Tom Wilson (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tom" Wilson was a footballer who was a member of the Huddersfield Town
team that won the Football League three times in the 1920s.
, County Durham
, Wilson started his professional career with Sunderland
in 1914, before his career was interrupted by World War I
. During the war he turned out for the Seaham Colliery side, before joining Huddersfield in 1919.
Over the next 12 seasons, he was a virtual ever-present with Huddersfield, helping them to the Football League
championship in 1923-24
, 1924-25
, and 1925-26
, as well as victory in the FA Cup
in 1922
. In his time at Huddersfield, they also reached the FA Cup finals in 1920
, 1928
and 1930
. He was Huddersfield’s captain throughout most of this period, before handing over to Clem Stephenson
, later to be the club’s manager. Thomas Wilson is forever remembered as the "Gentleman of football" also titled as "The Dauntless Tommy Wilson" In the FA Cup Final 1930 vs Arsenal. Thomas Wilson also had a waxwork figure of himself created for that final and was displayed in Madame Tussauds.
He made one England
appearance in a 5-1 defeat by Scotland
on 31 March 1928.
He left Huddersfield in 1931, having made 448 league appearances (4 goals) and another 52 appearances in FA Cup matches.
He spent one season at Blackpool
before retiring in 1932. He then returned to Huddersfield as assistant trainer.
After World War II
, he joined Barnsley
as a trainer where he remained until his death in 1948 at the age of 51.
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
team that won the Football League three times in the 1920s.
Playing career
Born in SeahamSeaham
Seaham, formerly Seaham Harbour, is a small town in County Durham, situated south of Sunderland and east of Durham. It has a small parish church, St Mary the Virgin, with a late 7th century Anglo Saxon nave resembling the church at Escomb in many respects. St Mary the Virgin is regarded as one of...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, Wilson started his professional career with 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...
in 1914, before his career was interrupted by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. During the war he turned out for the Seaham Colliery side, before joining Huddersfield in 1919.
Over the next 12 seasons, he was a virtual ever-present with Huddersfield, helping them to the Football League
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
championship in 1923-24
1923-24 in English football
The 1923–24 season was the 49th season of competitive football in England.-Events:*On 11 November 1923, Aston Villa centre-half Tommy Ball was shot dead by his neighbour, thus becoming the only Football League player to have been murdered.-Honours:...
, 1924-25
1924-25 in English football
The 1924–25 season was the 50th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
, and 1925-26
1925-26 in English football
The 1925–26 season was the 51st season of competitive football in England. This marked the year that Huddersfield Town won the League three years running, making them the first team in Football League history to do so.-Honours:-First Division:...
, as well as victory in the 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...
in 1922
1922 FA Cup Final
The 1922 FA Cup Final was contested by Huddersfield Town and Preston North End at Stamford Bridge. Huddersfield won by a single goal, a penalty scored by Billy Smith....
. In his time at Huddersfield, they also reached the FA Cup finals in 1920
1920 FA Cup Final
The 1920 FA Cup Final, the first since the end of the First World War, was contested by Aston Villa and Huddersfield at Stamford Bridge. Aston Villa won 1–0, with the goal coming in extra time from Billy Kirton, to clinch the trophy for a record sixth time....
, 1928
1928 FA Cup Final
The 1928 FA Cup Final was contested by Blackburn Rovers and Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium. Blackburn won 3–1, with goals from Jack Roscamp and Tommy McLean...
and 1930
1930 FA Cup Final
The 1930 FA Cup Final was contested by Arsenal and Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium. Arsenal won 2–0, with goals from Alex James and Jack Lambert...
. He was Huddersfield’s captain throughout most of this period, before handing over to Clem Stephenson
Clem Stephenson
Clement "Clem" Stephenson was an England national team captain whose 20 year career at Aston Villa and Huddersfield Town included emphatic successes in both the FA Cup and League Championships...
, later to be the club’s manager. Thomas Wilson is forever remembered as the "Gentleman of football" also titled as "The Dauntless Tommy Wilson" In the FA Cup Final 1930 vs Arsenal. Thomas Wilson also had a waxwork figure of himself created for that final and was displayed in Madame Tussauds.
He made one 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...
appearance in a 5-1 defeat by 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...
on 31 March 1928.
He left Huddersfield in 1931, having made 448 league appearances (4 goals) and another 52 appearances in FA Cup matches.
He spent one season at Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
before retiring in 1932. He then returned to Huddersfield as assistant trainer.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he joined Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
as a trainer where he remained until his death in 1948 at the age of 51.
Life outside football
Thomas Wilson was continued by his three sons; Thomas (Derek), Gordon and Neil.Honours
Huddersfield TownHuddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
- Football League Division 1 ChampionshipFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
: 1923-241923-24 in English footballThe 1923–24 season was the 49th season of competitive football in England.-Events:*On 11 November 1923, Aston Villa centre-half Tommy Ball was shot dead by his neighbour, thus becoming the only Football League player to have been murdered.-Honours:...
, 1924-251924-25 in English footballThe 1924–25 season was the 50th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
& 1925-261925-26 in English footballThe 1925–26 season was the 51st season of competitive football in England. This marked the year that Huddersfield Town won the League three years running, making them the first team in Football League history to do so.-Honours:-First Division:... - Division 1 Runner-up: 1926-271926-27 in English footballThe 1926–27 season was the 52nd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the season in which George Camsell scored an astounding 59 goals in 37 league appearances for Middlesbrough-Honours:...
& 1927-281927-28 in English footballThe 1927–28 season was the 53rd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the season in which Dixie Dean scored an astounding 60 goals in 39 league appearances for Everton – 58.8% of their seasons total .-Honours:... - Division 2 Runner-up: 1919-201919-20 in English footballThe 1919–1920 season was the 45th season of competitive football in England, and the first following the end of World War I.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition...
- FA Cup Winner: 19221922 FA Cup FinalThe 1922 FA Cup Final was contested by Huddersfield Town and Preston North End at Stamford Bridge. Huddersfield won by a single goal, a penalty scored by Billy Smith....
- FA Cup finalist: 19201920 FA Cup FinalThe 1920 FA Cup Final, the first since the end of the First World War, was contested by Aston Villa and Huddersfield at Stamford Bridge. Aston Villa won 1–0, with the goal coming in extra time from Billy Kirton, to clinch the trophy for a record sixth time....
, 19281928 FA Cup FinalThe 1928 FA Cup Final was contested by Blackburn Rovers and Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium. Blackburn won 3–1, with goals from Jack Roscamp and Tommy McLean...
& 19301930 FA Cup FinalThe 1930 FA Cup Final was contested by Arsenal and Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium. Arsenal won 2–0, with goals from Alex James and Jack Lambert...