine F.C.
Coleraine F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1927, hails from Coleraine, County Londonderry and plays its home matches at the Showgrounds. Club colours are blue and white...
for a further three seasons before moving back to his original club, Ballymena United, in 1989. He retired from regular football in 1991 and began to play for Raglan Homers in the Ballymena Sunday Morning League.